Best type of smoker for a newb.

[hoggs222]

I'm looking at picking up my 1st smoker and I'm leaning towards either propane or electric. I'm just looking at a better way to cook ribs than starting with the oven and finishing on the grill.

What would you suggest and why?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

For something simple, which can be used for smoking a wide variety of food, no question I would recommend one of the Bradley automatic smokers. Set it and forget it. Smoke everything from cheese to sausage to brisket with the turn of the thermostat.

[KEN W]

I would get a Masterbuilt.With a Bradley,you have to buy their wood pucks.With Masterbuilt,you can use any wood.

[harvey lee]

Personally for me, I like the electric models as they are so easy to adjust and hold the temp well.

There are many different models like the Masterbuilt and the Smoke Hollow brands that one can pick up pretty reasonable. I use a thermomemter for checking the meat temp but it is not one that is hooked up to the unit. Mine do not have glass doors eith as that only adds to the expense of the unit.

One can go with the cadilac model of smoker but I do not see how the finish product will be any better.

Basic unit will run less and do a fine smoking job for you for years to come.

[reinhard1]

Hoggs, along with the great info in this thread i also bumped up the previous smoker thread that is very helpfull also called "what kind of smoker do you have". it's on the first page of the cooking forum. good luck.

[eyeguy 54]

being a rookie smoker I love my masterbuilt. :>)

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I would get a Masterbuilt.With a Bradley,you have to buy their wood pucks.With Masterbuilt,you can use any wood.

That is actually exactly why I would recommend the Bradley. Set it at a temp, and let it auto feed the wood pucks as needed.

[otterman91105]

I have just got into smokeing about a year ago. I bought a electric masterbuilt smoker and love it.

[KEN W]

That is actually exactly why I would recommend the Bradley. Set it at a temp, and let it auto feed the wood pucks as needed.

[SkunkedAgain]

As much as I'm liking my Masterbuilt, I think that I would have been happier with an electric versus propane. I went with propane thinking that it would hold up better in cold temps, but have since heard from others that electric does just fine. More importantly, the electric should hold temperature a little better and get get lower for doing things like eggs.

[Valv]

As much as I'm liking my Masterbuilt, I think that I would have been happier with an electric versus propane.

I have the electric Masterbuilt and I love it. Set the temp and the time and walk away. Just feed some wood once in an hour or so.

But don't be fooled about low temps, fish is the lowest I can cook. I had to buy another setup to cold smoke cheese.

[eyeguy 54]

my masterbuilt is electric also. did I say I love it?? :>)

[hoggs222]

I'm going to pick up a Masterbuilt Electric Cookmaster smoker. Is that model big enough to smoke a turkey?

[hoggs222]

I see that Gander Mountain has the 30" Cajun Injector smoker with digital thermostat on sale for $129. Anyone use this model? Anything I should look out for?