Gas vs. Electric Smoker?

[musky5555]

What's better???

[eyeguy 54]

don't know. I like my electric 30 inch for what I do.

[bak2MN]

I like my electric. But is tough when cold out to maintain the heat. But otherwise like it a lot. Mine is a Bradley auto feed.

[otterman91105]

I have never had any problems with mine. I love it and it seems to hold the heat pretty well in the winter. Mine is electric. Its the black masterbuilt. Good smoker for the money.

[harvey lee]

Had both, electric for me.

[DonBo]

Mines electric and because it is insulated it is actually easier for me to maintain an even heat when it's cold out.

[minnesotathorn]

I have a cook shack electric. well insulated. have only used it at 0 or above though. below 0 I just wait. it maintains heat well for me. I have only owned electrics so can't help on which is better.

[Alagnak]

If you get electric certainly only go with an insulated one if you want to use it in the winter. I sold my electric and only have two diff gas models now- one metal one from the store and one larger wood one I built. I like to be able to crank up the heat if I want to finish something off sooner and for certain cooking applications- I use one of them in higher heats than my electric would do (even in the summer). The electric just didn't do it for me in terms of 'production'/doing several 25# batches of snausage varieties throughout the year.

Also- there are a lot of nice little cheap units that go on sale off and on. Most are just fine for the occasional smoker. But try to get one with a separate door on it to add wood. You don't want to have to open up the whole door and lose all of your heat every time you add chips.

[bak2MN]

I guess I should restate. I think with the electric element it heats up cools down heats up and cools down. Where at that point the temp fluctuates a lot. I have had to finish some things off in the oven to get them to the right temp. But this in the winter.

[picksbigwagon]

I have a green mountain pellet smoker/grill, will never buy another kind of grill or smoker again. This will be my first winter with my Green. Mountain, but it was done wonderfully up to this point.........holds the tempereature as long as there are pellets in it

[Alagnak]

I have a green mountain pellet smoker/grill, will never buy another kind of grill or smoker again. This will be my first winter with my Green. Mountain, but it was done wonderfully up to this point.........holds the tempereature as long as there are pellets in it

I'd love to get one but unless they make one I don't know about I don't see a way to do summer sausage, snack sticks, or anything you need to hang. Are there any 'vertical' style ones or would a guy have to build his own box to go on top?

[CapnJack]

Electric dedicated for fish, gas for all the rest. Why have just one smoker?

[MNCPRGUY]

I have owned gas, electric, wood, and charcoal fired smokers. They all have their place but for all around versatility and ease of use, the gasser wins hands down. My only complaint would be the inability to get low enough temps to do cold smoke.

I have an 800lb custom built Klose pit that is wood fired. I Love that beast, but more often than not I am using a cheapo hand me down Smokey Mountain gas smoker and I have yet to hear anyone complain (or notice a difference. The name of the game is the ability to maintain a consistent temperature for prolonged cooking times. Gas and electric will both do that for you. Depending on the smoker, electric might struggle a bit in very cold temps but there are ways around that also.

[musky5555]

Thanks for all the respsonses. I had borrowed my friend's gas smoker for a few years, and I liked it for the most part. However, I ended up buying the Masterbuilt electric 30" on sale at Gander. As a couple of you suggested, why just have one smoker! I think I will purchase another propane or possibly charcoal smoker down the road.

[otterman91105]

You will love the one you bought, they are very nice smoker for the money.