Best electronic outdoor smoker for the money

[Hoffer]

Hi all.

I would like to get into smoking.

I am looking for something that will be set up outside, will be electronic and easy to use. I dont want to spend thousands but am willing to spend a decent amount for something good and heavy duty.

I am looking for ease, quality and a decent size.

Also, if you know of any good local places to pick one up so I can actually view them rather than try to buy over the internet site unseen. (anywhere in the 5 county Metro area is fine).

Thanks for your help!

[hoggs222]

I've got a Masterbuilt 40" window smoker and I love it. It controls the temp great and it's insulated well. I was using on New Years Eve outside. It comes with a remote control to view and change temps, etc. It has a meat probe built in. You can probably fit up to 8 racks of ribs in there too. Sams Club or Amazon usually has them for around $300. I believe that Cabelas has them too, but they're more expensive there.

[Hoffer]

Cool...sounds like a good unit and about the right price range. I would even pay a little more if it means quality.

Quick question back on these electronic smokers. Can you use them outside anytime? Like lets say this weekend when its supposed to be super cold out? Is that an issue?

Also, besides the wood chips for smoking...do you need to purchase anything else to set things up before you can start? Or is it just a matter of plugging in the smoker and going for it?

Thanks again

[picksbigwagon]

I have a Green Mountain Daniel Boone. It is an electric pellet smoker/grill. I can temperature range from 150 -500. It is works off of convection so it can be used as an over as well. Higher Temperatures you don't a lot of smoke but there is a hint of smoke when you are grilling at 475. My model has the remote control so at night during an all night smoke, I can just lay in bed and check the grill temp. I have a thermal blanket for the winter time since it is not fully insulated and the pork butt I smoked for christmas came out perfectly. 700-850 depending on remote control or not. absolutely worth the money.

[huntnfish]

I have the low end Bradley and it works great and I'm happy with it but I think there's better out there for the money. The only reason I have this one is because it was won. I don't care for the fact that I have to use the biscuits for the smoking although it is nice to be able to put a certain number of them in and not worry about it again. The models above sound like better units especially with the temp monitors built in. Mine just has the dial on the door.

[hoggs222]

Hoffer,

I used mine on New Years when it was below zero. All I had to do with the Masterbuilt was season it. That's pretty much getting it up to highest temp for 3 hours and the last 45 minutes, you throw some wood chips in it. I think it's pretty much to get all of the factory oils off of everything.

[eyeguy 54]

my 30 inch masterbuilt works great also in sub zero weather. amazon usually haas good deals on 30 and 40 inchers and smokehouse wood chips also.

[Hoffer]

You guys are great as usual.

I am going to go with the 30 inch...maybe 40 inch masterbuilt I have seen on a few sites. So, heres my last question...do you guys know of any place locally that sells them? I am thinking maybe the C-store out in Rogers?

Oops!! One last question just to get started...is there any kind of wood chips/pellets or whatever you use in the masterbuilt that you really like overall for the flavor?

Thanks again!

Hoffer

[eyeguy 54]

smokehouse brand. mills and amazon.

177 on amazon for the smoker to your door.

usually 199 or more at C

[PurpleFloyd]

I got a Cajun Injector brand smoker as a gift last year and it has been a decent unit.I think the Masterbuilt is more popular. In the end the elements and controls are the things that will malfunction and I have read in a few places on the internet that there are higher quality replacement elements and controls that you can switch out to if you have problems out of warranty. From what I have seen the shells are all going to last for a while.

[eyedr]

Have you thought about making your own? I got an old steel fridge, a $45 element from cabelas, and a $220 PID from auber instruments. Set up outside and its basically set it and forget it. Its also bigger than most you can buy.

[hoggs222]

One more thing. My Dad has the masterbuilt with window and the window seal was bad. They sent him a whole new door, no questions asked.

[Hoffer]

So i just got back from FF and bought the masterbuilt with the window and the remote. The one without the window didnt come with the remote and they were the same price...so I thought the remote might be nice. I was very hesitant to go with the one with the window...because as the above post stated the seal was bad and I am thinking a window will just add to possible issues. Anyway...I am all in now so no turning back. Quick question...I havent even opened it up yet and read the instructions. I see here that most people talk about using "pellets". Fleet didnt have any. They only had chips. Can you use chips? Do you need to smoke them overnight? I also noticed it recommended using certain chops with certain meats. Like Mesquite with Pork. If I buy a bag of mesquite can you use it with other meats for example duck or chicken? or do you need to stick with like apple for that?

Now that i made the purchase...any other tips would be very much appreciated! Last...I bought a rack of baby backs and also a pork roast. Going to put them on tomorrow. Does anyone have a good but simple "rub" recipe for tonight that I can get started with?

Thanks!!

Hoffer

[Hoffer]

No need for the rub recipe. I found the "masterbuilt rib rub recipe" on the internet and it looks good

[eyeguy 54]

mesquite is for eggs and steak rookie. I like to mix it with apple for ribs. Smokehouse chips at mills will work great in the pan. Also I have found the best results leaving the vent open about 1/8 inch on the wide end. Good luck and have fun. Remember to season it first. Run it for a couple hours with nothing in it.

[Hoffer]

Thanks eye guy!

I am going to go back to fleet and get some apple.

Do you need to soak the chips?

When you season it...should you season it with chips in it? I am guessing yes...

[leechlake]

do not soak the chips.

It was years ago but I seasoned my Masterbuilt without chips in it. I know I just followed the instructions for once.

My favorite wood chips they sell at Von H's. Its more like a pellet. They are all uniform size, fit in hopper tube better, last longer than normal chips. I'd bet they are actually a better value since you don't use as many.

You'll have some trial and error with mostly successes. Fun and tasty hobby you've gotten yourself into. I enjoy looking at a few smoking websites. My favorite is called thesmokering dot com.

[vister]

I've had the 40" master built for a few years. Got it at SAMs for 299, was 440-465 at cabelas and gander. Works great, other than built in meat prope registers 100 degrees hotter than smoker temp. Big deal. Prefer polder thermostats anyways. Have run 100's of pounds of u name it through that thing. For some reason, when its cold like now, it pops gfi circuit the second it's plugged in. Even on 20 amp gfi circuit. But not on 15 amp circuit with 50' extension cord....works fantastic. Other than the fact there is no combustion so you won't get smoke rings in your meat, you won't know it was smoked with 110!! My biggest tip to you, remove drip tray after smoking session, run it on highest temp for 2 hrs, and don't clean it! Seems like every time I use it I get better smoke flavoring while using less wood pellets. I use hickory on all venison and beef, apple with pork, and alder with fish. I only use pellets. However, if smoking at low temp, keep in mind the element doesn't get hot often, so u may find yourself with minimal smoke. So don't overfill with wood! If you're smoking to dry meat, like jerky, keep that draft wide open and do not use water pan. If you want juicy Boston butts, then close the draft and put apple juice in water pan. Good luck!

Ps, I smoked 8 pheasants for a bachelor party last year, and one guy ate 6 by himself. Couldn't believe I did them, he thought they were purchased. I brined them in a simple cider vinegar, apple juice, garlic salt and brown sugar brine, and smoked them with pecan. The little that we got to share was amazing

And, I've over smoked once with it. Youd be surprised, filled with 30lbs of 2.5"x20" summer sausage, I've found I only need to add pellets two or three times during the 8hr smoke, but sliced jerky gets the same wood amount in a two hour smoke. All in the draft I guess. Open with jerky, closed with sausage

[Hoffer]

Excellent advice!!

I have it all set up now. It says to "season" for 3 hours and add in chips the last 45 minutes. I am doing that right now and hope to place my baby backs and pork roast on around 3 or 4 this afternoon.

I seasoned with a rub last night from the masterbuilt recipe and will report back. I would love to use the pellets I hope Van hansens is open today!

[eyeguy 54]

Well, how were they?

[Hoffer]

Got a late starting getting them in the smoker!!

Started them at 5. I will try to post yet later tonight or tomorrow and try to include a pic.

[BLACKJACK]

For some reason, when its cold like now, it pops gfi circuit the second it's plugged in. Even on 20 amp gfi circuit. But not on 15 amp circuit with 50' extension cord....works fantastic.

vistor, can you expand on this?? How you got it to work?? A few years ago I had an electric smoker and it blew the breaker or gfi every time, never could get it to work, so now I'm leery about getting another electric smoker....

[leechlake]

Hoffer,

one tip on the Masterbuilt. Mine has a digital read out. It it's below about 20 degrees outside when I try to fire it up I get an error message. When it first happened I went on line and found it it needs to get warmed up by an external source in order to kick in. I put my heat gun in it and close the door as much as possible. After about a minute I set the time and thermostat and it kicks in and heats up. If you ever get an "Err" message on the read out there's your solution.

It's really the only negative I've found with mine.

[vister]

I ended up running a 50' cord into house to an outlet on a 15 amp circuit. Then plugged her in. They say not to use an extension cord, but all my exterior and garage outlets are gfi protected. And I wasn't goin to smoke in the house. Only an issue when it's cold out. Cold enough to freeze your beer if u leave it outside.

[eyeguy 54]

the error message has popped up a couple times on mine. I just program it and it heats up.