Best smoker?

[Hank]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

Recommendations?

Electric? Gas? Charcoal?

Brand name? Features?

This is the one my buddy has and it is bad ass... We even haul this sucker camping with us.

Masterbuilt Extra Wide Propane Smoker | Bass Pro Shops

[itsbob]

Originally Posted by sparkyaclown

I've also hear Big Green Eggs make great smokers but I don't have any experience with those as of yet.

Watched Alton Brown make one on his show, made it out of oversized Terra Cotta flower pots (like ones you'd plant small bushes in)..

Took a hot plate burner put it in the bottom of the flower pot, covered the pot with another terra cotta pot and fixed a thermometer to the drain hole on the top pot.

Can't remember is he used the electric burner for heat or for a starter for the charcoal, I think heat (and smoke) as I remember him mentioning temp control with the electric.

[ylexot]

Originally Posted by itsbob

Watched Alton Brown make one on his show, made it out of oversized Terra Cotta flower pots (like ones you'd plant small bushes in)..

Took a hot plate burner put it in the bottom of the flower pot, covered the pot with another terra cotta pot and fixed a thermometer to the drain hole on the top pot.

Can't remember is he used the electric burner for heat or for a starter for the charcoal, I think heat (and smoke) as I remember him mentioning temp control with the electric.

Yes, he used the electric for heat. He also put a pie tin on it with soaked wood chips for the smoke. I've thought about building one, but picked up an electric smoker for $15 at a yard sale this summer. It works. I'd like to put together a PID temperature controller for it though.

BTW, the comment about gas being the best for temperature control surprises me. A good temperature controller on an electric should be unbeatable.

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by ylexot

Yes, he used the electric for heat. He also put a pie tin on it with soaked wood chips for the smoke. I've thought about building one, but picked up an electric smoker for $15 at a yard sale this summer. It works. I'd like to put together a PID temperature controller for it though.

BTW, the comment about gas being the best for temperature control surprises me. A good temperature controller on an electric should be unbeatable.

Perhaps, but all you need to control the temp on gas is the thermometer and the valve.

[sparkyaclown]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

SMOKER OF THE YEAR!

Larry, be extravagant and pop the money for a Big Green Egg. This is the one I drool over and covet. It is a smoker, but it will also replace your dilapidated grill. At least go look at them.

I actually just picked a large one of these up Monday to replace my grill but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. I'll try it out as a smoker once I pick up a plate setter for it. The only drawback I see as a smoker is capacity. My smoker has probably more than double the capacity of the egg, which for most of my smoking is sufficient, but there are those times when I'm doing multiple things that the egg isn't going to cut it. The XL Egg would've probably been able to handle the full capacity I have ever needed. However, given that it would've lived in the garage I didn't want to wrestle that beast in and out every time I was grilling or smoking (which ends up being at least once a week on average). It is pricey, but it does have a lifetime warranty.

[Bird Dog (Premo)]

Barbecue (BBQ) Grills & Smokers | Traeger Wood Pellet Grills

Best grill, uses wood pellets of many different flavors

It smokes or cooks.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Awesome tread! Thank you ALL!

I SMELL brisket!!!

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

SMOKER OF THE YEAR!

Larry, be extravagant and pop the money for a Big Green Egg. This is the one I drool over and covet. It is a smoker, but it will also replace your dilapidated grill. At least go look at them.

Have you used one or know of someone who has? They do sound like THE way to go.

[sparkyaclown]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

Have you used one or know of someone who has? They do sound like THE way to go.

While I won't have a final verdict on smoking with it, I can post an update on temperature control as soon as I use mine, which will be possibly tomorrow. I've seen quite a few youtube videos of people smoking with them though and I would guess the flavor would be on par with other charcoal smokers.

[sparkyaclown]

Cranked up the Big Green Egg a couple of times this past weekend and have been pretty impressed. Temperature was super easy to control and start up was somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 minutes from lighting it to ready to cook. I could definitely see the potential in it as a smoker. Did a spatchcocked chicken on it last night and it turned out perfect. Actually got better results than I ever did on the gas grill.