Best smoker?

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Recommendations?

Electric? Gas? Charcoal?

Brand name? Features?

[limblips (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

Recommendations?

Electric? Gas? Charcoal?

Brand name? Features?

Larry, I have had all 3. Each has it's own pros and cons.

Electric: Good heat control
Minimal mess
Minimal tending
Lacking in flavor (IMO)

Gas: Best heat control
Not much mess
Minimal tending
Decent flavor if used with good wood chunks (not chips)
Propane is getting pricey

Charcoal: Great flavor (the best)
Usually lower cost
Temperature control is a *****
Messy
Taste can be off if you use charcoal lighter fluid (Use a starter chimney instead)

Overall gas gets my vote but any of them can do great things. There are a ton of reviews and recipes online. I bought my current smoker (gas) from Cabelas, a bit pricey at slightly over $300 but it is well built and troublefree after almost 5 years of heavy use.

These are only my opinions forumites so no flaming me!

[sparkyaclown]

Personally. hands down charcoal wins. You're not going to get the flavor out of the other options that you get from charcoal. I'd go for one with an offset firebox made from a pretty heavy gauge of steel. Avoid the bullet ones, they usually are pretty thin sheet metal and don't do well in colder temperatures. I can smoke year round in the Char-Broil one I got several years ago. Some of the offset smokers even have options to add a propane charcoal starter so there is no need for lighter fluid or a chimney. Mine has this option and I really like it. You just hook a tank up and fire the starter up for a couple of minutes then turn it off and disconnect it. As limblips stated temperature can be a pain, but after you've used it a few times you learn how to easily maintain yours. I would suggest pairing it with a Maverick ET-73 wireless thermometer to help maintain temperature without having to constantly babysit it. Also if you use hard lump charcoal, the mess is minimal as it produces substantially less ash than conventional briquets. It's a little more work than the others but in the end you get a better pay off.

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

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

Recommendations?

Electric? Gas? Charcoal?

Brand name? Features?

Gas worked best for me. I think a window would be nice, an external temp gauge with a probe that goes in the meat too. Some have timers which might be useful. Some auto feed pellets and control the amount of smoke. I think the last two are a bit much and take some of the "hands on" off of it, which is part of the fun. As far as brand, no recommendations there. Masterbuilt? They are in Cabellas.

[stockgirl]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

Recommendations?

Electric? Gas? Charcoal?

Brand name? Features?

Find the right one.
Electric
Vraiblonde. Nice ass.

[KDENISE977]

I have hears a lot of good things about those Big Green Egg things??

[Chris0nllyn]

This is the grill I got last year.
RedStone? 4 Way Charcoal & LP Gas Grill - GlobalExclusions | Gardening Supplies, Gardening Tips, Gardening Ideas

Gas....check
Charcoal....check
Smoker Box....check

It's gigantic, but I've smoked a few racks of ribs, and a whole turkey so far. I've been using apple wood and hickory as a smoke.

The only thing it needs is some high temp. gasket (like a fireplace door) around the top of the smoker box, and charcoal part of the grill.

[kwillia]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

Best smoker?

It used to be Vrai... she was always so committed...

[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.

[Pete]

My electric which was given to me by Christy kicked the bucket last weekend in the middle of a smoked turkey. I had to improvise with my Webber to finish it off.