Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

I have the Char Griller pellet smoker from Lowe's. It's a copy of the Traeger Lil' Tex, but bigger. I was a newb and this is my first smoker. Best thing is the electronic thermostat. Set the temp and it will run all night without having to get up and fiddle with it. It also has a fairly large smoking area. I use it 5,6,7 times a month and never had an issue.

It occasionally goes on sale for $450. When it did I registered on line for the Lowe's 10% off moving coupon, so right around $400.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_411019-49769-9020_0__?productId=4437209

 

Ive tried the offset horizontal and vertical smokers. Ive tried electric smokers. You cant go wrong with an 18.5 Weber Smokey Mountain. Easy to control, does not use a lot of charcoal/wood and makes delicious meat!

here is my WSM with the upgraded stainless steel door with my homemade door knob (picture not updated), upgraded temp gauge, added nomex high temp gasket and made my own wooden stand with wheels, and added two side garage door handles for easier lifting. I just cant leave my stuff looking stock

just read some of the reviews here

$419 Weber 18" Smokey Mountain Cooker, Charcoal Smoker

http://www.amazon.com/Weber-721001-...0516241&sr=8-1&keywords=weber+smokey+mountain

 

Burnt ends???

 

The beauty of BBQ!! Take an inexpensive cut and make it AWESOME!!!

 

Traeger Junior.

 

Damn you and your Yoder!

 

AMEN!!!

 

Brisket is at least 3x that here. Usually closer to 4x. Pork shoulder hovers between $2 and $3/lb, which is why I make a lot more pulled pork than brisket.

 

Holla!

 

Look on Craigslist. You can buy a all but new used one for a song. I personally love electrics with a smoke generator. I've owned several different types over the years and they are my favorites. I control the temps (well the thermostat does) the times, and the amount of smoke in ANY weather. I normally put shoulders/butts on at night and go to bed, never worrying about my fire going out etc: I can cold smoke cheese, bacon and fish. They are just simple and easy, must be a reason BBQ competitions won't allow them...

 

Ain't no shame in the Traeger. Since they took a hit on reputation after moving manufacturing out of country they seem to have gotten their stuff together and are making some good quality stuff again. I've got the Traeger Texas Pro and LOVE it, everything that has come off of it has been great. I don't use their Pellets though no flavor to them. After a bunch of research I ended up with Lumberjack Pellets after trying a few of them one of my favorites turns out to be one of their blends called OHC which is Oak, Hickory, Cherry blend. Real nice blend that adds a ton of flavor to the meat. Pulled the winter blanket off the Traeger a few weeks ago (it's a thermal wrap for the cold winters here) and made some steaks on it, I smoke them for about 30 mins on a smoke only setting then pull and bring the temp up to high and put them back on.

 

Just checked my local Krogers. They're doing 1.97/lb brisket too!

 

Loved my Traeger Junior! I got my money's worth and then some! Just didn't think the temp control was the greatest. I'm still a pellet head! Gonna have to look for Lumberjack pellets. Been using Q pellets. I like the straight hickory for most of my use, but have enjoyed their "competition blend" as well.

 

This one has the upgraded controller, actually been thinking about hacking it and putting a Raspberry Pi inline with it to allow me to control things a little better and also allow me to do it remotely with my phone

 

I got a masterbuilt electric smoker it works pretty good, it doesnt get the bark like a charcoal smoker but I still have good results. Works really good for jerky...If I dont have the time I just put the rub on the brisket and set the temp at 250 for 6hrs and its good to go...

 

I have been using an offset smoker that has no firebox for the past couple of months. Got it for free from my dad and just repainted it. I just put a chimney of charcoal and a couple lumps of wood on the side where the rigged door is and then put the meat on the other side and let it go to town. Have made some really nice Pork Butts, Whole Chickens, and more that way. I would love to buy a Weber Smokey Mountain though as I know I could do a lot better with it and not use as much charcoal or wood for the smoke, just haven't spent the money on it yet...

 

Must be a Texas thing. HEB has them for $1.97 per pound also. Time to stock the freezer

 

Pretty much. Can't smoke this weekend. But next weekend... and the weekend after....

Brizkit for dayz, yo.

 

Thanks very much for all the suggestions thus far.

Anybody ever tried this...

$436 Pit Barrel Cooker Classic Package - 18.5" Drum Smoker | Porcelain Coated Steel BBQ Grill | Includes 8 Hooks, 2 Hanging Rods, Grill Grate and More

http://www.amazon.com/Pit-Barrel-Cooker-Co-Package/dp/B00BQMDZYY

 

Pellets have been mentioned and if you buy a pellet grill know that the pellets are a major factor in the taste of your food. As a relative newb these are a few of the things I think are important. IMHO, of course!

1) Pellets - if they don't specifically tell you what's in them then don't buy them. Traeger is a prime example. The bag says "hickory", or "mesquite", but nothing else. It is either a blend of the mentioned wood with a filler (non flavor) wood such as alder, or "flavor oils". It could be 20% hickory and 80% filler or... You just don't know. I went through Traeger, Louisiana and a few other brands when I first started and was very disappointed in the results. Why spend time and money to get poor results? Not worth it. I just cleaned out my garage last weekend and will be tossing out four 1/2 used bags of tasteless pellets. Look for brands that tell you exactly what's in them (100% flavor woods is best, either one wood or combo of species like cherry/hickory). I couldn't find any local but through research on pellet grill forums found several 100% brands that were highly recommended. I ended up with CookingPellets 100% Hickory because of their great recommendations, it's a family run business and I get free shipping buying them through Amazon Prime. I go through about 1 bag a month and it truly makes a difference in the taste.

2) Use a smoke tube - pellet smokers by themselves don't give you a great amount of smoke flavor. Use of a smoke tube enhances the smoke taste. Well worth it.

Probably more things but those 2 are what I first think of. Let us know what you do and good luck!