Got My Smoke On!

Besides making me hungry, I know want a smoker. Can I use a cheap charcoal bbq to start or do I need a proper smoker?

 

I would say use a true smoker. To be honest you can get some good deals and places like Home Depot, or off craigslist for a decent starter one. Then as you get into (not an if it's an done deal) you will be upgrading to better and better ones. I bought a Traeger Pellet pooper about 6-8 months ago. LOVE IT. Already looking into my next upgrade for next year and what I want lol. My like cars/trucks/guns it's a addiction

 

I would say you are better off to use a grill for a smoker if you already own a grill.

If you have no equipment and are getting started a grill can be used to grill or smoke a smoker only smokes. Never buy a unitasker as Alton would say...

If you really want to get a dedicated smoker WalMart sells the Little Chief electric smoker for $107 and Home Depot sells a bullet smoker for $49. Both are great starter smokers but only do one thing, they do not grill. The Little Chief is a great starter smoker comes with wood chips and everything.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Masterbuilt-Charcoal-Bullet-Smoker-20060116/206288137

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Little-Chief-Front-Load-Smoker/7386358

 

I have one of these, haven't done a ton of smoking but what I have done has turned out great. It's also the best bbq I've ever owned...
http://www.pkgrills.com/the-pk-grill-smoker-classic-silver/

 

Wow I never heard of those before looks like a simple but awesome design with nice thick material to hold in the heat.

 

All thick aluminum, great design, very controllable.

Interesting story behind the company... the original designers / manufacturers went out of business many years ago. It first came out in the 50's. A few years ago, a couple were at a garage sale or something and they saw one, bought it. They then wanted to replace the grill insert, but discovered that they were no longer made. So, they bought the rights and design from the original manufacturer's peeps, and rebooted the company. Exact same design as it was in the 50's.

 

I like the way they just have one model in two colors. It definitely looks like a great design and if I did not already have more grills/smokers than I need I would absolutely buy one.

 

Yeah, and up until very recently they only had one color, the original raw aluminum silver.

 

Check out your local Craigslist, you'd be suprised what people are willing to let go for little to no money!

 

I like mesquite the best IMO...

depends on the size of the BBQ because you need to control the temp. You can always grill something and make foil pack with your favorite chips in it and throw it on the coals while grilling or get a chip smoke box....they sell those at walmart too.

 

Smoked another brisket yesterday, I was a little disappointed still working on consistency. After 12 hours it just was not tender enough I did not watch my smoker close enough and it ran closer to 180 than 225. The flat was good but the thicker part of the point is in a crock pot now trying to get tender.

 

Doing a little 4lb Costco brisket today, hope to take pictures when its done. Hope I can keep it from getting too dry. Anyone use injection in their brisket?

 

I do not inject but I have read online that if you inject a brisket you can just use plain water or beef broth it does not have to be anything fancy.

 

try wrapping in foil for at least 3 hours. I can do a good brisket 3hours in the smoker, wrap in foil and 3hours in the oven @300 let it rest lightly covered in foil for 30min before slicing.

 

I wrapped it in foil and then in a towel and then in a cooler and went to bed last night. It was in there about 8 hours after being in the stick burner for 12 hours. It was 185F when it went in the cooler. Maybe I just got a poor quality brisket...

 

Its more likely preparation/cooking since brisket is a tough meat. why did you leave it in the cooler for 8hrs? Next time try what Ive done...I put it in a rimmed cookie sheet 3hrs @ 200-250 on the smoker, cover in foil 3hrs @ 300 in oven. loosely covered in foil 30min to rest then slice.

 

Just threw in 6 apple cheddar brats with my brisket Smoking more than Snoop Diggity Dogg at a Grateful Dead concert!

 

1/2 lb. burger, stuffed with lobster corn chowder, wrapped in bacon, topped with cheddar.

 

What in thee hell is that? Highly original, looks extremely