Does anyone have a Smoker?

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

Thanks so much ....valuable information. You sound like you really know what you are talking about.

So.....I definately don't want to babysit a smoker.....and would like it to go 8hrs with out having to add more wood or touch something. Also I can't break the bank with it but also want it to last.......do you recommend electric? Which brand and where would be a good place to get one? Oh and cold smoke for fish would be nice....dont know much about that process but it sure tastes good.

Sorry for all the questions....but I dont know too much right now. All I know is I love smoked meat (use wood on my bbq quite often).....and would like to be able to do some more.

thanks again Steve.

well being in ontario you probably have a lot bigger selection that I have around here. if you go on that web site I posted there is reviews, recipies and all kids of info.. more than I could ever start to explain. but if your local canadian tires have this one run grab it
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

especialy since it is on sale for under 100 bucks, and gets fairly deicent reviews. your still going to need to reload the chips every 4 or 5 hours, but you can buy something like the amaz n smoke generator for like 25 bucks and get up to 10 hours of smoke and for use to cold smoke.

Steve

[reefermadness]

Holy crap....If I can find one (I know my local CT wont have it) I'm gonna pick that up.

thanks...

[reefermadness]

gawd dang Crappy Tire....I checked 2 CT's and they said they didnt have any and couldnt find a store that did.......I called and was told its discontinued.

Well if I can't buy it, why the heck is it on your website.?

[hillbillyreefer]

That is too bad. I paid $150 for mine a year ago, happy with the unit in general. At $80 it's a steal.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

That is too bad. I paid $150 for mine a year ago, happy with the unit in general. At $80 it's a steal.

is yours a master built or a centreno? they had masterbuilt make a spicific line for canadian tire and named it centreno (not sure about the spelling) and thats when they used to stock them, but the electronics were suspect on the centreno so they quit having them made and just went with the normal masterbuilt product and hence quit stocking them for a store stock.

Steve

[plutoniumJoe]

I am not trying to sway anyone either way (because I know that this can be a hot debatable topic) but as for babysitting my smoker, it doesn't really take much time.

I can load my Weber Smokey Mountain with lump and let it burn for about 5hrs with only one slight adjustment after about 1hr. I smoked a Turkey in April at 275 for 5hrs and only touched the carbs once at the 1hr mark and again at 4.5hrs to open er up and crisp for the last half hour. Still had plenty of fire left when I took the bird off. If I wanted a longer burn time I could use brickets and get 7hrs. I prefer to use the lump as they are nothing but wood and brickets contain fillers. I feel the flavour is worth it.

I would recommend the book "Low and Slow" if you are starting out smoking. It can be a little condescending at times but it would get any one new to smoking off to a good start.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by plutoniumJoe

I can load my Weber Smokey Mountain with lump and let it burn for about 5hrs with only one slight adjustment after about 1hr.

yup and that the difference between a 35 buck charcoal smoker and a 400 to 500 buck one. I did about 5 hours of mods on my brinkman and it is still a pain.. I can't leave it for more than 10 min. I am slowly getting it better but here I have another problem.. no wood burning outdoor apliances are allowed and anything that burns real wood or lump falls in that catagory. I could run it on charcoal but I don't like the flavor it imparts.

only option is electric for summer for me. also for someone starting out electric can be very good as it is easier so they will get more good bbq results sooner, then if they decide they want the challange they can go to wood or what ever. another reason I am going electric is for making sasuage, you would be hard pressed on even the webber to start at 90 degrees for 2 hours then each hour raise the temp 10 degrees, till you get to 170. with electric and a step PID that I am using to make my big fridge smoker I can pre program this and not worry about it.

realy it makes no difference what you use for the heat source, electric, propain or wood, the only difference is how you apply the smoke. if you use a true stick burner then thats all you do, if you use lump, charcoal, propain or electric you have to introduce the smoke, weather it be by a chip tray or by just putting chunks of wood on the coals. the amount of smoke and consistancy of its aplication is the important part.

and heck when you can get a 300 buck electric smoker which gets very good reviews in the smoking comunity for 89 bucks, can you falt anyone for buying it

Steve

[hillbillyreefer]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

is yours a master built or a centreno? they had masterbuilt make a spicific line for canadian tire and named it centreno (not sure about the spelling) and thats when they used to stock them, but the electronics were suspect on the centreno so they quit having them made and just went with the normal masterbuilt product and hence quit stocking them for a store stock.

Steve

Mine is a Masterbuilt. It's been good to me so far. I did hear about the electronics giving trouble, but not until after I bought mine. IIRC it was the centreno brand that gave trouble.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

gawd dang Crappy Tire....I checked 2 CT's and they said they didnt have any and couldnt find a store that did.......I called and was told its discontinued.

Well if I can't buy it, why the heck is it on your website.?

I went in and bought one yesterday. it is discontinued for store stock only, so what happens is they order them as they are bought. what I did was go in prepay for it and they will call me when it is in. 2 to 4 weeks depending on where it has to come from. so try going into a canuck rubber write down the product number and tell them you would like them to order it in. if they say the sale is over, then tell them you were in and wanted it the other day and no one told you that it had to be ordered and you still want the sale price.. they are good with pricing after the sale is over. I think two other of my friends ordered this one yesterday or are going today also.

Steve