Cigar Asylum Cigar Forum  

Go Back   Cigar Asylum Cigar Forum > Non Cigar Specialty Forums > Good Eats

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-29-2015, 08:46 AM   #1
mahtofire14
Chillin in the Aging Room
 
mahtofire14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
First Name: Pete
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1,588
Trading: (16)
Bolivar
mahtofire14 is a jewel in the roughmahtofire14 is a jewel in the roughmahtofire14 is a jewel in the rough
Default Recommendations for an electric/propane smoker

I've been smoking meats on a barrel grill with natrural charcoal and wood chunks for years. I'm getting sick of having to babysit it on long smokes and with the temp fluctuation here in MN it gets very tedious. Looking for a solid smoker at or under the $300 mark. If that's possible. Can be either electric or propane. Mostly smoke brisket and butt and ribs.
__________________
Saving basements in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
mahtofire14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2015, 08:52 AM   #2
jonumberone
Raw Dog
 
jonumberone's Avatar
9
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
First Name: Dom
Location: Exit 8A
Posts: 6,474
Trading: (62)
RA
jonumberone has disabled reputation
Default Re: Recommendations for an electric/propane smoker

Pete, take a look at the Pit Barrel Cooker.
Not propane or electric but it solves the issues you've mentioned.
No baby sitting, fits your budget, and turns out great BBQ every time!

http://pitbarrelcooker.com/
__________________
Sex junkie looking for a dealer
jonumberone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2015, 09:08 AM   #3
markem
Bunion
 
markem's Avatar
16
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Mark
Location: Second Star on the Right
Posts: 22,441
Trading: (47)
HUpmann
markem has disabled reputation
Default Re: Recommendations for an electric/propane smoker

My understanding is that the pit barrel smoker holds steady heat. Before buying another, I'd contact them and get their opinion of suitability for the types of temps (and winds!) that you plan to use it with.

I have a ceramic smoker ($$... okay $$$) that holds perfect temps, but still needs a bit of babysitting for long smokes at low temps. I plan to at a BBQ guru this winter (Xmas present to myself!) so that I don't have to sit it ($$).

With your temp fluctuations, the amount of heat loss through the sides of the smoker could be high. I had this with my Traeger smokers and basically could not use them in colder temps because the heat was focused in such a small area.

How big to you want? The size for a full brisket packer or turkey can have quite the volume to keep warm.
__________________
I refuse to belong to any organization that would have me as a member.
~ Groucho Marx
markem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2015, 09:54 AM   #4
mahtofire14
Chillin in the Aging Room
 
mahtofire14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
First Name: Pete
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1,588
Trading: (16)
Bolivar
mahtofire14 is a jewel in the roughmahtofire14 is a jewel in the roughmahtofire14 is a jewel in the rough
Default Re: Recommendations for an electric/propane smoker

It doesn't need to be huge. Generally just smoke meats for my wife and I. I was looking at some of the ones Cabelas has and they all look like I'll have to hang racks of ribs to avoid cutting them down to fit. They seem to be about 30 in tall and around 15 in wide and about 12 in deep. Smaller than I want but in my budget that seems to be about the size I'm going to see.

I definitely lose heat out of the sides of my barrel grill. It's a cheap charbroil one as well so it takes a lot of effort to keep it steady.
__________________
Saving basements in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
mahtofire14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2015, 09:58 AM   #5
T.G
Grrrrrr
 
T.G's Avatar
16
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
First Name: The Other Adam
Posts: 15,535
Trading: (37)
Navy (Served With Honor)
T.G has disabled reputation
Default Re: Recommendations for an electric/propane smoker

Quote:
Originally Posted by jonumberone View Post
Pete, take a look at the Pit Barrel Cooker.
Not propane or electric but it solves the issues you've mentioned.
No baby sitting, fits your budget, and turns out great BBQ every time!

http://pitbarrelcooker.com/

^This.^

Don't let the size fool you, that little drum can crank out a lot of food at once.

Mark has a valid point about calling them about the temps and heat in MN, it might just handle it fine as it was originally designed up in the mountains in Colorado, maybe not Minnesota cold, but thin air and cold in the winter. My thought is you just open the air damper a bit more, but they can tell you for certain.
T.G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2015, 10:01 AM   #6
T.G
Grrrrrr
 
T.G's Avatar
16
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
First Name: The Other Adam
Posts: 15,535
Trading: (37)
Navy (Served With Honor)
T.G has disabled reputation
Default Re: Recommendations for an electric/propane smoker

Quote:
Originally Posted by mahtofire14 View Post
It doesn't need to be huge. Generally just smoke meats for my wife and I. I was looking at some of the ones Cabelas has and they all look like I'll have to hang racks of ribs to avoid cutting them down to fit. They seem to be about 30 in tall and around 15 in wide and about 12 in deep. Smaller than I want but in my budget that seems to be about the size I'm going to see.

I definitely lose heat out of the sides of my barrel grill. It's a cheap charbroil one as well so it takes a lot of effort to keep it steady.
The PBC uses hangers for ribs, it can do up to 8 racks at a time. You would think that they might burn with the tips being that close to the coals, but they don't and they cook completely evenly. It's spooky how well it works with how little effort.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showpo...postcount=4840
T.G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2015, 10:30 AM   #7
mahtofire14
Chillin in the Aging Room
 
mahtofire14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
First Name: Pete
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1,588
Trading: (16)
Bolivar
mahtofire14 is a jewel in the roughmahtofire14 is a jewel in the roughmahtofire14 is a jewel in the rough
Default Re: Recommendations for an electric/propane smoker

I really would like an electric smoker but that one is getting me thinking a little.
__________________
Saving basements in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
mahtofire14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2015, 02:23 PM   #8
8lug
Smoking with the Chief
 
8lug's Avatar
6
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Mark
Location: Masshole
Posts: 789
Trading: (14)
Partagas
8lug is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Recommendations for an electric/propane smoker

if you can spend a bit more you should look at the big green egg. as close to auto pilot as you're going to get. And it unaffected by the elements.
8lug is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2015, 06:30 PM   #9
mahtofire14
Chillin in the Aging Room
 
mahtofire14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
First Name: Pete
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1,588
Trading: (16)
Bolivar
mahtofire14 is a jewel in the roughmahtofire14 is a jewel in the roughmahtofire14 is a jewel in the rough
Default Re: Recommendations for an electric/propane smoker

Quote:
Originally Posted by 8lug View Post
if you can spend a bit more you should look at the big green egg. as close to auto pilot as you're going to get. And it unaffected by the elements.
My old man has one. Too much money. Kind of just want away from charcoal.
__________________
Saving basements in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
mahtofire14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2015, 08:17 AM   #10
Barcode
Adjusting to the Life
 
Barcode's Avatar
4
 
Join Date: May 2010
First Name: Tom
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 477
Trading: (16)
RyJ Navy (Served With Honor)
Barcode will become famous soon enough
Default Re: Recommendations for an electric/propane smoker

I bought one of these from Home Depot a couple of years ago and have not had any problems with it.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Masterbui...0210/202570588
__________________
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag and begin to slit throats
Barcode is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:55 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
All content is copyrighted jointly by Cigar Asylum and the content provider.