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Smokers?

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Smokers?

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 10 25, 2017 •  [Post 1]

Electric, propane, charcoal? Gonna head up and grab a new smoker this weekend to replace my dead antique big chief. What do u cats recommend for jerky, fish, "etc" smoking needs? Does a person need a trillion dollar traeger or will a 150 bone smoker get er done.
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Re: Smokers?

Postby lamrith » 10 27, 2017 •  [Post 2]

2 questions to help folks guide you better.

  • Do you plan to start doing other things beyond just jerky and fish? Those if I recall are both lower temp smokes, <=150*?
  • How heavy of a smoke profile do you like in your jerky, fish etc?

Temps - If you were wanting to consider doing ribs, pulled pork etc, you would want to look into a unit that could get up into the mid 200's or even 300+* consistently and easily. That is where a classic stick burner, some of the propane smokers and the pellet smokers come in handy. They can reach those higher temps and higher so they can be used to bake with (Think smoked turkey for Thanksgiving etc). Electric smokers typically struggle to get higher temps from I have heard.

Smoke profile - Stick, propane and electric can give a stronger smoke profile depending on how you set them. Pellet smokers are a lighter smoke flavor. There are some supplemental devices that can be added to a pellet rig to increase smoke, but I do not think they get to the point they rival the max output of the other three.

Hopefully that helps.

I am a pellet grill owner and fan, so much so I became a dealer for BBQ pellets. I have not used my propane smoker, or my propane grill since I got one 3+yrs ago. They can do everything well, and with some extra accys do some very very well. What I like most about mine is that it can cover a wide range of cooking from low n slow smoking, mid temp baking, to high temp searing all in a single unit. Mine ranges 180*-550*. A pellet smoker is honestly set and forget, set the temp and walk away until the food is done. No chip tray to keep watch on and keep fed to keep smoking. However they are not kings of everything. So if you want that heavy smoke, and/or like a really hot and heavy sear on your steaks keeping your existing grill and going with an elect/propane smoker may be best. It just takes more room on your deck.

Just an FYI - all the meat I brought for meals at elk camp this year were cooked on my Rectec pellet grill and I was able to sleep blissfully while it cooked away on the back porch all on it's own.
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Re: Smokers?

Postby lamrith » 10 27, 2017 •  [Post 3]

Some samples from the rectec.[img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171027/75ae159d060b9fbb3b8f75f5dbd0802c.jpg[/img][img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171027/742377efa970e928093b4262a95a77ef.jpg[/img][img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171027/825b44c6563bca56db4a697766106564.jpg[/img]

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'15 Elite E35. 30.5", 67#
100Gr. G5 montecs
Sportsman's Vital Impact 300spine

http://www.pelletpeddler.com
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Re: Smokers?

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 10 30, 2017 •  [Post 4]

Ended up getting a Masterbuilt 40" Electric thingamajig. I think it'll do the job(s) I need it to. Seasoned it (broke it in) last night per manufacturer directions... Worked quite well :D. Gonna unthaw some meat towards the middle/end of the week and I'll be "smoking it up here boss" the coming weekend! We'll see how it works out.

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Re: Smokers?

Postby jmez » 10 31, 2017 •  [Post 5]

Good choice, I have one just like it and it works well. I would recommend purchasing the cold smoke box for it however. You don't get a lot of smoke with these electric smokers if doing anything "low and slow." The chip pan sits on the heating element and being thermostat driven the chips don't get heat all the time. Anything below 220 and they just don't smoke much. Included a link to a cold smoke box that fits right in where the chip tray goes. Pretty hard to beat this set up with the added cold smoker.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Masterbuilt-Electric-Cold-Smoker/1622658.uts
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Re: Smokers?

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 10 31, 2017 •  [Post 6]

jmez wrote:Good choice, I have one just like it and it works well. I would recommend purchasing the cold smoke box for it however. You don't get a lot of smoke with these electric smokers if doing anything "low and slow." The chip pan sits on the heating element and being thermostat driven the chips don't get heat all the time. Anything below 220 and they just don't smoke much. Included a link to a cold smoke box that fits right in where the chip tray goes. Pretty hard to beat this set up with the added cold smoker.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Masterbuilt-Electric-Cold-Smoker/1622658.uts


That's a good copy Jason, thanks! RJ
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Re: Smokers?

Postby Washington Wapiti » 10 31, 2017 •  [Post 7]

I meant to respond to this a couple of days ago, and this was going to be my recommendation also. I was looking into this one when I was looking for a portable R&D smoker for my work. May get one for my personal use if my Little Chief ever craps out.
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Re: Smokers?

Postby lamrith » 10 31, 2017 •  [Post 8]

jmez wrote:Good choice, I have one just like it and it works well. I would recommend purchasing the cold smoke box for it however. You don't get a lot of smoke with these electric smokers if doing anything "low and slow." The chip pan sits on the heating element and being thermostat driven the chips don't get heat all the time. Anything below 220 and they just don't smoke much. Included a link to a cold smoke box that fits right in where the chip tray goes. Pretty hard to beat this set up with the added cold smoker.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Masterbuilt-Electric-Cold-Smoker/1622658.uts

Hrmmmm.. I might have to pickup one of those to add to my pellet grill to use as a cold smoker! Thanks!
'15 Elite E35. 30.5", 67#
100Gr. G5 montecs
Sportsman's Vital Impact 300spine

http://www.pelletpeddler.com
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Re: Smokers?

Postby Lefty » 11 10, 2017 •  [Post 9]

Looks like a nice smoker!
As a young kid my dad smoked fish in an old refrigerator.

[quote="WapitiTalk1" unthaw [/quote]
I should be the last person editing spelling. :lol: :oops: My wife was a newspaper editor,.. she broke me from the use of some " words"

An old boss gave me his big Chief. Wore that smoker out. I dont know what brand but mine is a big red egg shaped "thing"
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Re: Smokers?

Postby lamrith » 11 10, 2017 •  [Post 10]

RJ!! How'd the new unit work out? Fill us in!
'15 Elite E35. 30.5", 67#
100Gr. G5 montecs
Sportsman's Vital Impact 300spine

http://www.pelletpeddler.com
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Re: Smokers?

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 11 12, 2017 •  [Post 11]

Good so far. Did up some BT jerky last weekend and it came out well.
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Re: Smokers?

Postby scubohuntr » 01 31, 2018 •  [Post 12]

jmez wrote:Good choice, I have one just like it and it works well. I would recommend purchasing the cold smoke box for it however. You don't get a lot of smoke with these electric smokers if doing anything "low and slow." The chip pan sits on the heating element and being thermostat driven the chips don't get heat all the time. Anything below 220 and they just don't smoke much. Included a link to a cold smoke box that fits right in where the chip tray goes. Pretty hard to beat this set up with the added cold smoker.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Masterbuilt-Electric-Cold-Smoker/1622658.uts

For cold smoking in one of those, get an "A-Maze-N Pellet Smoker", and set it on top of the chip tray. Follow the directions (when it says to use a propane torch to light it and let it burn ten minutes, that's what you need. Butane grill lighters just won't cut it. And let it burn ten minutes by the clock before you blow out the flame and put it in the smoker). I generally get right around 12 hours of good smoke, with very little extra heat, from mine. When I'm cold smoking, I don't even plug the smoker in. Add a sheet of foil on the bottom rack above the pellet smoker if you're smoking cheese or fish, just to baffle the convection. If you have trouble keeping it lit, microwave the pellets for a minute before you put them in the pellet smoker.
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