Soooooo. I'm looking at smokers this year, with it being a pink season and all, and was wondering which would be best/easiest for a newbie (not a newbie cook, i used to do it for a living a lifetime ago). I want something in the $200 range, and something small enough for easy storage. Space is a bit of an issue. Looked at the big chief, i think it was 150-160 at wholesale. Oh yea and front loading a must, just seems easier that's all. Wally world had a propane one for about 220. Anyway any input would be helpful. Thanks.
propane vs electric smokers
- Thread starter Whopperman
- Start date
A lot depends on what and when you want to smoke. The electric models are very hard to control the temps in a narrow range and then they don't smoke very well with the element shut off in the cycle. propane has the extra heat to smoke in the winter, but they can be hard to cold smoke with and control at low temps. I have one of each and I wouldn't buy another electric one.
- Location
- Brandon....
I use a Bradley digital smoker this thing rocks...cold smoke pork loin,to smoked salmon!! you will never have any problem,exceptional costumer service aswell!! Even baby back ribs,smoke them for a hour in whatever flavour smoke you prefer(Hickory or maple) then throw em on the que! BRADLEY DIGITAL SMOKERS hand down... i wont even start about the smoked chickens!!!! $350 price range on sale...buy somethng for life not for a year!!!
Electric ... But get a good one ( $300 ) .. ( for Canada should be insulated ). .. If insulated and out of direct wind you can smoke in the winter .. Propane is not in the same same price range as an electric as they are not thermostatically controlled .. Yes you can add more heat fast as long as you are standing there to turn down the burner and re balance the ratio ...
Great to be in the house with the remote and jack up the temp from 75 feet away ..
Big chief is great for what it costs but is not insulated .. So summertime fun unless you built a shelter..
I would recommend .. Masterbuilt 30" With an Am-az-en pellet smoker ..
Bradleys are O.K. I passed as I wanted to control the smoke .. Not be a babysitter .. Not be feeding the biskets and then tossing then out half used , but to be fair I never used one .. Good review above , and easily found .. We both have the same warning though , buy for life .. Not great reviews of the $299 couisnart from CanadianTire .. They sell Bradley .. I had to get my Masterbuilt from Cabellas in the Us
Get on smoking meat .com fourm do some reading .. I have posted on there .. Same name .. Have built a shelter and love my eletric 30" .. Nothing like two brined BBQ chickens on a lazy February afternoon .. Smoked cheese .. The list goes on and on and on and ....
Brined .. Chickens soaked for 24 hours in a a few gal of water combined with a bit of your favorite rub, bit of garlic powder , bit of thyme, Rosemary etc .. Then patted dry and covered with your favorite dry rub and smoked ... Maybe a turkey breast .. Or two
Great to be in the house with the remote and jack up the temp from 75 feet away ..
Big chief is great for what it costs but is not insulated .. So summertime fun unless you built a shelter..
I would recommend .. Masterbuilt 30" With an Am-az-en pellet smoker ..
Bradleys are O.K. I passed as I wanted to control the smoke .. Not be a babysitter .. Not be feeding the biskets and then tossing then out half used , but to be fair I never used one .. Good review above , and easily found .. We both have the same warning though , buy for life .. Not great reviews of the $299 couisnart from CanadianTire .. They sell Bradley .. I had to get my Masterbuilt from Cabellas in the Us
Get on smoking meat .com fourm do some reading .. I have posted on there .. Same name .. Have built a shelter and love my eletric 30" .. Nothing like two brined BBQ chickens on a lazy February afternoon .. Smoked cheese .. The list goes on and on and on and ....
Brined .. Chickens soaked for 24 hours in a a few gal of water combined with a bit of your favorite rub, bit of garlic powder , bit of thyme, Rosemary etc .. Then patted dry and covered with your favorite dry rub and smoked ... Maybe a turkey breast .. Or two
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I used the big cheaf ele one and never again. The thin metal case is horrable insulation and it did nothing. My only luck with it was i did not half to pay the ele bill.
If I was to buy one today it would be propane.
..... well truth is the Bradley digital smoker. but for what you were asking I would go with propane.
If I was to buy one today it would be propane.
..... well truth is the Bradley digital smoker. but for what you were asking I would go with propane.
Agree 100%. I gave away the big chief after getting a new Bradley. Only thing I would recommend is to make up some aluminium discs to save the end semiburned wood ones. They work perfectly
If you want to get your moneys worth stay away from the toys you find in department stores.
I get my stuff from places like www.sausagemaker.com worth every penny
I get my stuff from places like www.sausagemaker.com worth every penny
In terms of cost to operate... Ive read that electric are the most expensive..then propane..and the cheapest being charcoal.
Im new to smoking..(less than a yr) but my $49 Bass Pro charcoal model is fun..cheap and easy to run and damn the finished product is tasty. And its small and easy to store.
Im new to smoking..(less than a yr) but my $49 Bass Pro charcoal model is fun..cheap and easy to run and damn the finished product is tasty. And its small and easy to store.
we had a Bradley digital. Had trouble with the wood pucks not sliding properly. Yes, we cleaned it well. As has been said, pucks are costly and a lot of waste and I did read somewhere that if the pucks are not used properly there could be bad health issues. (bonding agent related). One day the wind blew this Bradley off the deck and on to the ground. The door hinge broke and there were some dents. I gave it a size 10 steel toe boot to help it out into the real wind! We then picked up a Big Chief and insulation sheets from Home Hardware. This baby works mighty fine. Never tried a propane outfit.
