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OT: A little help with a new smoker, please...

Seinfeld

Seinfeld

All-American
Nov 30, 2006
11,097
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To say I'm a novice at smoking would probably be giving myself too much credit, so I'm hoping that someone can get me pointed in the right direction. I'm wanting to get something new to smoke a pork shoulder for the 4th, and I'm on a budget. Looking for something in the $200-$350 range, and at of the end of the day, I'd just like to have something that's pretty straight forward and that can cook an decent brisket, rack of ribs, or shoulder.

Based on that, any suggestions in terms of what to get and where to look? I've got some company points that I can spend on a few gift cards, so I'd like to try to find something at Lowe's, Bass Pro, or Sears if possible. I'm hearing a lot of praise for vertical smokers. Any thoughts on those and whether to try an electric one?

Finally, if anyone has a winning shoulder recipe, that would be appreciated too. Gracias
 
Shmuley

Shmuley

Heisman
Mar 6, 2008
23,811
10,609
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Would like to help but your budget is too low. Way too low. ...........................

If you want simple, straightforward, idiot proof, then come see me when your budget is 2.5 times your top end.
 
J

Jimbob Cooter

Redshirt
Apr 30, 2013
133
0
0
I churn out smoked meats routinely on a simple Weber kettle grill.

But if you want idiot proof, it's hard to screw up a barrel grill with a smoker box on the side. Something like this. Yes, that one is $429, but you can get them cheaper or make them yourself. Just wanted to give you the general idea.
 
was21

was21

Senior
May 29, 2007
9,931
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Not to brag either, but I can do baby back ribs or a pork shoulder on a simple Weber charcoal kettle grill that will be as good as you'll ever get, and it doesn't take a long time, particularly ribs.
 
Dawgbite

Dawgbite

All-American
Nov 1, 2011
8,689
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Seinfeld said:
To say I'm a novice at smoking would probably be giving myself too much credit, so I'm hoping that someone can get me pointed in the right direction. I'm wanting to get something new to smoke a pork shoulder for the 4th, and I'm on a budget. Looking for something in the $200-$350 range, and at of the end of the day, I'd just like to have something that's pretty straight forward and that can cook an decent brisket, rack of ribs, or shoulder.

Based on that, any suggestions in terms of what to get and where to look? I've got some company points that I can spend on a few gift cards, so I'd like to try to find something at Lowe's, Bass Pro, or Sears if possible. I'm hearing a lot of praise for vertical smokers. Any thoughts on those and whether to try an electric one?

Finally, if anyone has a winning shoulder recipe, that would be appreciated too. Gracias
Click to expand...
The cheapest idiot proof smoker is the Brinkman barrel type charcoal smoker. It's the one that looks like a black garbage can with a dome lid. It has a charcoal pan in the bottom, a water pan above it and two cooking racks above the water pan. It's very simple, just fill the bottom pan with charcoal and light it, fill the water pan with liquid, and put the meat on and wait there is no temp regulating to worry about, it's design will not allow you to get too hot. They have a little door on the side to add charcoal or wood chips. It should be less than $100 but they make a stainlesss steel one that's probably pushing $200. Spend another $50-$75 on a good remote meat thermometer, I like the Maverick but there are others and that way you will not be constantly lifting the lid checking your meat. Remember, if you're looking, you're not cooking!
 
C

Crazy Cotton

All-Conference
Aug 26, 2012
3,642
1,391
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you have your best two options already presented here. A 22.5 weber will smoke a great butt, brisket or ribs, and is the best hamburger grill you will ever have, and a gold model is less than 300 bucks. Get a cover and clean it out every-time, and that American made piece of magic will last you a good ten years.

if you want an easier but more limited option, go with the electric or gas smoker. You can do a lot more meat at a time, but that's all you can do. You literally plug it in, set the temp, throw on a few chunks of wood, and come back in about 8 hours and get your meat off of it.

The real secret to smoking good BBQ is temp regulation - the biggest screw up the average guy makes is to put cold meat on the smoker, then a ton of smoking wood on, and then wonder why the meat tastes like an ashtray. You need the outside of your meat to be hot, and your smoker to be hot, BEFORE you put the smoke to it. If not, you will get condensation of the smoke and creasote all over you meat, and that is nasty. And that's what a lot of people's early attempts taste like. It's always better to have to light a smoke than to heavy. In fact, the traditional Memphis style uses charcoal instead of smoke, and a lot of the flavor is from fat dripping down on that charcoal and smoking up into the meat. Go easy on the smoke wood until you know what you are doing.

edit to add, I have an obvious problem with too and to.
 
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ckDOG

ckDOG

All-American
Dec 11, 2007
9,981
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Can't go wrong with the Weber. I think the 22.5 is $400.

We use a couple in competitions and routinely place well among the teams using their $20k+ rigs. If you want a small scale smoker that puts the smoke where it needs to be and isn't tough to regulate the temp, the weber is awesome.
 
DocHolliday.sixpack

DocHolliday.sixpack

Junior
Aug 22, 2012
1,193
306
83
For a novice smoker you can't beat this....

Get you an electric stand up, refrigerator style smoker. I have several smokers but the easiest and most fool proof is hands down the electric. I actually cooked a Boston butt on it yesterday for the game last night. Set the time and temp and your done sans putting the woods chips in. It will cut off at set time, stay regulated at set temp. Just add some good wood. If you can't cook on this thing you should give up trying. I got mine at lowes for about $300. I think it's a CharBroil but any similar will do. You just about can't go wrong with these.
 
desotodawg

desotodawg

Redshirt
Sep 16, 2010
92
16
8
$170 - Char Grill Barrell snoker w/ Fire Box

I've used a Char Grill Barrel grill for that last 4 years. It's cheap, does a decent job and has a large grill space for grilling.

I suggest you go to Kroger to buy the base grill for $99, and then lowes for the firebox ($70) and grill cover($25). At least that's price here in TN.

I have 3 shoulders on the grill right now.

I don't use briquettes, but hardwood lump charcoal from Sam's Club, 20lb bag for $8. Then add apple chunks or Hickory chunks as needed.

Like other's have said, buy a decent thermometer, also, make sure you season the grill well before first use.

DD
 
D

Duckdawg

Redshirt
Nov 11, 2012
64
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I just bought the 22.5" to use at our lake house. Haven't used it yet but everything I've heard is very positive. Very easy to use from what I hear.
 
H

HamilReb

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
832
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I haven't read any replies.

I picked up a Weber Gold kettle yesterday for $150 at walmart. My first time smoking anything today, I smoked a whole chicken in a little over 3 hrs.

And it was pretty damn tasty. Just do a little research on the internets. But using the Weber is pretty much idiot proof, just pay attention to the temp.
 
B

blacklistedbully

Senior
Sep 8, 2008
4,172
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Another thing to consider when you're on a budget is getting one of the cheaper smokers and spending a few $ to upgrade it yourself with hi-temp sealants to make sure all the joints & welds are leak-proof. You can also buy magnetic strips to ensure a tighter fit on the door. You could also upgrade the thermometer. The point is to keep the heat as consistent & accurate as possible.
 
dawgman42

dawgman42

All-American
Jul 24, 2007
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Just be careful that on many of the cooking instructions on virtualweberbullet.com, they are geared for the 18.5". Shouldn't be too hard to adjust though. I'd love to have the 22.5" one.
 
C

codeDawg

Redshirt
Nov 13, 2007
2,102
0
36
Seinfeld said:
To say I'm a novice at smoking would probably be giving myself too much credit, so I'm hoping that someone can get me pointed in the right direction. I'm wanting to get something new to smoke a pork shoulder for the 4th, and I'm on a budget. Looking for something in the $200-$350 range, and at of the end of the day, I'd just like to have something that's pretty straight forward and that can cook an decent brisket, rack of ribs, or shoulder.

Based on that, any suggestions in terms of what to get and where to look? I've got some company points that I can spend on a few gift cards, so I'd like to try to find something at Lowe's, Bass Pro, or Sears if possible. I'm hearing a lot of praise for vertical smokers. Any thoughts on those and whether to try an electric one?

Finally, if anyone has a winning shoulder recipe, that would be appreciated too. Gracias
Click to expand...

If you are a novice and don't have a lot of resources, do yourself a favor and buy a cheap electric smoker. Half the battle is temperature control and you can win that battle under $100. Learn how to select and prepare meat, then you can add in the complexities of a fancy smoker much later.

Do not buy a cheap charcoal smoker. You will go crazy trying to keep the temperature regulated.
 
P

Prediction? Pain.

Redshirt
Jun 2, 2013
109
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The Smokenator is a great option. A $60 addition to an already amazing piece of equipment--a standard, $100 Weber Kettle--that allows for relatively easy temperature control and hours of a slow burn. I've done butts, briskets, chicken, ribs, and fish on mine with great results.

But regardless of what kind of smoker you pick up, you should get a good thermometer. The accuracy of dial thermometers attached to the domes of most grills and smokers is unreliable. Wireless thermometers are great, like this one by Maverick. Allows you to remotely monitor grill and food temps (which are key when you're smoking something) from inside the house.

Oh, and when in doubt, go here: http://amazingribs.com/. I had no idea what I was doing when I began smoking stuff a few years back, and that site provided me all I needed to know (and much more) to get started. The equipment review portion of the site could actually be a good place to read up on your smoker options (though I still say the Smokenator is tough to beat in its price range).

Hope that helps. Glad you're taking the plunge. After I smoked my first pork shoulder, I was astounded and somewhat ashamed that I hadn't started the hobby sooner.
 
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Seinfeld

Seinfeld

All-American
Nov 30, 2006
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Thanks for all the suggestions, and I've just about decided on a Masterbuilt electric vertical. Wal-mart has one with a side loading wood chip tray for $177 and at that price, I'll still have plenty of $$$ to spend on a cover, chips, etc.

I noticed that they have a higher priced model with a glass door, but does anyone here find that to be all that useful? It seems like it might come in handy at times, but I guess I'm thinking that as long as you're controlling the temp and keeping track of time, why do you need to see the meat?
 
The Peeper

The Peeper

Heisman
Feb 26, 2008
15,373
10,490
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Good choice, got mine @ Bass Pro. The glass doors I've seen you couldn't see through after several good uses, they cloud up or smoke over too much. The small learning curve on these is how much smoke is too much. Start out w/ not much and experiment because you can definitely overpower the meat w/ smoke. My only other mistake was on a turkey, too much white wine in the liquid pan, turkey ended up tasting too strongly of wine. Otherwise, set it and forget it. To clean it, take the racks and pans out and run them through the dish washer. Put some plain water in pan and turn temp up all the way for a couple hours maybe. It loosens up the gunk on the inside and makes wiping it down a whole lot easier.
 
PBRME

PBRME

All-Conference
Feb 12, 2004
10,854
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The correct answer would've been New Braunfels Black Diamond smoker. Sadly after 10 years of heavy use and my fire box rusted out I found out it was discontinued.
 
DocHolliday.sixpack

DocHolliday.sixpack

Junior
Aug 22, 2012
1,193
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Good Choice...Here's why I like the glass door

I can see my meat thermometers without having to actually open the smoker. Granted it does get gunky. Every other time I use it I simply scrape the glass with a razor blade, looks like new. I will say I don't see it being that big of deal though. Your temp will only drop a few degrees while checking your thermometer and can easily be brought back up. As I said I have several diferrent kinds and this smoker is by far the easiest to use. I suggest apple wood chips. It has a sweeter flavor and it's hard to over power the food with a strong smoke flavor like you can easily do with Hickory. I think you will like it and find the digital controls very easy to whip out some good BBQ.
 
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