Smoker recommendations

[SuperDave]

Smoked for a big party yesterday. 16 pounds of pork butt and 17 pounds of brisket.

[Jetspray]

When it comes to smoking, it is all about trial and error. Experience trumps expense. I'd be much happier going to a bbq where the guys been working the same unit for years, than the guy whos new to the game and just spent 1k on a smoker. in my experience, little chief and big chief work great for smoking salmon and making jerky but they run a little cool for a tritip. The ol Brinkman barrel smoker in electric or coal does a killer tritip and likewise ribs, set that baby in the temperature range of "ideal" and you'll be happy :) That temperature gauge always kills me; warm, ideal, hot "ideal" lol. Trager is great, easy and straightforward, but I'm banking on the secondary market for these as they've grown so popular so fast there are bound to be some great second-hand smoker deals coming soon!

I have had a total of 4 smokers over the years and I agree with you, I have smoked Eagle Lake trout using a portable gas grill and chips in aluminum foil over the gas flame. It is all choice and if you want to sit around with a beer in hand, just to keep things going well. I also have welders blankets for the Traeger just to smoke in the snow if I wanted to........Jetspray

[TheIrishBean]

When it comes to smoking, it is all about trial and error. Experience trumps expense. I'd be much happier going to a bbq where the guys been working the same unit for years, than the guy whos new to the game and just spent 1k on a smoker. in my experience, little chief and big chief work great for smoking salmon and making jerky but they run a little cool for a tritip. The ol Brinkman barrel smoker in electric or coal does a killer tritip and likewise ribs, set that baby in the temperature range of "ideal" and you'll be happy :) That temperature gauge always kills me; warm, ideal, hot "ideal" lol. Trager is great, easy and straightforward, but I'm banking on the secondary market for these as they've grown so popular so fast there are bound to be some great second-hand smoker deals coming soon!

[Jetspray]

I would love to suggest masterbuilt is one of the best choices that you can consider after Bradley...

I had one in the past and I agree with WD about the puck thing. Right now the pellet thing is getting more attention, that is why I chose the Traeger direction. There are so many new types on the market to purchase. I also use a separate remote thermo. to check the meat temps and have two of them to do so. I have given away 3 smokers in the past because they just did not work that well and you had to baby sit them too much. On days that you have a ton of folks coming over and both the smoker and BBQ are in full operation you just can't spread too thin if you are loosing memory with age, now why am I in this room........Jetspray

[Jetspray]

Traeger is what I have and love it.

Thing so far about the Traeger is that it is adjustable and you can fine grade your old chips to add into the mix, I bought a cheapo black & decker food processer at WalMart to do that, so far no plug ups as long as it is mixed in.......Jetspray

[kentatas]

If you want high quality and you want to spend the $$$ go with cookshack. I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure they start around $700 for a small one. They are very good smokers. Masterbuilt makes good dependable smokers for about half of the cost of a cookshack. Best bang for the buck.
The bradly is simple and easy to use, works good I am told, but I personally don't like using the puck things. I like using wood chips and I often mix different wood chips for different flavors. Can't do that with pucks.
Go with electric as they are simple, easy and reliable.

I would love to suggest masterbuilt is one of the best choices that you can consider after Bradley...

[Jetspray]

Leftover smoked meat always seems to taste better doesn't it? The smoke flavor really stabilizes throughout the meat.

I agree Dave, things generally blossom as they age, kind of like you and me. Hey you are a great cook and love the stuff you post.......Jetspray

[SuperDave]

I actually cut the meat off the bone on the ribs I did not eat at the first sitting and added some BBQ sauce heated them up and placed everything on a nice fresh Hawaiian burger bun. Got to say it was very taste. Whalonem

Leftover smoked meat always seems to taste better doesn't it? The smoke flavor really stabilizes throughout the meat.

[whalonem]

I actually cut the meat off the bone on the ribs I did not eat at the first sitting and added some BBQ sauce heated them up and placed everything on a nice fresh Hawaiian burger bun. Got to say it was very taste. Whalonem

[ampm]

That seems like an awful long time to cook, i would just throw it in some oil on the stir fry.

Dude, you're going to stir fry ribs?? Ok i guess.