I think that I am sold on electric smokers

[futuresoptions]

Never thought I would be, I always considered myself a die hard wood fire guy ya know? My BIL gave me an old Brinkmann Smoke King that he converted over to a 1500w element. I'll tell you what, It was given to me a week ago and I have already cooked ribs and chicken twice and last night I cooked fish and mussels. When you can take your little stainless steel bowl and walk around filling it up with pieces of scrap mesquite bark that you find on the ground, place it on the element, plug the unit in and walk away from it and go on about your business. Come back and have the best food you've ever had.... Well, I think I am sold on the idea and that is all that I am going to say about that (In my best Forest Gump voice)

I think that these would be really easy to make and you can get the replacement heating elements at Bass Pro Shops for $29.99 I plan on checking at Academy as well...

Will post a few pics of my Brinkmann tomorrow...

[porsche4life]

Dude, check out a cook shack, or smokin tex. Similar designs, but they are mostly sealed except a smoke vent. Very good smokers. My dad uses his smokin tex all the time, put your stuff in, set the timer, and just leave it the hell alone.

[MT930]

The Cook Shack is the way to go ! +2

[porsche4life]

Plus they are made right here in OK!

[Jim Bremner]

I use a charcoal smoker and I might check the temp on the outside 2 times in 4 hours.I do want to build a larger one! but that's so that I can smoke corn as well as a tri-tip at the same time.

[futuresoptions]

I checked out the Cook Shacks and they look very nice, A little on the pricey side, but for stainless I guess it is worth it... I plan on getting one of those galvanized hot water heater trays to set my smoker in as it is allowing meat drippings to get on my concrete. Here is a pic of the smoker and my new shop (that I am still unpacking and organizing).

[futuresoptions]

Here's the view from the shop...

[futuresoptions]

And the final product... I think that an electric smoker is something that I will be considering as a must have appliance for cooking...

[944Larry]

I have an electric-so easy to use.

[RWebb]

what is the cheapest good electric smoker?

[vash]

wow bill!! that is one hell of a spread? south texas? how many acres? any pesky whitetail or hogs running around?

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by RWebb

what is the cheapest good electric smoker?

In the all stainless category? I would go with a Smokin Tex.


I've seen some that are plastic on the inside, I just don't see that holding up long term...

[RWebb]

Smokin Tex = $400

how about a non-stainless item??

[krystar]

Originally Posted by RWebb

what is the cheapest good electric smoker?

two terracotta garden pots and a electric hot plate.

[futuresoptions]

Originally Posted by vash

wow bill!! that is one hell of a spread? south texas? how many acres? any pesky whitetail or hogs running around?

Yep, South Texas... I am on about an acre here, tons of brush country... Quite a few whitetail, hogs, javelina, turkey, dove, bobcats, cougar, fox and armadillo.... My BIL just gave me my first crossbow, so I will be trying it out to maybe use it for this season... My nephew has a lease just north of here that has a huge hog problem and he has asked me to help get them under control.. They managed to harvest a 600pdr last year if you can believe that. From what I understand the grow pretty big due to the year round access to feed that they have...

[futuresoptions]

Originally Posted by krystar

two terracotta garden pots and a electric hot plate.

Yep, that reminds me of a buddy of mine (Now mind you this guy made great money) that used to barbeque/smoke his meat in a large galvanized trash can that he turned upside down over a steel truck wheel that he used for his coals. He had the trash can set up on a rope/pulley system and all he would do was pull up on a rope to check his meat and then lower it back down. I can vouch that it made pretty good product, but I always thought that galvanized and heat were not a good thing. My old smokey pictured above appears to be galvanized though... it may just be silver paint that they used at the factory...

[74-911]

You definitely have a lifetime (and more) supply of mesquite...
the pasture at our old family farm in N. TX near Abilene looks just about like that.

Originally Posted by futuresoptions

Here's the view from the shop...

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Smokin Tex = $400

how about a non-stainless item??

Why waste money on a non-stainless?