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Member No.: 2616
Joined: January 06, 2013
dropped the hint of a smoker for my b-day/ fathers day would like some input as to type it has probably be discussed be for but I wasn't in the market at that time any help would be great thanks in advance jim
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Member No.: 4594
Joined: August 17, 2013
As with most things, personal preference has a lot to do with this decision. Hopefully someone can chime in that has used both. Myself, I can tell you that I have an electric Big Chief that I have used for over 20 years (and I think it was at least 10 years old when a friend gave it to me). It has worked flawlessly over that time and I have experimented with several flavour chips over the years. The only downside I can report is, I wish it was a little bigger. Mine is about 16" square x 30" high and I would like to expand into doing sausages and the like.
Group: Members
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Member No.: 1079
Joined: January 06, 2012
Canadian Tire has a nice electric one on sale this week for $199.00 reg $299.00….I have the same one and no complaints at all. Does a great job as far as I'm concerned. Good luck!
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QUOTE (jimrrr @ May 03, 2014 - 06:55 am)
dropped the hint of a smoker for my b-day/ fathers day would like some input as to type it has probably be discussed be for but I wasn't in the market at that time any help would be great thanks in advance jim
The best advice can be found by clicking search above and typing in "smoker" we have a couple members who are very experienced using smokers and have posted lots of great info in the past.
Group: Members
Posts: 95
Member No.: 6058
Joined: February 01, 2014
I have a Master Built stainless steel with see through door, 4 racks, side loader. It is wonderful for ribs, sausage, salmon, chicken, chops and brisket. Digital remote timer and temp gauge . On wheels easy to move and simple to clean. Reasonably priced , in fact they are on sale as we speak. Good luck in your quest .
Group: Members
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Member No.: 67
Joined: February 10, 2011
I got my first smoker, an electric Luhr Jensen "Little Chief" in the late 80's.
I smoked a lot of fish in it and that was all I ever used it for. There was no thermometer on it and it was influenced considerably by the outside temperature and winds. Despite that, I figured it out and consistently produced some pretty good smoked trout and salmon.
Around 2000, I bought a "Lil Braunfells" barrel type charcoal smoker, fire box at one end and chimney at the other. I bought it because I wanted to start smoking pork and chicken. Found that it too was influenced considerably by the outside temp and winds. Also, you had to keep tending the fire frequently and adjusting the fire as well as soaking and adding flavor wood chips to get the smoke. Further, the meat at the end closest to the fire would cook faster than that at the other end and you had to keep swapping it around or the meat closest to the fire got burned. All in all, I found it labour intensive and more trouble than it was worth.
Two years ago I got an electric Bradley--The Original Bradley. What a difference. Like going from an old VW Beatle to a new BMW. Influenced very little by outside temp and winds and there is a thermometer on the door to tell you the inside temperature. There is a slide switch that allows you to control the inside temp. You buy the wood pucks in various types of woods for the smoke and the unit feeds them automatically. You need to do minimal monitoring of the unit. I've done some great fish with it as well as I have branched out into pork loins, pork back ribs, back bacon and beef brisket. Even if I say so myself, I'm turning out some good stuff that friends tend to rave about. I also bought a digital thermometer with a probe, so that I know the internal temp when I'm doing pork loins and brisket etc. I don't use it on fish.
You can use the Bradley for all sorts of things.
I'm a great one for writing things down, so I keep a log every time I use the Bradley. What I did, how long at various temps, what types of wood etc.. How it turned out. As many of the members know, I also keep a log of each of my trolling trips when I'm fishing so that I can look back to see what was working and what wasn't.
After I got the Bradley I sold the Little Chief and the Braunfells.
I'm sold on the Bradley as I know a number of other members are.
On the other hand, Mydogbites (Robert) has a propane unit and I know he does all sorts of things in it and I've not heard him complain about it. I'm sure he will have something to say about this thread.
Jimrrr if you or anyone else has questions about smokers/smoking send me a PM and I will answer you.
Like our Board here, there is a "Bradley Forum" with lots of great info and helpful people
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Member No.: 414
Joined: February 26, 2011
Welcome to the world of smoking. I use a propane smoker, I purchased it for three reasons, 1) portable, could take it to the camp ground 2) didn't require an outlet or extension cord 3) I could change the orfice and hook it into our NG line. I have had no issues with it fluctuating temps, etc. Once you get it preheated it stays at that temp and with the propane its hot enough to burn out any grease if needed after the cook is completed. I have smoked with great results, salmon, trout, pork butts & whole shoulders, ribs, bacon, sausages, Beef ribs, prime rib roast, burgers, chicken wings, legs, stuffed peppers and several turkeys. I believe you can get good results from any one smoker. My advice is get one that is easy to clean, if you plan on doing pork. The type of smoke, rub and how much smoke is more of a challenge, I have found pecan and alder best for fish, apple, hickory and maple for pork, and cherry, hickory for beef. A good rub or brine will go a long way. The only sauce I would use is maple syrup on the fish. I also would recommend a digital/wireless meat probe for roast. My son (Chris) who has the food truck uses an electric he had a Bradley six rack but it would not get or keep the temperature up, a common problem others have had and Bradley themselves admitted the issue and refunded his money. He has a different make now and smokes every week pork for the truck. I can ask him what the make is if you want. Good luck and enjoy.
smoker, electric or gas
