Looking to get a smoker

[Hot_Sauce]

What type of smokers do you recomend for a first time smoker.

My friend has a Brinkman that looks like this

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Gr...&storeId=10051

And I tried some ribs that he'd done up and they delicious!! They were better than anything I can find around here. So now that it's summertime and a have a few extra $$'s. I'm wanting to get one.

I was thinking about going electric instead.

Any pro's and cons between the electric, propane and charcaol smokers? Any brands that you'd recomend I check out or stay away from?



Also any other meat smoking tips would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Monsterdg]

Personally, I smoke on a large grill with the coals set up for indirect heat. I've never used a dedicated smoker, but people who have the big green egg swear by them.

[NCost]

I have one just like your friend. the nice thing w/ a gas smoker is you can control the heat to a steady temp much better than wood or charcoal. I went through 2 other smokers before I bought the gas one. It's so much easier now.

I'm not a fan of the eggs, not enough room. In the one your friend has (and me) you can put a lot of meat in it. I've smoked 10 racks of ribs at one time in it. I smoke a turkey every thanksgiving.

[blooz4u]

Weber Smokey Mountain

/endthread

[z6joker9]

Really though, a 22" regular weber can do anything. Smokey mountain would be even better. I went through the trouble of modding out a chargriller with a FSB and while it works well, I probably wouldn't do the same route again (find something easier and cheaper).

I once saw one of those boxes that plugged in for under $100. I might consider one of those if I saw it again, simply because of how easy it must be to operate. It's like an outside oven.

[CigarSaint]

I have the Big green egg and love it.... My smoking buddy has a Yodder smoker... it's badarse. The Egg will adapt to you taste like you wouldn't believe. + pizza's on the egg.

[TravelingJ]

That's actually a subject I have been looking into for a while. The Green Egg is something I think is really neat, but the size/weight/cooking surface just isn't a combination I can get down with. Then I was looking into Traegers for a bit. They look quite handy, but are a little pricey and actually felt cheap to me. After all that research, I had dinner at my moms. Her fiance has competed in BBQ, and is now a judge. He had smoked ribs for us, and they were about the best I have had-and were done on the Weber kettle. Our final decision-is to upgrade from the Smokey Joe to a real size Weber, and call it a day.

[fuelie95]

Got two of these from PGO... One for the house and one for the cabin...

http://www.firecraft.com/product/mem...pellet-smokers

[stevez]

I've been smoking meats for a long time on Brinkmans, standard weber grills and gas grills. Settled on a Weber Smokey Mountain (actually have 2) 5 years ago and never looked back. Best there is FOR THE MONEY. See a lot of them at festivals and comps and there is a reason. I can do all nighters, briskets, anything (except whole hog). I suggest going to the Virtual Weber Bullet dot com site that is dedicated to smoking using weber grills. Great site for suggestions, how to videos, recipes, etc. Good luck. Steve

[Rock]

I have a tow behind wood burning pit that I p/u for a screaming deal over a decade ago. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I used to to smoke on bullet style grills and webers. The temp control, flavor and consistency are hard to beat on the pit. The best advice I can give you is size your unit like you would a new humidor, buy one as big as you can afford. You will end wishing it where bigger. If you are looking at an egg style grill, check out the Primos, same style, but in an oval shape with more cooking surface. One last piece of advice, pick up a copy of Smoke andSpiceby the Jameson's. by far the best cookbook out there for real BBQ. Information on selecting a cooker, wood types and great recipes! I have recommended this book to many people over the years and they have all loved it and found it very useful. Good luck!