should i buy a smoker?

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by KJT

How much do those normally run?

Think ours was about $600. Built like a tank and will last forever.

 

[KJT]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Think ours was about $600. Built like a tank and will last forever.

That brings up the question of whether to save up for a big green egg or a cook shack... or both. Yearly bonuses are coming up.

 

[globetrotter]

I have a 50 buck brinkman, for 3-4 times a year it is perfect. yes, it is a lot of work but it is fun and gives good results.

 

[pebblegrain]

Originally Posted by Mr Herbert

There is no culture of smoking meat where i live. In fact if it wasnt for Piobaires pictures of brisket deliciousbly fall apart all tender and juicy on a plate i would probably never have thought about getting one. But now its too late, i want one. However, as i live the only ones available to me are expensive. What else can i do with them other than brisket? Will i get a decent amount of use out of it?
Do you have a charcoal grill larger than a weber 18"? If so, you can smoke with it. It will work at least good enough to know whether you want to make a larger investment. Technique can be summarized as: put your meat on one side, put coals on the opposite side. Put a heat shield in between, if you want. Get an oven thermometer and keep the temperature around 250-275. I bought a 30-year old weber 22" from craigslist for $10. I've smoked brisket, salmon, pork shoulder and ribs in it. They all turned out spectacular. I've gone as long at 18 hours with it (you need to refill coals every 4-5 hours). Also, there is a superb smoker from weber called the Smokey Mountain. $300 and can double as a grill...

 

[Joe Cool]

Originally Posted by KJT

That brings up the question of whether to save up for a big green egg or a cook shack... or both. Yearly bonuses are coming up.

Big Green will pull double duty as a smoker and conventional charcoal grill and are well worth the bucks they command. I'll be cooking our Thanksgiving bird in mine on Thursday.

 

[Mr Herbert]

decided to buy one. got the bradley smoker with a cold smoker attachment

will see how it goes.

 

[BDC2823]

I have a cheap ass Brinkman and have used it a few times. It's a huge process and I'm always tending to that ***** all day long. That said, I also know going in that I'll be working on that smoker for hours on end and plan the day accordingly. So when I get that feeling that I want to smoke something, I pick a day that revolves around errands and relaxation, knowing I'll be spending a lot of time checking the smoker. If you don't mind that then go ahead and get a cheap one. I don't every now and then and enjoy the process.

Pio's setups are completely different and he spent the money in doing so. If I could justify it, I'd have a Cookshack as well. Like he said, his **** works more like an oven in that you can set it and forget it. So, if like you want to get into it and think you'll enjoy it (like me), pick something cheap up and see if ya do enjoy it and upgrade if ya do. If you are like Pio and really do enjoy it or know that you will and can justify the cost, go with the Cookshack and I'm sure you will be happy.

Edit: Missed the last post and didn't see that ya got one. Congrats. Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[Mr Herbert]

thanks for the feedback. i realise the bradley is a bit of a rolls royce but there arent alot of options where i live and i kind of like the idea of set and forget - i imagine it will get alot more use if i dont have spend all saturday tending to it.

purists might shake their heads tho

 

[skywalker]

Originally Posted by MarquisMagic

Ribs; pork shoulder, chops, loin; ham; sausages; turkey; chicken; quail and game birds; venison; beef; salmon; trout; even cheese...just to name a few. The amount of use depends on your own preferences. You can get a great deal of use out of one...but that doesn't mean you will.

I think RIBS would be tasty

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by Mr Herbert

decided to buy one. got the bradley smoker with a cold smoker attachment

will see how it goes.

These are good smokers. Ruhlman suggests them. I opted to go a different route and get the two different ones I did. I think the Bradley will serve you well. Congrats!