Orion Cooker

benniesdad · 02-27-2013, 08:58 PM

Our local Ace Hardware had one of these on display today. Anyone have any hands on experience using one. An outdoor convection oven sure sounds like an interesting idea. For this amount of money it might almost be worth getting one just to play with.

Hcs · 02-27-2013, 09:13 PM

I have the holiday turkey cooker which is just a smaller version. To smoke a turkey put wood chips around outside of drain pan. Use match light On outside and top cooks at 7minutes a pound we love it for the turkey and chickens but wouldn't trade the other smokers I own.

Ps only reason I bought mine lowes had it on clearance and no box or instructions missing a couple of screws got it for 10 bucks.

Wampus · 02-27-2013, 09:48 PM

I've cooked on one and although they really do cook food quicker, I found the results lacking.

I did a fairly big cook a while back (my first big one) and used another guy's Orion Cooker and an 18" WSM and my ECB to cook up some butts. If I recall, I had 3 on the WSM, 2 on my ECB and 3 on the Orion. The WSM and ECB cooked at the same rate and took the "normal" amount of time, like 10-12 hours and put out typically good stuff. Following the instructions on the Orion, the 3 butts only took about 4 hours to cook and even though I used wood chips for smoke inside as the instructions suggested, there was really no bark to speak of. The meat was indeed done and tender enough, but I didn't get any bark and, in fact, the outer layer was gray and soft.

It's basically an outdoor, charcoal fired convection oven, but since the charcoal is placed OUTSIDE the cooker on that ring, the inside really doesn't get any charcoal flavor and only the smoke from the chips you put in. Perhaps I could have put in more chips, but for the dough they want for those things, I'd just get a WSM. Heck, even for that sales price, I'd get ECB's and modifiy them before I'd get one. Just sayin. The ECB can really put out some fine Q with a little help of mods.

Hook_Line_and_Sinker · 02-27-2013, 09:54 PM

Think Dutch oven.
The food is not in contact with smoke or fire.
It is built from very nice stainless, it does cook nicely but it isn't BBQ or smoking

RW · 02-28-2013, 06:36 AM

As a former owner of one, what everyone else has said.

desertguy76 · 02-28-2013, 09:23 AM

I have one and I only use it at thankgiving to cook my Turkey's in the desert. It truly makes the most tender turkey I have ever had. But it is a convection cooker for sure.

willowrun · 02-28-2013, 11:00 AM

Agree with all above comments. I've had one and only used it twice in the last 3 years. That matchlight gets expensive for every cook.

DUBBAGA · 02-28-2013, 03:55 PM

I could be wrong (and frequently am), but I believe Mexi "Q" Tioner has one of these

Mexi "Q" Tioner · 02-28-2013, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DUBBAGA

I could be wrong (and frequently am), but I believe Mexi "Q" Tioner has one of these

Thats is correct! I've been cooking strictly on the Orion for the past year and even did my 1st comp using 2 of them. I just recently picked up a WSM 22.5 and after 2 cooks in it, I am definately putting my Orion to the side. Its not a bad cooker and I especially like it for Turkey.
Check out the link to my previous post w/Pr0n regarding my orion/1st comp results.
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=144720

MossyMO · 02-28-2013, 04:56 PM

I have one also, everything said above is spot on. An hour and 45 minute spare ribs and the quality of the ribs is so-so, but it sure is fast! Did the family Christmas turkey this last Christmas and instead of wood chips used pellets, got a good smoke taste through out the turkey and the meat was flavorful and juicy. Picked our up off Craigslist for $35, I will keep it around for poultry if low 'n slow smoking doesn't fit our schedule.

4uweque · 02-28-2013, 06:14 PM

I have one too, it works as advertised but I wouldn't call it smoking. I haven't used it since building my UDS, I'm gonna sell it come spring.

Trumpstylz · 02-28-2013, 06:28 PM

Got one on sale for around 30$ or so. Used it a few times and then put it on the curb. For 140, I'd surely pass.

shirknwrk · 02-28-2013, 08:22 PM

Check out the Big Easy "infrared" cooker... $90 at Lowes. Makes the closest thing to rotisserie chicken you can get... (Without a rotisserie.) I added a popular modification... a 9" x3" ring from a removable bottom cheesecake pan under the basket... Allows you to put pellets around the ring to smoke. Works.

02-27-2013, 08:58 PM	#1
benniesdad On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-26-12 Location: Locust Grove, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Orion Cooker Our local Ace Hardware had one of these on display today. Anyone have any hands on experience using one. An outdoor convection oven sure sounds like an interesting idea. For this amount of money it might almost be worth getting one just to play with. __________________ WSM, Performer, 22.5 & 18.5 OTG, SJG, mini WSM, Summit 420, Q100, C-G Akorn, and Schwenkgrill

02-27-2013, 09:13 PM	#2
Hcs Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 09-09-12 Location: GlenAllen va Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have the holiday turkey cooker which is just a smaller version. To smoke a turkey put wood chips around outside of drain pan. Use match light On outside and top cooks at 7minutes a pound we love it for the turkey and chickens but wouldn't trade the other smokers I own. Ps only reason I bought mine lowes had it on clearance and no box or instructions missing a couple of screws got it for 10 bucks. __________________ Uds chargriller pro weber kettle chubby g2

02-27-2013, 09:48 PM	#3
Wampus somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-05-09 Location: Mooresville, IN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've cooked on one and although they really do cook food quicker, I found the results lacking. I did a fairly big cook a while back (my first big one) and used another guy's Orion Cooker and an 18" WSM and my ECB to cook up some butts. If I recall, I had 3 on the WSM, 2 on my ECB and 3 on the Orion. The WSM and ECB cooked at the same rate and took the "normal" amount of time, like 10-12 hours and put out typically good stuff. Following the instructions on the Orion, the 3 butts only took about 4 hours to cook and even though I used wood chips for smoke inside as the instructions suggested, there was really no bark to speak of. The meat was indeed done and tender enough, but I didn't get any bark and, in fact, the outer layer was gray and soft. It's basically an outdoor, charcoal fired convection oven, but since the charcoal is placed OUTSIDE the cooker on that ring, the inside really doesn't get any charcoal flavor and only the smoke from the chips you put in. Perhaps I could have put in more chips, but for the dough they want for those things, I'd just get a WSM. Heck, even for that sales price, I'd get ECB's and modifiy them before I'd get one. Just sayin. The ECB can really put out some fine Q with a little help of mods. __________________ Big JT's Smokin' BBQ Competition Team “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. We need not wait to see what others do.” - Mahatma Gandhi

02-27-2013, 09:54 PM	#4
Hook_Line_and_Sinker is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-28-08 Location: Downey, California Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Think Dutch oven. The food is not in contact with smoke or fire. It is built from very nice stainless, it does cook nicely but it isn't BBQ or smoking __________________ Hook Line and Sinker Viking 30 inch Gravity Fed Charcoal Smoker Brinkmann 5 burner gas grill with sear & rotisserie UDS's 3 and growing Char Griller w/SFB w/mods Orion Cooker Charbroil 7000 Gas Grill

02-28-2013, 06:36 AM	#5
RW On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-13-12 Location: Texas Hill Country Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	As a former owner of one, what everyone else has said. __________________ Weber Performer / 18.5 WSM / mini WSM / Char-Griller Akorn / #14 Old Smokey / Weber Jumbo Joe

02-28-2013, 09:23 AM	#6
desertguy76 Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 02-06-13 Location: Norco, ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have one and I only use it at thankgiving to cook my Turkey's in the desert. It truly makes the most tender turkey I have ever had. But it is a convection cooker for sure.

02-28-2013, 11:00 AM	#7
willowrun Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 06-03-12 Location: Harrisonburg, Va Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Agree with all above comments. I've had one and only used it twice in the last 3 years. That matchlight gets expensive for every cook. __________________ Weber OTP, Orion Smoker (dutch oven), UDS

02-28-2013, 03:55 PM	#8
DUBBAGA Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 07-31-11 Location: Redlands, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I could be wrong (and frequently am), but I believe Mexi "Q" Tioner has one of these __________________ BBQ Team Name: Green Card Q - Legally Smoking Since 2007 UDS, SJS/Tamale Pot Smoker, Alton Brown Flower Pot Smoker, Blue Ember Gasser Newly elected into the Hall of Zero's (Noobians v. Veterans Throwdown) I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay. I sleep all night and I work all day. I cut down trees. I eat my lunch. I go to the lavatory. On Wednesdays I go shoppin' and have buttered scones for tea.

02-28-2013, 04:56 PM	#10
MossyMO Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 05-27-12 Location: Glenburn, ND Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have one also, everything said above is spot on. An hour and 45 minute spare ribs and the quality of the ribs is so-so, but it sure is fast! Did the family Christmas turkey this last Christmas and instead of wood chips used pellets, got a good smoke taste through out the turkey and the meat was flavorful and juicy. Picked our up off Craigslist for $35, I will keep it around for poultry if low 'n slow smoking doesn't fit our schedule. __________________ www.facebook.com/TatonkaDust www.OwensBBQ.com

02-28-2013, 06:14 PM	#11
4uweque Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-16-12 Location: Memphis Tenn. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have one too, it works as advertised but I wouldn't call it smoking. I haven't used it since building my UDS, I'm gonna sell it come spring. __________________ 3 UDS's / Orion cooker / gas cabinet converted to charcoal / Weber kettle / Cowboy grill

02-28-2013, 06:28 PM	#12
Trumpstylz is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-29-11 Location: Chicagoland Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Got one on sale for around 30$ or so. Used it a few times and then put it on the curb. For 140, I'd surely pass. __________________ Weber One Touch Gold 2001 Weber Genesis that is no longer used since the OTG

02-28-2013, 08:22 PM	#13
shirknwrk Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-05-10 Location: Kansas City, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Check out the Big Easy "infrared" cooker... $90 at Lowes. Makes the closest thing to rotisserie chicken you can get... (Without a rotisserie.) I added a popular modification... a 9" x3" ring from a removable bottom cheesecake pan under the basket... Allows you to put pellets around the ring to smoke. Works.