Lazy-Q Recommendations? Advise?

[MileHighSmoker]

I am thinking about picking up an electric smoker for days when I feel like doing a smaller amount of smoking. I was considering a Bradley however have heard that they are not that well insulated, have trouble holding temperature, and you can only use their "pucks". I built one of the Alton Brown Good Eats terracotta smokers with a hotplate last year and the pork butt that I smoked in it was good (although a bit over smoked).

What does everyone recommend?

 

[txschutte]

Call me a purist, but you might as well go get a gasser.

 

[Bbq Bubba]

If you want a set it and forget it smoker, get the Brinkman gourmet
Run's 235-245 all day, 3 or 4 chunks of wood every 2 hr's and sit back n drink:wink:

 

[Bigmista]

Build a UDS. Ran mine all day Saturday and never touched the coals.

 

[jgh1204]

A UDS is not quite set it and forget it, but close.

I wonder if you could electrify a UDS?

I have a propane smoker and while it does fine, the quality is not there. Sam's has a $300 electric smoker that looks pretty good.

 

[Kevin]

http://www.cookshack.com/index_product_type.php?product_type_id=1

 

[MilitantSquatter]

Weber Smokey Mountain

 

[BBQ_MAFIA]

For a set it and forget it you should take a look at the Smokey Mountain Gasser.

 

[swamprb]

For a set it and forget it you should take a look at the Smokey Mountain Gasser.

I second that! You can get a GOSM - Great Outdoors Smokey Mountain gas smoker pretty cheap. Depending on your budget a Cookshack Smokette or Americue look to be pretty good machines. I'd ditch the cheap electric smokers unless your cold smoking, and the Bradleys kind of have you by the short n' curlies with their biscuits.

Brian

 

[bbqbull]

I have an electric smoker. Its a cookshack 008. It does ribs fine, just have to cut a full rack in half. Basically its an electric oven with a woodbox and very very well insulated. I bought it when I lived in an apartment for a year. Not as great as some of the other type cookers out there but if your going electric then this is how I would go. Lowest price seems to be the Westcoaststore.com. Dont think they have the 30 day return policy though FWIW.Check out this site........http://www.lamaine.com/bbq/.

 

[deez20]

I've got the cookshack sm008 since i'm living in a co-op right now and it's definitly set it and forget it. Throw in the wood, put some foil in the bottom to prevent grease buildup, set the temp and thats it. The cheapest place I found it at was cabelas. http://www.cabelas.com

 

[C Rocke]

I second that! You can get a GOSM - Great Outdoors Smokey Mountain gas smoker pretty cheap. Depending on your budget a Cookshack Smokette or Americue look to be pretty good machines. I'd ditch the cheap electric smokers unless your cold smoking, and the Bradleys kind of have you by the short n' curlies with their biscuits.

Brian

GOSM all the way - Put 4 butts in last night and them are chugging along at 225.

 

[MileHighSmoker]

Cookshack?

So it seams in the electric category the Cookshack is the favored model? I will have to look more into them.

In general do you think I am better off getting a LP fueled or Electric fueled smoker if I am looking to set it and forget it?

 

[bbqbull]

I have friends who have LP fired units and seem happy with them. They definately arent insulated like a cookshack.LP would be handy for camping ect. Electricity is cheaper IMHO.I went with cookshack because its well insulated and worked fine on my balcony of my apartment, in the dead of winter.I will probably take my cookshack on our up coming fishing trip, make some brisket and butts for the guys again this year. They totally freaked out last year when I did that.

 

[swamprb]

I used the GOSM for @3 years and got almost 30 hours of cooking on a 5gal tank of propane. You will have to load the chip box about every hour unless you mod it, and they are not insulated-something to think about since you are in Denver. They do have a GOSM that is made by Vermont Castings that is insulated, but they are spendier $$. It was a good learning pit for me, it does hold a lot of meat and comes in very handy around the holidays when the oven is tied up!

 

[MileHighSmoker]

More questions

...You will have to load the chip box about every hour unless you mod it, and they are not insulated-something to think about since you are in Denver...

Insulation has been a big concern of mine and is a lot of the reason I was moving away from my lightweight Brinkmann Smoke King Deluxe.

Someone Mentioned the Vermont Castings Smoker Box and that looks like what I am looking for. :?: Has anyone smoked on one before? :?: Is it harder to get a good smokering on a gasser? :?:

 

[swamprb]

Here is a link for some info and forum for Propane smokers, have fun!
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=23

Brian

 

[MileHighSmoker]

Here is a link for some info and forum for Propane smokers, have fun!
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=23

Brian

Thanks Brian I will check it out.

 

[sterlingsmoker]

Cookshack is my suggestion! Awesome cooker!

 

[Ron_L]

I missed this thread while I was traveling. I agree with Sterling. The Cookshack is a great cooker. It uses normal wood chunks so it costs very little to operate and produces great food. Look at the forum at the cookshack site for lots of info. It is also very heavily insulated so it cooks well during the winter. I have used mine when it as -5 outside with no problems.

The next step is a WSM. I have run mine for 22 hours on one load of charcoal. You do have to monitor it once in a while in case of a temp spike, etc. so it is not exactly set and forget, but pretty close.