Newbie needs advice on buying small economical smoker

bonnie b said:

Here's my needs: 

I won't be smoking a lot at one time.  In the past, I've used my old gas grill to cook low & slow and tried using wood chips (got pitiful results).  Now grill's on its last leg so time to invest in the real thing.

I'm on a budget so hope to find something under $150, if that's even possible with electric.  I HAVE done lots research.  In fact, was doing just that when I stumbled across this forum so thought, "who better to ask then the ones who know?"

I would like to have a separate access to the smoker box (isn't that a good thing?) and preferably one with a front access door, since I'll be in the learning stage and will be checking on my meat more than a pro would so it's easier to access that way (right?).

Or - maybe someone can suggest something I can rig up myself.  I'm pretty handy when it comes to that, even if I am a girl....lol. 

I will mainly just be doing stuff for myself (or maybe a friend or two) that I can eat off of for a few days....like whole chickens, ribs, a cheap (marbled...I know...lol) cut of pork or beef.  Being single and on a budget means I pretty much buy what I call "scratch & dent" meat (anything reduced for quick sale) and then go home and cook it that night, so I'm not in the same league as you guys, doing five things at once!!  LOL  Altho it would be great to smoke a turkey for the holidays, now that I think of it. 

I DID see Kat's pics of sausage, tho, and will definitely be having to try that out, since I make my own 'healthy' sausage from ground turkey (trying to lose a few lbs :).

I'm sure someone will say...better to invest in something that will last than waste my money on something cheap, but I just don't have the funds.  I'd rather get the cheapy one for now and get good at smokin, THEN...feed my uncle, who may...after eating my delicious smoked fair...offer to buy me a nicer one for my birthday in April.  Ha ha ha....you see how my evil minds works?

PS - realized this is important.  I live on coast of VA, so cold weather is not really an issue.  Heck, we think it's cold when it gets below 40...lol.

Thanks to all !!

Bonnie B

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• The two-drawer system allows you easy access to the wood chip box and water pan without opening main chamber door and releasing heat
• Includes built-in LCD display control panel with push-button control
• Large 768 sq. in. of smoking area with insulated cooking chamber and doors

old sarge said:

Here are a couple of links you can search if you have not already done so:

http://oldsmokey.com/Products/OSES/oldsmokeyelectricsmoker.html

Old Smokey has a lot of user reviews and there should be some youtube videos available. I remember a couple of posts here regarding this smoker.

Another electric can be found here as well as wood supplies:

http://www.smokehouseproducts.com/prod_list.cfm?categoryID=17

These are, to my knowledge, the least expensive of the electrics and are no frills. There may be post/threads on this one as well.

Smokin-It and SmokinTex have some small smokers, not really in the $150 range you might want to consider. There may be some old style Masterbuilts still available without the new model problems many write about..  The MES threads should be really helpful in this area.

Good luck with your search.

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