Masterbuilt coldsmoker
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bear55
Master of the Pit
Pellets are the only thing I use for cold smoking. I use the A-Maze-N pellet smoker and it works great.
red dog
Smoking Fanatic
I am breaking my masterbuilt cold smoker in as we speak using pellets. Just got mine yesterday as a early Christmas present. I haven't smoked anything with it yet. I filled the hopper up about a third of the way and it has been smoking for 2 hours using some off Todd's A-Maze-N pellets. There is a nice amount of great smelling cherry smoke coming out of it. I also have the A-Maze-N pellet smoker and it works good too when I can keep it burning.
red dog
Smoking Fanatic
2 1/2 hours. Nice TBS coming out still. I might add that I have seen videos of these running using chips and they looked like they were putting out a lot more smoke than this. I'm pretty happy with it so far.
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The Mailbox Mod and the A-Maze-N Smoker is the best way to go...No heat just smoke on your cheese or fish.
Works great and very efficient.
Good luck, John
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red dog
Smoking Fanatic
John have you ever used the Masterbuilt cold smoker or are you just assuming the mailbox mod works better? I am looking forward to getting this hooked up to the smoker so I can test just how much heat it will add. Just checked the outlet pipe with a infrared thermo and it is 137 degrees.
brianlamb41
Fire Starter
I love my Masterbuilt Coldsmoker. While I've only used chips thus far, the screen at the bottom is certainly capable of supporting pellet use.
A few quick notes though.
I went to The Home Depot and purchased a few feet of aluminum hosing designed for dryer machines. I then taped the sides with some aluminum duct tape, and it's sealed wonderfully. This brings the temps down a bit in the smoker, and in my personal opinion, let's you control the smoke flavor a bit better.
I've had mine for 4 or 5 months now, and I will notice on occasion that chips have gotten stuck to the side of the funnel. I wonder if pellets might fix this issue?
Also when I use chips, I notice that I will get some flare up when I open the top to add additional chips during a long smoke. It's probably best to have everything you need handy, as to limit the time spent with the cap open.
All in all, I love it. I've never tried the A-Maze-N Smoker, nor have I tried the mailbox mod, but only because this cold smoker works just fine. I love being able to throw my meat in the smoker at night, turn on my cold smoker, and wake up the next morning with delicious and flavorful meat ready to wrap or eat shortly afterwards.
A few quick notes though.
I went to The Home Depot and purchased a few feet of aluminum hosing designed for dryer machines. I then taped the sides with some aluminum duct tape, and it's sealed wonderfully. This brings the temps down a bit in the smoker, and in my personal opinion, let's you control the smoke flavor a bit better.
I've had mine for 4 or 5 months now, and I will notice on occasion that chips have gotten stuck to the side of the funnel. I wonder if pellets might fix this issue?
Also when I use chips, I notice that I will get some flare up when I open the top to add additional chips during a long smoke. It's probably best to have everything you need handy, as to limit the time spent with the cap open.
All in all, I love it. I've never tried the A-Maze-N Smoker, nor have I tried the mailbox mod, but only because this cold smoker works just fine. I love being able to throw my meat in the smoker at night, turn on my cold smoker, and wake up the next morning with delicious and flavorful meat ready to wrap or eat shortly afterwards.
brianlamb41
Fire Starter
red dog
Smoking Fanatic
Brian
I have been using the AMNPS for 3 years along with his pellets. I have also used it with the mailbox mod. It does work great and produces some great Q. I am disabled and have limited hand use that has gotten progressively worse so being able to load pellets or chips in the MECS and flip a switch to start smoking could be just the ticket for me. To all out there who look in on this thread I just want to say I am not knocking Todd's products! They are great and he has done a great service to smokers. I will continue to use his pellets and at times use the AMNPS. I encourage you to try some of his pellets in your MECS. I filled my chute about 1/3 with his cherry pellets and it was still putting out a nice mellow smoke after 4 hours. I had to shut it down due to darkness and I needed to let it cool to bring it in.
Nice mod by the way Brian. How much did the MECS raise you smoker temps without the mod?
I have been using the AMNPS for 3 years along with his pellets. I have also used it with the mailbox mod. It does work great and produces some great Q. I am disabled and have limited hand use that has gotten progressively worse so being able to load pellets or chips in the MECS and flip a switch to start smoking could be just the ticket for me. To all out there who look in on this thread I just want to say I am not knocking Todd's products! They are great and he has done a great service to smokers. I will continue to use his pellets and at times use the AMNPS. I encourage you to try some of his pellets in your MECS. I filled my chute about 1/3 with his cherry pellets and it was still putting out a nice mellow smoke after 4 hours. I had to shut it down due to darkness and I needed to let it cool to bring it in.
Nice mod by the way Brian. How much did the MECS raise you smoker temps without the mod?
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brianlamb41
Fire Starter
The temp increase wasn't significant, but I would like to cold smoke a pork belly or cheese in the future, so I went ahead and made the mod. I haven't had a chance to really dive into cold smoking yet, as I live in Houston. We have finally hit our tiny window of temps in the 50's and 60's.
I use my Masterbuilt 2 door propane smoker mainly for cold smoking, without the heat. I do not use a Mailbox mod. The AMNPS or AMNTS sits either inside on top of the propane burner which is not used or it resides under the propane burner in a cage I made. Have no problem generating TBS for my cheese, butter, salt, etc.
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I love my Masterbuilt cold smoker.
Never used pellets, I have used pecan shells or wetted wood chips. Apple being my favorite!
I smoked some homemade Keilbasa today, apple
in the MES40
Aftre 6 hours in the reefer
Look at that color. Believe me, you wish you could smell that sausage!
I did some turkey legs when I first got it. Again with wetted Apple.
Look at this piece of skin, it amber and it smelled pretty dang tastee too!
don't get me wrong though, I like the AMPs also. Its easy and convienent. Its lasts forever and allows you easy access to woods you normally might not have access. Both work great.
Never used pellets, I have used pecan shells or wetted wood chips. Apple being my favorite!
I smoked some homemade Keilbasa today, apple
in the MES40
Aftre 6 hours in the reefer
Look at that color. Believe me, you wish you could smell that sausage!
I did some turkey legs when I first got it. Again with wetted Apple.
Look at this piece of skin, it amber and it smelled pretty dang tastee too!
don't get me wrong though, I like the AMPs also. Its easy and convienent. Its lasts forever and allows you easy access to woods you normally might not have access. Both work great.
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themule69
Epic Pitmaster
Pellets and dust have done me well. With most of my toys. From cold to hot to starting out cold and getting hotter every hour.
Happy smoken.
David
Happy smoken.
David
red dog
Smoking Fanatic
Great lookin Kielbasa Foam. If you have any of Todd's pellets try a short run with the MECS. I plan to do some more testing but so far from the break in run I'm impressed. I'm currently thawing some turkey breasts to cure for pastrami. Will smoke with 100% Todd's cherry pellets. I couldn't do that with the AMNPS. Had to mix with Hickory or oak.
red dog
Smoking Fanatic
Bottom line. Getting back to the OP's original question, that I tried to answer honestly without bias, yes pellets will work in your MECS. Try them and let us know how your food turns out and I will do the same. Welcome to the forum and good luck to you no matter how you decide to apply smoke to your creations!
Dog,
I have not used the Masterbuilt cold smoker and will not assume that the Mailbox Mod accompanied with the A-Maz-N smoker combination is better. I do know that it is far less expensive and will probably give you the same results.
Frankly, if I knew the Masterbuilt cold smoker existed when I built my Mailbox Mod I probably would have bought it.
Good luck and Smoke On! John
I must apologize to the OP regarding my previous reply for I didn't realize we were talking about an actual Masterbuilt Coldsmoker vs cold smoking in a Masterbuilt smoker. My bad. Sorry. Next time Craig, read the title more carefully.
So, how much higher does the temp of the chamber of the MECS rise above the current outside temp when running it using factory issued equipment? I ask because looking at the Amazon ad for this item, it says "The Electric Cold Smoker provides continuous smoke for up to 6 hours at temperatures as lows as 100° to 120°F"????? 100 to 120 is not very cold.
So, how much higher does the temp of the chamber of the MECS rise above the current outside temp when running it using factory issued equipment? I ask because looking at the Amazon ad for this item, it says "The Electric Cold Smoker provides continuous smoke for up to 6 hours at temperatures as lows as 100° to 120°F"????? 100 to 120 is not very cold.
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I'll have to get back to you on that because all I have done is a few warm smokes. The smoker itself should be able to smoke at 10 degrees because your heat source is completely seperate.. The smoker is seperate and doesn't require any heat for a draft. Of course you'll pick up some small amount but I like Brian's idea of an extended connection.
brianlamb41
Fire Starter
That's why I added the tubing between the two units. I actually cut it in half and installed it, so you can play around with it quite a bit. Out of the box, the MECS slides right into the chip tube, and is secured using a hook pin with a wing nut. The heating element for the MECS is at the bottom of the unit, with the chips and chute sitting directly above it. Without the tube mod, the temps in the unit when cold smoking will get around 100-120. I actually think this is probably more of a smoker box, rather than a cold smoker.
The mod that I've done, and several others on here have done, is what really makes this a cold smoker.
Yes, I can see why you would need to extend that connector tube big time. So, with that mod done, what type of temps are you seeing as compared to ambient temp?
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