Electric Smoker Suggestions

indyadmin1974 · May 27, 2009

I am thinking about getting my father-in-law a smoker for Father's Day. He lives in an apartment building that allows grills/smokers but they have to be electric.

I'd rather not spend a ton since I'm not sure if he's going to get into it too much to start with.

What kind of suggestions do you folks have?

donnylove · May 27, 2009

If you're thinkin that fish and jerky would be his targets, you can pick up a Little Chief smoker fairly cheap. If you're thinking more along the lines of ribs and pork shoulder and brisket, you can pick up an ECB for around $60. Plenty of people around here have made great Q on an ECB. Lots have also had great success with the MES, myself included. But you'd be lucky to find a new 30" MES for much under $200 unless you find a clearance sale like I did. I'd so go with the Brinkmann (ECB)! You can get one almost anywhere (Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, etc.) Good luck!

ronp · May 27, 2009

Masterbuilt would be my choice.
30' around 199 40' at Sam's 299.

Good luck whatever you decide. The easier it is to use the more it will get used.

plj · May 27, 2009

my best advice is to pick out the one you'd buy for yourself if you were in his circumstances, then give it to him. No offense intended - Im not saying you'd cheap out on him, just saying to look at the big picture & why you're giving him this awesome gift.

If he doesn't "get into it," then use it (at his place) to cook for him every fathers day - you can be darn sure he'll enjoy the fruits of the smoker if not the smoking itself.

One other thing: Be sure to include a temp probe as part of the gift, I wouldnt use an electric without one.

fire it up · May 27, 2009

If you can spend the $200 I would agree with ronp, masterbuilt electric 30", though if you think he might not get into it or don't want to spend that much the Gourmet electric by brinkman would be a good one, but a little more work.

indyadmin1974 · May 27, 2009

Thanks for the replies!

I'm trying to get a few of us to go in on it to get him something nice (if I have to do it myself...probably won't happen as I have a baby to pay for in a few months!...)

Thanks for the suggestions. I think that if it's easy for him, then he'll get more use out of it.

If I get one, I'll be sending him here. He'll get a kick out of this forum.

mikey · May 27, 2009

I wouldn't use any smoker, be it gas, wood, charcoal or a wattburner without a probe. I would either go with the Brinkmann or I believe that Char-Broil is still making theirs. Looks like they still are
http://www.charbroil.com/Consumer/pr...&CategoryID=47

mgwerks · May 28, 2009

Another strong vote for the Masterbuilt MES. You really ought to use an external thermometer, though, as the built in one is notoriously off.

herkysprings · Jun 3, 2009

I love my Bradley, but its up there in price (400-450). The difference between regular and digital is $50 and worth it. The only other issue is you have to use their special Bradley pucks.

smokewire · Jul 9, 2010

You can go in for a cookshack as its reasonable and of good quality too...

deltadude · Jul 9, 2010

The MES is a proven winner with lots of SMF member support, so you can get a lot of help at SMF.

Depending on your dads age, having to baby sit a cheaper electric smoker could prove to more of a pain the caboose than a gift.

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Electric Smoker Suggestions

indyadmin1974

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donnylove

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ronp

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

plj

Meat Mopper

fire it up

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indyadmin1974

Smoking Fanatic

mikey

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mgwerks

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herkysprings

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smokewire

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deltadude

Master of the Pit

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