Looking for a new smoker

[plcharbo]

Hi,
first of all, thanks to everyone who will reply to my post.

I currently own a Pitboss K24 (kamado style) grill. I'm now looking for a complementary smoker and got interested in pellet smokers. I was hesitating between a vertical pellet smoker and a pellet grill. I want to do low and slow and already have my K24 for grilling or pizza, etc. It's gonna be mainly use for brisket, short ribs. I want an easy operation smoker for couple of hours of cooking.

What would be interesting for me with a budget of 4-500$

Thank you

 

[drunkenmeatfist]

Have you had food off a pellet smoker? I've seen some people disappointed with the smoke profile in comparison to a charcoal/wood cooker. I have a Pit Boss Copperhead and it is mostly used for smoking jerky and other snacks. I recently was gifted a Thermoworks Signals with Billows. Using that set up on my kamado is truly set and forget.

 

[Winterrider]

Pit Boss vertical may be your huckleberry.

 

[sandyut]

a touch over budget but a smaller rec tec

 

[retfr8flyr]

If all you want is a pellet grill for smoking then the Copperhead would be hard to beat for the price.

 

[tx smoker]

a touch over budget but a smaller rec tec

I'm with Sandy on this one. I (like him) have a Rec Tec RT 700 Bull. It is an outstanding cooker. The only thing I might even come close to as calling a disappointment (and it's a big stretch) is a brisket I did recently. It was perfectly cooked, gorgeous smoke ring, but it did lack the smoked flavor just a it that I get with my stick burner. The RT 700 is out of your price range by quite a bit but Rec Tec has smaller, less expensive units you may want to take a look at. Another one to consider is Camp Chef. A good friend has the Woodwind and he absolutely loves it.

Robert

 

[Will Squared]

Hi,
first of all, thanks to everyone who will reply to my post.

I currently own a Pitboss K24 (kamado style) grill. I'm now looking for a complementary smoker and got interested in pellet smokers. I was hesitating between a vertical pellet smoker and a pellet grill. I want to do low and slow and already have my K24 for grilling or pizza, etc. It's gonna be mainly use for brisket, short ribs. I want an easy operation smoker for couple of hours of cooking.

What would be interesting for me with a budget of 4-500$

Thank you

I bought the Masterbuilt 560 Gravity Feed and I LOVE it !

Strong build... only two replaceable parts - fan & controllers. Genius design.
Ramps right up to 700 for a Sear. Easy to clean.

A real Game Changer at $500 !

I just pulled tonight's dinner off - Beef Sirloin and Pork Loin.

 

[tx smoker]

A real Game Changer at $500 !

I just pulled tonight's dinner off - Beef Sirloin and Pork Loin.

That's some great info.Appreciate you sharing but I have one question: where are the pics of the beef and pork? You have been here long enough to know the rules: no pics, never happened

Stirring the pot just a bit,
Robert

 

[Will Squared]

That's some great info.Appreciate you sharing but I have one question: where are the pics of the beef and pork? You have been here long enough to know the rules: no pics, never happened

Stirring the pot just a bit,
Robert

I am sorry Robert. I am still sorting out difficulties between my phone camera and my laptop.

This weighs heavily on my mind...

 

[tx smoker]

This weighs heavily on my mind...

I understand and appreciate the difficulties you're faced with. Look on the bright side though: at least you still have a mind. Please read my signature line I have the faith you'll figure it out

Robert

 

[plcharbo]

Does anyone here own a Pit Boss series 3? The reviews seem pretty extreme on both sides; either it works flawlessly or doesn't work at all....

For the Masterbuilt it seems very interesting, never heard of this model. I'll look for some more infos.

 

[plcharbo]

a touch over budget but a smaller rec tec

these grills look good! A bit pricey tho for my budget for a little size grill.

 

[Will Squared]

Does anyone here own a Pit Boss series 3? The reviews seem pretty extreme on both sides; either it works flawlessly or doesn't work at all....

For the Masterbuilt it seems very interesting, never heard of this model. I'll look for some more infos.

The 560 is a brand new model. I think the first ones were sold in December. We got ours in mid- January and have done 9 cooks on it.
The 560 stands for 560 cu. in. . They are coming out in Spring with a 1060 for around $700.

 

[Will Squared]

This is the link to Product info at Masterbuilt...

Explore Masterbuilt® Gravity Series®

When you're ready to serve up adventure, Masterbuilt has the tips, techniques, and more to help you fire it up at your next cookout

www.masterbuilt.com

I see it available online at Home Depot...

Masterbuilt Gravity Series 560 Digital WiFi Charcoal Grill and Smoker in Black MB20040220 - The Home Depot

Prepare your favorite food easily with the help of this excellent Masterbuilt Gravity Series 560 Digital Charcoal Grill Plus Smoker in Black. Easy to use.

www.homedepot.com

I don't see it online at Walmart now. Maybe they sold out their stock.

 

[veezy]

The 560 is a brand new model. I think the first ones were sold in December. We got ours in mid- January and have done 9 cooks on it.
The 560 stands for 560 cu. in. . They are coming out in Spring with a 1060 for around $700.

Has the inside coating of your hopper lid burned/melted away? Mine did on my first cook, after properly seasoning the grill. I did a brisket slow and low and 225 for 12 hours. I returned it for a new one and the new one is having the same problem after only about 4 hours of cooking on it. If it did, did you just burn through it and remove the coating? Here's a couple of pictures of what happened and what it looks like new.

 

[Will Squared]

Has the inside coating of your hopper lid burned/melted away?

No. The finish is fine but I do scrape the creosote that builds up. I have done 12 cooks and probably over 100 hours. The seal is fine too.
I am loving my 560.

 

[Will Squared]

I have used my 560 several times for drying.
It holds good at 160' or 165.
150' seems to be just a little to low for it to handle so I get an "ERROR" message. I bump it up to 160 and the fan takes off.
Wife & I are doing chicken breasts next.
The beauty of the 560 is its simplicity of design.

 

[Will Squared]

One night I forgot to push in the slides when I shut down. I was drying again the next morning.
When I checked it in the morning the coals had stayed alive with just the draft through the 3" port so I did not have to restart. It only burned about 6" down the hopper. That was kinda cool.

I shut it down every time to save my lumps.