I have been wanting to purchase a smoker for some time now but I am stuck. Can I get some opinions on the Pit Boss 5 Series and the Bradley Smoker
Bradley smoker is the one that takes the "smoke chip cakes" correct? I personally have a pitboss and love it, its the Austin xl which is a pellet grill so I can do both grilling and smoking on it which temp range is from 150 up to 500.
May I ask what your zip code is? I can help see if you have any smokers on sale in your area. sometimes you can find really really good deals!
I plan on making snack sticks, will it affect the whole process if I can't use a lower temperature to dry the sticks. I don't want to cook them to quickly.I used to use a Bradley Smoker Generator for my adapted Brinkman UDS. I cannot endorse Bradley any more.
I was looking for alternatives due to Bradley's exorbitant prices for the Pucks and found
Now I can smoke with Pellets, or dissolved Pellets to make sawdust, in my AMNPS tray.
So, anything but a Bradley.
You may find a Smokin It, or a Sausage Maker smoker within your reach, comparing prices and features.
The biggest reason to consider is fuel availability, over Bradley.
Also, one of my biggest reasons for an AMNPS tray is cold smoking. Bacon, Salmon, Nuts, Cheeses, Spices, etc.
Pellet Smokers are hotter type smokers. So their range runs 150° and upward.
Which turned me back to my tried and true electric for smoking.
YMMV
I plan on making snack sticks, will it affect the whole process if I can't use a lower temperature to dry the sticks. I don't want to cook them to quickly.
I don't use my pellet grill to do my snack sticks as it doesn't go to a low enough temperature. I use my WSM mini charcoal grill. I really had spotty results trying to use my pellet grill to do any kind of smoked sausage. I find I need to start at 140 F and increase 10 degrees every hour until it gets to 180 F and then go to an internal temperature of 155 F. The pellet smoker just didn't work that well at low temperatures.Not sure. Recipes vary, but often start off around 140° F (60° C). So 150° F might, probably, would work.
How about starting your Snack Sticks in the oven, then moving them to your smoker to finish?
I know Disco uses a pellet grill and makes Snack Sticks, I'll send him a link to this so he can advise.
And if you are interested in Snack Sticks, try his.
We'll help you spend your money and get up and running....
I used to have a Bradley and it worked well for me. I actually wish I'd kept it just to do smoked sausage.
Ugh, my goodness okay I'll figure it out.
I'll make it work somehow, think I'm gonna settle with the Boss I like the size and the pellet selection, I seen the had peach pellets. I'm thinking of making Jerk Sausage and adding some peaches into the mix then smoking them with peach pellets, heavenly