Portable smoker recommendations please

[wklkjn]

I've got the Master built Propane smoker.

I love it, and so does my son.

We enjoy it so much that whenever my wife and I are traveling the 2 hours to  my son and daughter in law's house for a weekend, I end up bringing it in the SUV with me.

It is getting to be a pain transporting it.

I'm wondering if there are any portable smokers that aren't as big, but something that would be a nice gift for my son.

He could keep it at his house, we could smoke when we're there, and I wouldn't have to lug my big one around.

I see Master Built has an electric unit at Home Depot for $79. 

It's an electric bullet smoker:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Masterbuilt-Electric-Bullet-Smoker-20078516/206288138

Any thoughts or recommendations?

Do these smaller smokers do the same job as my full size one?

I'm half tempted to just buy the same one I have.

I hate buying smaller, inexpensive things, and then thinking that for a little bit more money I could have the full size unit.

What you do think?

Thanks.

 

[biteme7951]

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/portab...40160&wl13=&wl15=26916450635&wl17=1o4&veh=sem

Masterbuilt Portable propane smoker is another option. Around $100 at Sam's and the big box stores. I do not have one (yet) but they have pretty good reviews on the web.

Barry.

 

[biteme7951]

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/portab...40160&wl13=&wl15=26916450635&wl17=1o4&veh=sem

Masterbuilt Portable propane smoker is another option. Around $100 at Sam's and the big box stores. I do not have one (yet) but they have pretty good reviews on the web.

Barry.

 

[Bearcarver]

Here's another Thread about Portable Masterbuilt Gasser, with a good Report on Post #11:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/243707/new-masterbuilt-portable-camping-smoker

Bear

 

[h8that4u]

Amazon has the Masterbuilt portable like the one at Sams with a carry case they have them in electric or propane. The only difference I see is the door is black and not stainless. 

I now have 3 of the propane ones as Sams was clearing them out to make room for seasonal stuff and was able to get the other 2 at under 50 bucks each.

I travel a lot for work and sit on location for hours at a time, this thing puts out just as good food as the 2 big ones I have at home.

I was able to stuff 3 racks of ribs into one unit a few weeks ago. Had to cut racks in half to get them in there but it worked.

I have done pork butt and a pan of Dutches baked beans also with no issue.

 

[ericksaint]

Amazon has the Masterbuilt portable like the one at Sams with a carry case they have them in electric or propane. The only difference I see is the door is black and not stainless. 
I now have 3 of the propane ones as Sams was clearing them out to make room for seasonal stuff and was able to get the other 2 at under 50 bucks each.
I travel a lot for work and sit on location for hours at a time, this thing puts out just as good food as the 2 big ones I have at home.
I was able to stuff 3 racks of ribs into one unit a few weeks ago. Had to cut racks in half to get them in there but it worked.
I have done pork butt and a pan of Dutches baked beans also with no issue.

https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-20073716-Portable-Electric-Carrying/dp/B01MCVW789/ref=pd_ybh_a_8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VG7Y6GZPFKSBHNE9HW5G

Sorry to necro post this thread. Can you tell me how you managed to get 3 racks into this thing? I just picked one up and can barely see 2 cut racks fitting in. I want to do 3 for a camping trip coming up but seemed like a stretch without some low profile rib racks.

 

[h8that4u]

Cut the baby back ribs in half, I place one length wise towards the back running left to right, then i place 2 other ones running from front to back. I do the same for both racks.You may have a little over lap of the ribs but about half way through the cook I will swap the rack around and adjust as needed. It aint perfect but it does work.

I have also picked up some angle iron and screws so when I have time I can just add another shelf and holder into in between the two shelf's that are in there, but have not done it yet. 

 

[ericksaint]

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to season it up and throw a rack on before my camping trip just to get a feel for it. I guess I'll know more then. It's crazy how small the chip tray and water pan are.

 

[h8that4u]

I use pellets that have gotten wet, which turned them to sawdust, that works much better than the pellets or chips as they tend to catch fire, i fill both the chip and water tray with saw dust and the chip tray will smoke for a good 30/45 mins, while the water pan takes a little longer to get going but will give a good 1.5 hrs of nice smoke.  The biggest issue I have found is temp maintenance. Trying to keep the temp down around 225 is hard with any wind, the flame will blow out with a sneeze. I have learned to park my truck so the tires help block the wind and try to set up with some natural wind blocks. Need to build a collapsible 3 sided wind break for it but just have not had the time. Also Home Depot sells a thin sheet of metal that I use to put right under the bottom rack, just above the water pan and chip tray as a way to keep drippings from going right in to the pans or the flame. Foil would work also.

 

[ericksaint]

OK. I bought a charbroil smoker tube on clearance at target for under 7 bucks, so I have that too. I was thinking of just going with that right from the start instead of the included tray. The tube fits. but it touches both the cooking rack and the chip/water rack, so I was worried about the smoke basically going directly into whatever is on that first rack.

20170815_222304[1].jpg

• ericksaint
• Aug 15, 2017

If I put the tube right in the bottom there is plenty of room, but I don't know if there is enough air flow down there to keep the pellets lit. I've never used a pellet tube of any kind, hoping it just lights with a torch like the Amazen videos I've seen.

20170815_222340[1].jpg

• ericksaint
• Aug 15, 2017

Are you using the metal burner cover on the bottom or running without it? I have a couple pieces of 12x15" stainless steel at work I could cut one to fit on the bottom rack with an inch or so clearance all the way around for smoke to make it up into the chamber. It's probably a 1/16" maybe thicker, but didn't know it it would block too much heat from getting up. I'm just hoping for a decent job on the ribs in a couple weeks. This was all kind of last minute so I won't have a lot of time to modify before camping.