Smoker for around 200

[Ammodytes]

Can anyone recommend a decent smoker that won’t rust out in a few years or leak smoke like those cheap offsets from HD. Used an offset for while but never liked the the result. Modified it into a reverse flow offset but it leaked badly and diy gasket mod didn’t work. Best results I ever got was a DIY 55 gallon drum with old refrigerator racks hanging on coat hanger hangers and a 10” cast iron frying pan sitting on the ground as a firebox with a small cutout hinged at the bottom. A hanging oven thermometer at the top was used to help control temperature. I could smoke 3 layers of 30 lb striped bass filets easily. It is recycled somewhere after it sat in woods and happily rusted due to not having enough time to smoke and disappearance of large striped bass. Is there really any better option than this in the smoker marketplace ? Are smoky mountains better or higher end offsets (not the 1/4 thick plate thousand plus models) or smoky mountain knock offs . Any suggestions

 

[Winterrider]

Welcome to the forum. Not gonna be able to get much of a smoker for $200 unless can find on Marketplace or similar.

 

[Ammodytes]

Welcome to the forum. Not gonna be able to get much of a smoker for $200 unless can find on Marketplace or similar.

Welcome to the forum. Not gonna be able to get much of a smoker for $200 unless can find on Marketplace or similar.

Thanks winter. I widen the window. What about a good model under 500?

 

[BigW.]

With that budget and wanting to smoke fish as your primary protein, an electric cabinet maybe the winner. You can control the heat easier than an offset for delicate meats like fish. An MES 40 for example.

 

[mike243]

Welcome Home, I bought probably 1 of the first run Masterbuilt electric smokers, It doesn't get used like it use to but if you like to make sausages it can't be beat imo, I have smoked everything on it and with a little work you can make some fantastic food, while I run a pellet smoker a lot now the flavor is not as good as the electric without a lot of work. lot of choices out there and all will make some fine food.

 

[DougE]

I think what you want is a Masterbuilt electric MES 40 for what you want to do. It can be modded with a PID for temp control and the mailbox mod for smoke.

 

[Winterrider]

Thanks winter. I widen the window. What about a good model under 500?

What DougE said. Many of us run this setup. Is great for sausage, jerky, fish, etc. With the PID you only have temps swings of maybe 5°.

 

[Winterrider]

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Masterbuilt 40" Digital Electric Smoker

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[normanaj]

An MES (Masterbuilt) w/PID is the way to go for smoking fish.I've done enough bluefish on mine to say that with confidence.