Smoking Meat in a FRACTION of the Time?!

[vegansbeware]

Have you all seen this thing? I was surfing the net and I'm not sure if I'm intrigued or disgusted!

I mean, first off, it would be nice to be able to smoke meat in a shorter time. But at the same time, isn't the time it takes the reason we do what we do? That sense of pride we get when we battle, or work (weather permitting) with our smokers for hours on end to get that WONDERFUL end result that we present to our friends and family as if it were a gift from the Gods?

I'm not gonna run right out to the store and buy one of these. I was just showing ya'll this crazy little contraption and I was wondering if any of you have either seen, or used this new little contraption. If so, what did you think? If not, what is your first impression?

http://www.orionoutdoors.com/products/cooker/

 

[richtee]

I'm betting it would be a marginal at best result as far as smoking. NOTHING can rush a plateau. Well, you CAN but we know what happens then. Might do ribs and fattys and such OK.

And I don't mind the tending the smoker :{)

 

[peculiarmike]

This thing has been posted here before, do a search.
And I found a smoke pressure cooker that does it in even less time. Expensive though.

 

[richoso1]

I'd like to know how you can control cooking temps for different meats all in the same container?

 

[smokin' joe]

Saw one at home depot today...interesting concept, I am sure someone could find a practical use for it.

 

[vegansbeware]

My bad PM. Still kinda new using a Forum. I'll make a personal note to Search BEFORE I Post. Guess I jsut got a little worked up when I saw it.

 

[abelman]

My first thought is how to use a thermometer and still keep the convection thing intact.

 

[dollarbill]

Just for time reasons, this thing i think looks kinda cool. I would love to try it. and ill let you kow if i get one this weekend or if i go traditional which im very interested in doing as well! thats my 2 cents. thanks. db

 

[capt dan]

I looked at them a while ago, and then read about them online. I am sure they will turn out good ribs for some folks. But alot of people parboil ribs too, and then bake!

The Orion seems like a cross between a steamer, and a hibachi !

 

[garyt]

For me it is all about the doing first, the fun of the hobby. If your that much in a hurry Buy them frozen off the Schwans truck and heat them up in microwave and there you go.

 

[travcoman45]

Think I'll pass. You can microwave a steak in a hurry but it ain't all that great either!

I smoke food to have the proper taste with the proper consistancy, you can't do it in a hurry otherwise you have the commercial garbage. Smoking meat is an art, you don't rush art. Just my opinion. PS: if I'm in a hurry for some good Q, I'll pull somtin out of the freezer and warm it up!

 

[johngil]

I have never seen this contraption, BUT in boy scouts we made something like this out of a stainless steal waste can. We cooked a chicken and all kinds of stuff on it. It was pretty good but keep in mind I was 12. Back then anything that I could eat that didnt kill me was pretty good.

 

[ddave]

I could not agree more!!

Dave

 

[lcruzen]

I've seen this same type of cooker at Home Depot advertized as a oil less turkey fryer. Looks like a Ron Popeil invention. Wonder how many easy payments for it.

But wait, there's more! If you order now I'll even throw in this old fashioned wood smoker!

 

[vegansbeware]

It is for sale at my local Home Depot for $140. Not that I'm gonna get one or anything. Just thought you would like to know, Cruzen.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ty=Kansas+city

 

[lcruzen]

Actually that is a little different. The one I saw was electric.

 

[pigcicles]

I know a guy who owns a drinking establishment that also serves some food. Nothing fancy, but he has a couple of these. I've never tasted the food from it, but have heard others say it's pretty good.

Now defining good is like defining sexual relations. Who ya talkin to, if ya know what I mean.

I'm sure it's tender as it is pressure cooked, but the smoke flavor has got to leave something to be desired.

Sometime I'll try the food, but I ain't gonna buy one. And that's my pennies worth ... keep the change.

 

[nudib]

I`ve done some research,And this is more like a cooker not a smoker.It cooks in a third of the time. But doesn`t smoke very much.You put wood around the drip pan and smoke that way,but once you close it up,your not suppose to open till it`s done cooking.I think it`s what you want in a cooker,but not a smoker.The meat is good and tender.You can go to utube and find it there. nudib

 

[curious aardvark]

It's not a pressure cooker - which is in it's favor pressure cookers scare the crap out of me :-)
I love the idea of the thing. But 1) I doubt you can buy them in england and 2) you can't get much in it can you ?
When i smoke salmon I tend to do at least 3 large salmon fillets and throw some other stuff in as well.

Still I'd like to taste the output of one before making any decisions. It certainly looks economical to run.
As for the smoke flavour being weak - probably not. Any smoke generated is trapped in the cooker, it's not flowing past as in a traditional smoker. Not only that the atmosphere in the orion is hot and wet - so what smoke there is will be readily absorbed by the meat, intensifying the smoke taste.

I appreciate the whole smoking as art approach. But for me it's all about the food. If this thing cooks as well and that much faster I'm all for it. Time is something I have in much shorter supply than just about anything else lol

Very neat idea. Just wish I could test drive one :-)

 

[ally2mail]

I might give it a try. I used to have a charcoal kettle grill and replaced it with my GOSM because we had company and I figured I could fix a lot of burgers and dogs. Now I have a love affair with smoked food. Besides, this Orion thing's only only $139. I fly model planes and cook at the flying field. I'm sure this thing can't replace my smoker but if I can take it to the field and do ribs fast it might be worth having. Last year I got a deal on a big master flame stainless grill. It's no smoker either but it's great for steaks and burgers and anything you might want to cook after working all day. Heck, like today I've got the smoker going with a brisket and we did chicken on the grill for lunch. Speaking of brisket it's time to flip and baste and druel. If I get the Orion thing I'll give my opinon.