Need Help With Purchasing A Smoker

[Empty V]

So for the last few years I've been using cast iron smoker boxes for smoking ribs and steaks on my propane grill. I was at home depot the other day and saw smokers for what I consider to be cheap. So what will best suit my needs? Why would someone get a gas or electric one? Is it only if they want to use it as a grill as well? Do you use use coals and place the wood chips on top? any help and tips are greatly appreciated.

EDIT: Here's 2 I was looking at. Both priced @ $65.00

[Klits562]

So for the last few years I've been using cast iron smoker boxes for smoking ribs and steaks on my propane grill. I was at home depot the other day and saw smokers for what I consider to be cheap. So what will best suit my needs? Why would someone get a gas or electric one? Is it only if they want to use it as a grill as well? Do you use use coals and place the wood chips on top? any help and tips are greatly appreciated.

EDIT: Here's 2 I was looking at. Both priced @ $65.00

my dad has a smoker and man i tell you the food he makes in that thing is GODLY!!!!

Im not exactly sure how they work they might just work off gas or coal and you through the woodchips in for the flavor.
Just ask someone at the store thats selling them im sure they know how they work....atleast i would hope

[Empty V]

my dad has a smoker and man i tell you the food he makes in that thing is GODLY!!!!

Im not exactly sure how they work they might just work off gas or coal and you through the woodchips in for the flavor.
Just ask someone at the store thats selling them im sure they know how they work....atleast i would hope

I'm planning on buying it from home depot in so-cal. First it's home depot, 2nd not a lot of people (at least that I know of) smoke food out here so getting good info is going to be tough.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

I think Beancooker should probably go for cheap... where is that bastard?

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

We've used a cheap aluminum one for years to smoke fishies. Looks like it came from the 70's.

[Jesda]

This thread is relevant to my interests. Tuning in.

[bcar240]

My roommate has an electric one and it works fine for slow cooking ribs and the like. But it will not get very much hotter than his rib cooking temp even though its thermometer goes several hundred degrees higher, so there are a couple recipes that he has hesitated to cook with it because he is not sure if it is getting hot enough. That red one looks much better than his though, the one he got looks like a few pieces of sheet metal riveted together with a coil at the bottom.

[Empty V]

My roommate has an electric one and it works fine for slow cooking ribs and the like. But it will not get very much hotter than his rib cooking temp even though its thermometer goes several hundred degrees higher, so there are a couple recipes that he has hesitated to cook with it because he is not sure if it is getting hot enough. That red one looks much better than his though, the one he got looks like a few pieces of sheet metal riveted together with a coil at the bottom.

So do the electric one's just heat the wood chips with a coil? Do you know how it works?

Thanks!

[Pwnin O'Brien]

My dad smokes turkey for thanksgiving and whatnot. He uses a charcoal smoker and it works surprisingly well. The only problem is that you have to constantly monitor the temperature gauge on the charcoal smoker. I think he uses the flavored wood chips and it makes the turkey taste really good.

[sx moneypit]

I have the red one ,it works great.You put the wood chips in the bowl with your water.You can also remove the heating element and put charcoal in the bowl and use it as a regular grill.

[Empty V]

I have the red one ,it works great.You put the wood chips in the bowl with your water.You can also remove the heating element and put charcoal in the bowl and use it as a regular grill.

Nice! So how do you use the water?

[EDIT] I soak the chips in the cast iron boxes for 30min then drain and throw on the grill.

[Empty V]

My dad smokes turkey for thanksgiving and whatnot. He uses a charcoal smoker and it works surprisingly well. The only problem is that you have to constantly monitor the temperature gauge on the charcoal smoker. I think he uses the flavored wood chips and it makes the turkey taste really good.

I think I might be trying to accomplish the same thing. It sounds like a lot of work.

[Empty V]

Bump, where's our knowledgeable smokers (food) at?

[themadscientist]

I think you can get him cheap.

[sx moneypit]

Get the electric one ,you won't have to worry monitoring the temperature.There are lava rocks that you set around the heating element,that is where you put the wood chips.The water bowl sets above that to collect the juices and help keep whatever you are cooking moist.