Christmas dinner

[troj]

I'm really thinking about getting a pellet grill/smoker for this type of stuff. Anyone got one? Care to share your experience with them?

I'm using a 22" Weber kettle I got on clearance last fall for $45. Works well. Mr Piggy had a date with the grill today. One Two

What I really want is a Yoder pellet smoker, but they're not cheap.... They're considered one of the best smokers out there.

-Kevin

 

[smokeywolf]

I'm using what would be called the high end of the cheap offset smokers. With some minor modifications it does a fair job. I would love to have a Yoder.

 

[Brad]

I'm leaning towards a Rec Tec. Good reviews and I can afford to buy one AND eat too.

 

[fiver]

is all the fancy electronic stuff necessary, or is just a thermometer enough?
I have been looking at getting a smoker to do fish with, and maybe a turkey.
we throw back most of the 16-18" trout we catch, but a smoker would change that and add some deliciousness to the fridge.

 

[smokeywolf]

is all the fancy electronic stuff necessary, or is just a thermometer enough?

The electronic smokers for the most part allow you to set the temp you want, walk away and forget it until the cooking time is up. I'm more hands-on and enjoy adding wood every 30 minutes or so and turning or basting the meat.
My offset smoker is totally manual. Only electronics is the digital thermometer that I added that tells me what the temp is at grill/grate level and internal meat temp.

 

[Brad]

I want the walk away feature a digital controller gives. I am not interested in devoting the time to babysit a smoker

 

[JWFilips]

PID!

 

[Brad]

That is exactly what the good pellet smokers use, a PID.
Fire it up, set a temp, and walk away.

 

[fiver]

okay those features seem worth the extra money then.
I see smokers every where between 120 bucks and near 500 bucks.
I was thinking the more features the more money, but also more things to break.
as y'all know I distrust electronics.
but a timer, temp monitor, and maybe some type of wood feeder would be the way to get the best results.

 

[Brad]

http://www.rectecgrills.com/rec-tec-mini-portable-wood-pellet-grill-rt-300/

This is what I am leaning towards. Not just because of a lower price but size. I won't be smoking 4 briskets at once so a huge grill isn't needed. Why pay for lots of extra capacity of I don't need it?

Pellets aren't cheap but compared to eating out it isn't bad at all. Besides, this gives lots of left overs.

 

[smokeywolf]

Looks like a pretty decent smoker Brad. Size to weight ratio beats the Traeger. Meaning the steel in the Rec Tec is likely heavier gauge than the Traeger. That's really important if you don't want to burn through a lot of pellets when smoking in cold weather.
Other thing you have to consider is the height from grill surface to the inside of the smoker's hood. Anything less than 10" and you may have trouble finding a Thanksgiving turkey small enough to fit on your grill and still be able to close the lid.

I've owned smokers for nearly 9 years now; on my third one. Although they love my tri-tip fried with goose fat (recovered from smoked goose), the family won't touch meat that's been baked in the oven anymore.

 

[Ian]

Fiver, if you do smoked trout in a wood-burning smoker, get yourself some seasoned Alder wood. Hit a cabinet shop and ask for an armload of scraps, usually free for a couple minutes of good conversation.

 

[troj]

The other area where heavier metal matters is warping over time -- lighter weight models are notorious for leaks, which mean uneven and unpredictable cook times. Apparently older model Traeger smokers used heavier steel and were a great product. Newer models aren't getting anywhere near the same level of reviews.

I'm going to stick with my Weber kettle (works well -- I've done pork butts, ribs and brisket on it) until I can come up with the money for exactly what I want.

-Kevin

 

[freebullet]

Brad has a lathe now. He should be able to make you guys a pair of nice smokers with custom pid controls. I hear he owes you a favor anyways.

 

[Brad]

He will get exactly what he deserves.......

 

[troj]

Brad has a lathe now. He should be able to make you guys a pair of nice smokers with custom pid controls. I hear he owes you a favor anyways.

That would imply Brad was able to program said PID controller...

I have no doubt he would do better than I at any of the metalwork. The electronics, however....not so much.

-Kevin

 

[fiver]

he could fix them the way I do at work.
I walk in front of the E-tech carrying a hammer towards the offending electronic component.
somehow he manages to make it there before I do.

 

[troj]

he could fix them the way I do at work.
I walk in front of the E-tech carrying a hammer towards the offending electronic component.
somehow he manages to make it there before I do.

Percussive therapy doesn't necessarily fix the problem, but it is very therapeutic!

At a previous job, we had certain devices that could be extremely frustrating and were rather failure prone. I suggested to one of the techs that we fill one with black powder, stick in a fuse and back away to a safe distance. For research purposes, of course.

-Kevin

 

[Brad]

A BFH is never a bad choice when dealing with items that aren't cooperating.

 

[JWFilips]

Brad, Thats what I use on the computers & printers at work when they are down or acting strange
I call it "Percussive Maintenance" Amazing most times it works