OT: Gas or Electric Smoker

[Uncle Ruckus]

I think this has been discussed ad nauseum, but I'm ready to get in the game. From the talks I've had with a couple people they recommend gas due to the heating element lasting longer and the temperature consistency. I'm looking at 30" masterbuilts or something similar. What you got?

 

[dawgstudent]

I have a buddy that has a gas smoker and he said it's fool proof. Ridiculously easy.

 

[57stratdawg]

At the advice of SPS, I bought a BGE a few weeks back. It's great. Smoking prime rib this weekend.

 

[dawglawz]

I say gas. I used a cheap(ish) gas smoker from Home Depot for years and made some great ribs.

My father-in-law had an electric one that I never could get good results on. It was like the element would never get hot enough. It was a cheap model though.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Know someone who has one and the one time I've had something from it it was great. But I'm not really wanting to have to dip into my retirement *

 

[ronpolk]

I got an electric one and it's stupid easy. Literally set the temp and timer and walk away. I will add more chips every 3 or 4 hours. I've had good results but I've never smoked on a gas one before.

 

[Arthur2478]

It's simple:
Charcoal > Gas > Electric

 

[RingN2012]

I have a gas smoker that I've gotten a lot of mileage out of. I just keep it covered up when not in use. Pretty cheap, and not hard. Add chips every hour or two and drink cold beer like it's going out of style

 

[seshomoru]

Pellet

They're just so damn easy.

 

[Crazy Cotton]

go to walmart/home depot and get the charbroil gas smoker for around 80 bucks. Looks like a mini-fridge. Now do the absolute most important thing - get this:
http://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Et-732-Remote-Smoker-Thermometer/dp/B004IMA718

You must know the internal temp of the meat, and your life will be much easier if you know the internal temp of your cooking chamber. This will tell you both, in the comfort of your armchair. Temp information is the A=1 absolute necessary ingredient in bbq.

 

[SheltonChoked]

For a smoker, go pellet. It's stupid easy. Set a temp, down to 130 degrees. Up to 450 and forget it. You can even add a cold smoke box and do you own bacon. Not a great grill as 450 is really the max, but if you want to smoke things. You cannot beat it.

 

[57stratdawg]

Haha understandable, but mine wasn't too bad. You can get everything you need for probably $800-900 for a Large. Maybe $600-700 for a medium.

That's egg, stand, indirect heat shield, coals, etc.