Okay, ready to up grade my Brinkman Electric smoker

[flamin lib]

I want another electric because they are so damn consistent. Masterbuilt has some really attractive features for about $300 but some reviews aren't that great. Not enough smoke, poor customer support and lack of support for discontinued product. If your experience is different please let me know.

So, what'cha usin' and how good is it? I'd like to keep price to about $300 +- but because I do all the cooking and shopping wife says it can come out of her budget!!!!

[Major Nikon]

1. I've kicked around the idea of getting one

The problem I have is a good friend of mine is a smoker nut who manages to win quite a few BBQ competitions, so when I get the urge to smoke something I just take it over to him and he throws it in with his next batch.

If I were to get one, I'd want the option of cold smoking. I've been looking at the Bradley Smokers. I'm not sure how good they are. The insulation seems to be lacking and I'm not sure if I like the idea of having to buy wood pucks.

[flamin lib]

2. Yeah, the propriatary pucks are a deal breaker for me too. Otherwise it looks

pretty good.

[Tab]

3. I've been eyeing this one

(have to click on "New Generation&quot
http://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-Generation-Electric-Smokehouse-Controller/dp/B003XJGEGY

[flamin lib]

4. Yeah, that was what got me started looking.

There are fifteen (out of 158) 1 star reviews and a number refer to 'not enough smoke'. 10% negative isn't really that bad on Amazon.

Getting real close to pulling the trigger . . .

[flamin lib]

5. I did some more review searching and the Masterbuilt is a no-go.

Far too many quality issues and they don't stock repair parts for older models.

Google Smokin Tex. More expensive but looks worth it.

[Major Nikon]

6. I'll ask my buddy that is a BBQ guru next time I see him

We've had this conversation before and I remember him mentioning the Smokin Tex but I don't remember if he talked about it positively or negatively. I'll be seeing him early next week.

[Major Nikon]

7. I got the low-down on the Smokin Tex

My BBQ Guru buddy says the Smokin Tex is awesome. He said he used to own one, but sold it when he upgraded to something bigger. Now he wishes he had kept it and wants to buy another. He said the advantage to it is it moves very little air through the smoker which translates into meat that is more moist and it uses very little wood although it is fully capable of smoking the hell out of most anything. He said the Cookshack is essentially the same thing and they used to be made by the same company, but now the Smokin Tex is made overseas and the Cookshack is made in Oklahoma. He also said the forums on the Cookshack website are good so you can get all your questions answered there.

[flamin lib]

8. Thanks. That's useful information.

Would love to buy American but the equivalent Cookshak is 2x the $500 (delivered to my door). I looked at the
CS and side by side it and the ST look the same spec for spec. The CS has some small benefits like chimney location, heavier construction and a few other things plus being made here but for the average mortal the cost difference is not easy to overcome.

The ECB (El Cheapo Brinkman, under $100) has done well by me for ten years and turned out meat that borders on spectacular. It is also extremely consistent in temperature, just turn it on, throw the meat and wood on and check it for smoke once an hour. The problem with the Brinkman is two fold: it has only one temperature (@ 250F) and it isn't insulated (it's just a sheet metal tube) so as ambient temp drops the cooking temp does too. At 40F outside the bottom shelf (closest to the heating element) temp was 235F and at the top shelf a little over 200F. You can cook at that temp but it takes a loooooooog time.

All that said, if you're a fair weather smoker, it's a hell of a cooker for the price.

[Major Nikon]

9. He said that they occassionally offer deals

I didn't ask him to elaborate, but it sounds as if they go on sale from time to time.

[Major Nikon]

10. There's one called the Smokin-it which seems to be even cheaper

I didn't look at it that closely but it seems to be the smallest of the 3