HUNTINGMAN Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Anyone know anything about the gourmet vertical electric smoker grill.I was looking at these and had one in my hands getting ready to buy it the other day.I put it back down and am wanting to get some advice on it first if any is available.I am wanting to start with a smaller electric smoker just to give it a try,my dad has a big charcoal/wood smoker that we use but I am wanting to give electric a try.This looks like it may be pretty good and easy to keep stored and not take up to much room on my back deck since room is an issue,this will just be used for small stuff and the big one of my dads will be used for the big parties and get togethers.I would post a pic of this grill but dont know how,but if you know grills you more than likely know what I am talking about anyway,thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Pretty sure that is the same thing my parents(stepfather) had/has. I had a brinkman charcoal smoke 'n grill and used it for several years and smoked a lot of turkeys on it, did some veni on it too. It did a pretty decent job, but was tough to keep a consistent temp with it. The electric version does not do as well with getting flavor in the meat imo as the charcoal smoker, and not too sure about the temp regulating with the electric burner on those smokers. My stepfather loves smoked and bbq foods, but he did not use his brinkman electric smoker much at all, said he never could get it to give the results he wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 I've used a brinkman charcoal smoker for years. But, two weeks ago i picked up some leg quarters to smoke. Sunday morning i went to put them on and discovered i was out of charcoal. Rather than driving 15 miles to the groc store, i went over to the fire dept where we have several smokers out in the shed that rarely get used. I grabbed a brinkman gourmet. I noticed there was tinfoil on the element with ashes in it, so i knew someone had been adding wood. So first thing i did was put a piece of hickory in foil on the element, then added my water, meat, etc. Now, i'm gonna tell you, that night you would be hard pressed to tell the difference in charcoal vs electric, and i have been a long time charcoal guy. My only concern was that in the owner's manual whether or not it was recommended to add the wood on the element. Would be a shame to burn the element up, but i figured someone else had been doing it on this one so i followed suit. Hope that helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 I have one and use it quite a bit. You need to use it in warmer temperatures. If it is cold outside, it takes forever to get done. I have never had any problems with it and just lay the wood chunks around the heating element. Use the big wood chunks, not the ground up wood bits. I have done beer can chicken, ham, brisket, turkey and all of them have come out great! We don't really do that much smoking, so this one works out for us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Orlan smoking ham?!? Surely your kidding. :D btw, you're almost at 15,000.....time for another oil change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 Orlan smoking ham?!? Surely your kidding. :D Smoked veni hams and shoulders can turn out pretty darned good. The brinkman smokers can do OK, don't get me wrong, but for a little more money you could get something a little better in an electric that you would probably get better results from. Having a thermostat for the burner helps control the heat and keep a more consistent temp. Something else that I personally did not care a lot for with the brinkman smoke and grill was that when you do two turkeys or more meat than will fit on one rack, you do not have a door to get to it, you have to lift out the rack which can be a pain. I bought the masterbuilt stainless smoker from cabelas a couple years ago, been very happy with it, it does not take up much space either. Keep it up against the wall in the garage when not in use. It will cook a couple turkeys at the same time with no trouble and cold weather is not and has not ever been an issue, it is insulated. Can do quite a bit of meat in it, the thermostat is controllable and will run up to 275. You are talking about probably $60 difference in having a smoker like this. or something similar to this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 1, 2009 Report Share Posted March 1, 2009 (edited) I have Brinkmann gas grill, and use it to smoke besides to grill with. A built in thermometer is a must! I figured Id get double duty out of it this way, so I went with a little better grill and got a stainless steel model. Edited March 1, 2009 by Mathews XT Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Smoked veni hams and shoulders can turn out pretty darned good. The brinkman smokers can do OK, don't get me wrong, but for a little more money you could get something a little better in an electric that you would probably get better results from. Having a thermostat for the burner helps control the heat and keep a more consistent temp. Something else that I personally did not care a lot for with the brinkman smoke and grill was that when you do two turkeys or more meat than will fit on one rack, you do not have a door to get to it, you have to lift out the rack which can be a pain. I bought the masterbuilt stainless smoker from cabelas a couple years ago, been very happy with it, it does not take up much space either. Keep it up against the wall in the garage when not in use. It will cook a couple turkeys at the same time with no trouble and cold weather is not and has not ever been an issue, it is insulated. Can do quite a bit of meat in it, the thermostat is controllable and will run up to 275. You are talking about probably $60 difference in having a smoker like this. or something similar to this If you have to go vertical....listen to this guy right here!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 I have a Brinkman sportsman, it's a tad smaller than this one but it's the charcoal one. Well, I converted it to electric a couple years ago. Cabela's sells a small plug in element just for them for like $25 bucks. Bottom line is, everything "cooks" too fast on these smaller vertical smokers for obvious reasons and you often will be disappointed with the results. Smokey flavor yes, but not as tender as you'd hoped for. I have a friend that has this exact grill but the charcoal version and he is a big believer in the minion method. Everything we've had over there was dry. And everything I've smoked on my Brinkmann was the same. Smoking is all about using the lowest (safest) temps possible and smoke to cook your meat. For $160 or less you can buy the Charbroil Silver Smoker from Home depot or the Brinkmann equivalent at Wall Mart for around $130. Both are horizontal/barrel, side fire box style charcoal smokers, which is way easier to control temps. BUT....it's more work cuz you're tending to the fire every hour. I too am wanting to go electric or gas, but I also don't want to go vertical. So I'm making one this Spring/summer!! However, I am tempted to get one like wtnhunt to replace my Silver Smoker at some point. But man, charcoal smoking is so flavorful and fun. I'm not quiet ready to move on. One more year probably and then I'll be tired of the charcoal ball 'n chain! LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 I agree, HM on the charcoal flavor. I love it, but cant beat the control of gas/electric, and the ability to just leave it and go somewhere for 4 hours without worrying if your coals are all burnt up. Also, if your smoking chicken you'll end up with more money in charcoal than your meat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 But man, charcoal smoking is so flavorful and fun. I'm not quiet ready to move on. One more year probably and then I'll be tired of the charcoal ball 'n chain! LOL! No doubt about it, that little brinkman smoke 'n grill charcoal smoker did great with flavor, however I was guilty of overcooking a few cuts of meat with it over the years of use it got. Did not have too much issue with drying out meat, always used a water pan. I agree, HM on the charcoal flavor. I love it, but cant beat the control of gas/electric, and the ability to just leave it and go somewhere for 4 hours without worrying if your coals are all burnt up. Also, if your smoking chicken you'll end up with more money in charcoal than your meat! Nice part of electrics with thermostats, set the temp and it will regulate it pretty well, just keep up with your wood chunks for smoke. I usually only get about a 10 degree fluctuation in temp(+5 to -5 from where it is set at), which is not too bad. Just for grins I have placed wood chunk charcoal in the electric before along with the water soaked wood chunks, the charcoal will burn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 no doubt about it, that little brinkman smoke 'n grill charcoal smoker did great with flavor, however i was guilty of overcooking a few cuts of meat with it over the years of use it got. Did not have too much issue with drying out meat, always used a water pan. Nice part of electrics with thermostats, set the temp and it will regulate it pretty well, just keep up with your wood chunks for smoke. uggh!!! Sounds like heaven!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HUNTINGMAN Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Think I will hold out a couple more weeks and get a masterbuilt,never gave much thought about haveing to take out the top rack to get to whats on the bottom with the brinkman but I dont like haveing to do this.Thanks for all the imput and help,keep them smoken guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 HeavyMetal, have you started making that smoker yet? I want to make one. I've heard from more than one person that an old refrigerator makes an excellent smoker. You have to find the really old 1050's type that are all metal on the inside instead of plastic. You already have racks, it's well insulated to hold in heat, and put a smokestack in the top and your almost there!! If i find one i'll post some pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 HeavyMetal, have you started making that smoker yet? I want to make one. I've heard from more than one person that an old refrigerator makes an excellent smoker. You have to find the really old 1050's type that are all metal on the inside instead of plastic. You already have racks, it's well insulated to hold in heat, and put a smokestack in the top and your almost there!! If i find one i'll post some pics. NO I HAVE NOT! But I smoked a chuck roast in my silver smoker Saturday and while outside putzing around I went over and kind of scoped out that oil tank a little more. I think it's going to work great! YUP! I've heard the same thing a few times about using an old fridge as well. I think it would work excellent and you could either build the fire (electric or whatever) box/heat/smoke plate in the bottom of it or have it offset at ground level and use a 12" long piece of 3" double insulated stove pipe on a slight upward angle to the fridge... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidd Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 if you are looking for a good electric smoker...look at the treagers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 if you are looking for a good electric smoker...look at the treagerssmoke snob! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snipe Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 Watt burners are OK and easy.. But nothing beats tending a good ol fire in a traditional style smoker with a side fire box... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Watt burners are OK and easy.. But nothing beats tending a good ol fire in a traditional style smoker with a side fire box...Preach it SNIPE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcdeer54 Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 looks good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 I always wanted one, have not pulled the trigger yet. These are on sale, anyone use these? http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0004365514812a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCHFEAT_all-search_redir&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ne=2510&Ntt=smoker&noImage=0&sort=all&QueryText=smoker&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&trueNum=32&N=4808&redirect=true&Nty=1&cmCat=search_redir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snipe Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 I always wanted one, have not pulled the trigger yet. These are on sale, anyone use these? http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0004365514812a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCHFEAT_all-search_redir&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ne=2510&Ntt=smoker&noImage=0&sort=all&QueryText=smoker&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&trueNum=32&N=4808&redirect=true&Nty=1&cmCat=search_redir Bad link.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldksnarc Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 Bad link.. Worked earlier when I tried it. Must have gone down for maintenance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Bad link.. Sorry, try this: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0069087514812a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all-search_redir&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ne=2510&Ntt=smoker&noImage=0&sort=all&QueryText=smoker&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&trueNum=32&N=4808&redirect=true&Nty=1&cmCat=search_redir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snipe Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 Sorry, try this: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0069087514812a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all-search_redir&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ne=2510&Ntt=smoker&noImage=0&sort=all&QueryText=smoker&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&trueNum=32&N=4808&redirect=true&Nty=1&cmCat=search_redir Bradley smokers use to be one of the better watt burners, but I feel there quality may have taken a step back.. There are a few members at my smoking site that own them. One guy lives in London and his heating element has gone out after like 30 use's...Good luck finding one over there for a replacement.. One other member just picked one up and the element didn't even come on.. He did find a wire came off the element during shipping... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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