Just bought a cold smoker
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- indyfrisco
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Just bought a cold smoker
Well, I bought the first stage of a cold smoker, the tool to provide the smoke.
This is not my smoker, but I plan to make something myself. Might use a 55 gallon drum. Not sure yet.
Might be a few weeks, but I'll post my creation once it is complete.
This is not my smoker, but I plan to make something myself. Might use a 55 gallon drum. Not sure yet.
Might be a few weeks, but I'll post my creation once it is complete.
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
What are you gonna make with that getup?
Prosciutto and lox?
Prosciutto and lox?
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
A question, Indy. I’m considering getting myself a smoker for Father’s Day. My initial thought was that I trust Weber, and I can get their bullet smoker for around $200. I’ve read stuff here and there that suggests that it’s basically a charcoal smoker and doesn’t handle wood very well. Or that you have to have an offset smoker to properly do ribs.
Perhaps you have some ideas, or could hook me up with a link to a good discussion of what to buy. Thanks.
Perhaps you have some ideas, or could hook me up with a link to a good discussion of what to buy. Thanks.
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
This is the one I got. It works great as a smoker or a grill:
The only complaints I have are that it's not really heavy duty construction, and I would prefer a little more workspace. Also, you have to use a soup can on a glitchy hanger underneath for a grease drain. Not a very good setup for that.
Reviewed here - the picture in the article doesn't have the side box. It was pretty cheap, but it works great.
Scroll to the bottom of the article for more reviews.
http://bbq.about.com/od/smokerreviews/g ... 20807b.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The only complaints I have are that it's not really heavy duty construction, and I would prefer a little more workspace. Also, you have to use a soup can on a glitchy hanger underneath for a grease drain. Not a very good setup for that.
Reviewed here - the picture in the article doesn't have the side box. It was pretty cheap, but it works great.
Scroll to the bottom of the article for more reviews.
http://bbq.about.com/od/smokerreviews/g ... 20807b.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Mikey,
Coincidentally that is the offset smoker I was considering. Home Depot sells it for $170. I already have a gas grill and a Webber kettle. Still would like to hear Indy's opinion of vertical vs offset, and charcoal vs wood.
Coincidentally that is the offset smoker I was considering. Home Depot sells it for $170. I already have a gas grill and a Webber kettle. Still would like to hear Indy's opinion of vertical vs offset, and charcoal vs wood.
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
I don't care what Indy says, though I'm pretty sure he'll agree. You don't want to smoke with charcoal.
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Says who? I used to do a pack of Tareytons a day way back when.Mikey wrote:I don't care what Indy says, though I'm pretty sure he'll agree. You don't want to smoke with charcoal.
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Did you end up fighting, or switching?
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Goobs,
I willget back to you on this subject as I do have a good recomendation for you that does not involve a tin foil style smoker from Home Depot. Please hold off on buying one of those pieces of shit. I will steer you to the good stuff.
Will give a lot more info later but in the mean time check out lyfetyme.com for the best smokers. I'll give you the low-down on those smokers. Will send pictures of mine along with my critique of those soon.
I willget back to you on this subject as I do have a good recomendation for you that does not involve a tin foil style smoker from Home Depot. Please hold off on buying one of those pieces of shit. I will steer you to the good stuff.
Will give a lot more info later but in the mean time check out lyfetyme.com for the best smokers. I'll give you the low-down on those smokers. Will send pictures of mine along with my critique of those soon.
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
I wound up switching to Marlboros, then Marlboro lights. Then I quit.Mikey wrote:Did you end up fighting, or switching?
Hurry up Indy. This is supposed to be my Father's Day present. For this year.
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Now that I think about it, I've got to agree with IndyFrisco on this one.
Why spend 300 bucks on something that works perfectly well when you can drop $1500 to get the same results, and then brag about how much money you spent? It just doesn't make sense.
Why spend 300 bucks on something that works perfectly well when you can drop $1500 to get the same results, and then brag about how much money you spent? It just doesn't make sense.
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
I'm still considering the Weber bullet smoker. I know that is not "tin foil", and I can get it for close to 2 bills. If I really get into smoking I can always upgrade later. But I'll wait another day or two to see what Indy has to say.
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
I thought you said you quit. Whataya gonna upgrade too? Cigars?Goober McTuber wrote: If I really get into smoking I can always upgrade later.
mvscal wrote:The only precious metals in a SHTF scenario are lead and brass.
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Poles.smackaholic wrote:I thought you said you quit. Whataya gonna upgrade too?Goober McTuber wrote: If I really get into smoking I can always upgrade later.
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Ok, long weekend. Finally weighing in here.
My deal with offset smokers is that those $200 versions at Home Depot are very lightweight. They are made of like 1/16" metal. Try cooking with one of those in the rain. Here is a picture of the one I have:
It weighs about 500 lbs. When the lid is shut, it is SEALED. Maintining temperature is very easy. And you will never ever need to buy another smoker again. In my last two homes, I have actually poured a pad of concrete so this thing has its own home. Never once used a cover on it either. It's just that strong.
http://www.lyfetyme.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; 20" x 40" single lid grill with firebox. It is about $700. Shipping might run another $200. If that is more than you want to spend, no need to spend $300. Just buy the cheapo $160 version of the Char Broil brand at the Home Depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... yID=500439" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
As for smoking with the Weber, advise against that. It is a great charcoal grill for direct heat on steaks. Not so much with smoking. The key to smoking is being able to regulate heat. Doing it with this setup is very hard to do.
My deal with offset smokers is that those $200 versions at Home Depot are very lightweight. They are made of like 1/16" metal. Try cooking with one of those in the rain. Here is a picture of the one I have:
It weighs about 500 lbs. When the lid is shut, it is SEALED. Maintining temperature is very easy. And you will never ever need to buy another smoker again. In my last two homes, I have actually poured a pad of concrete so this thing has its own home. Never once used a cover on it either. It's just that strong.
http://www.lyfetyme.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; 20" x 40" single lid grill with firebox. It is about $700. Shipping might run another $200. If that is more than you want to spend, no need to spend $300. Just buy the cheapo $160 version of the Char Broil brand at the Home Depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... yID=500439" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
As for smoking with the Weber, advise against that. It is a great charcoal grill for direct heat on steaks. Not so much with smoking. The key to smoking is being able to regulate heat. Doing it with this setup is very hard to do.
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
I wasn't talking about the Weber kettle. The Weber Smoky Mountain (WSM) bullet smoker does have vents for controlling heat. I’ve read that it doesn’t handle logs well, but I’m wondering how it does with wood chips.
I have my gas grill on the deck, but would probably keep the smoker in the shed. The WSM would be easy to carry up on the deck, the Char-Broil I would just drag over next to the deck.
The WSM:
I have my gas grill on the deck, but would probably keep the smoker in the shed. The WSM would be easy to carry up on the deck, the Char-Broil I would just drag over next to the deck.
The WSM:
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Here's the offset I was looking at from Home Depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... =100342154" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... =100342154" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Seems servicable enough as a starter smoker. The wood shelf looks pretty cheap and VERY narrow. Not sure if you can put a plate on there at all. One thing about this I do not like, other than the wood shelf, is the firbox that does not have a flat top on it. Having the flat top makes it so nice to put BBQ sauce in a pot on. Keeps it warm as the food cooks. I also do not like the grates on this one. Mine has expanded metal grates. Much nicer in my book.
In any case, as I said before, that one seems like a decent starter smoker. My neighbor bough the Char Broil version. He loved it...until he got good at it. Now he wants one like mine.
In any case, as I said before, that one seems like a decent starter smoker. My neighbor bough the Char Broil version. He loved it...until he got good at it. Now he wants one like mine.
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
If you check out the reviews at Home Depot (yeah, for what they’re worth), the Char-Griller gets much better marks than the Char-Broil. By far. Though the wood shelf was noted as inferior. I could probably fabricate an upgrade.
I still haven’t given up on the WSM, though. I could get that for my starter smoker. Then in a couple of years when the gas grill starts dying, I could justify spending $600-700 on an offset that can smoke or grill.
I still haven’t given up on the WSM, though. I could get that for my starter smoker. Then in a couple of years when the gas grill starts dying, I could justify spending $600-700 on an offset that can smoke or grill.
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
From my ABT PET, see the thickness of the steel on my smoker.
Either way you go, anything is better than nothing. Good luck.
Either way you go, anything is better than nothing. Good luck.
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Thanks for the input.
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
How do you know? You can't see the grates in the picture. The grates on the Char-Griller are cast iron and fairly heavy duty.IndyFrisco wrote:I also do not like the grates on this one. Mine has expanded metal grates. Much nicer in my book.
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
You posted the picture, Mikey. I can clearly see the grates. These are round grates like on most grills. I like the expanded metal.Mikey wrote:
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
BTW, I was looking at the CharBroil grill at Menards yesterday, and they do offer an optional attachment that creates a flat space on top of the smoker box. But the CharBroil definitely has a cheap feel about it.
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
My bad. I thought you were looking at the picture that Goobs linked.IndyFrisco wrote:
You posted the picture, Mikey. I can clearly see the grates. These are round grates like on most grills. I like the expanded metal.
Anyhow, they may look like round grates in the picture, but they are not on the one that I bought. They're flat cast iron grates, very heavy, in the main cooking area. There are small round grates that you can use in the offset box if you want a smaller grill. I've never used it that way. The setup is actually quite versatile because it has an adjustable coal rack, that you can raise up and down, under the main cooking surface. The thing works great as a grill, either direct heat or indirect because of the large cooking surface. You can easily remove the coal rack completely and use it as a pure offset smoker as well.
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Oh the CharBroil is a piece of shit of the highest order. My bud's is 1 year old and it has major rust, and it will last maybe another year before the rust makes it through the foil...err steel. The one in that picture doesn't look so bad as a starter. Neither does the Weber Bullet. I think Mikey's one looks like it may give better and more surface area to cook though. You can probably fit 2 rib racks in there allwing for up to 6-8 racks cooked at once.Goober McTuber wrote:BTW, I was looking at the CharBroil grill at Menards yesterday, and they do offer an optional attachment that creates a flat space on top of the smoker box. But the CharBroil definitely has a cheap feel about it.
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
What I decided to do for now is to buy the Pro BBQ bullet smoker:
On sale at Sears for $69.99. I’m sure that the Weber bullet is better, but it’s also three times as much money. The Pro BBQ has a couple of features that are missing on the Weber, such as a thermometer and handles. I also found a website where folks have come up with modifications to improve it.
My wife is totally down with stuff I do on the grill, but I’m not sure how she’ll be with stuff I can do in the smoker. So it makes sense to start out cheap. If she really likes a wide range of BBQ stuff, then I can upgrade to a nice offset smoker, something way nicer than Mikey’s.
On sale at Sears for $69.99. I’m sure that the Weber bullet is better, but it’s also three times as much money. The Pro BBQ has a couple of features that are missing on the Weber, such as a thermometer and handles. I also found a website where folks have come up with modifications to improve it.
My wife is totally down with stuff I do on the grill, but I’m not sure how she’ll be with stuff I can do in the smoker. So it makes sense to start out cheap. If she really likes a wide range of BBQ stuff, then I can upgrade to a nice offset smoker, something way nicer than Mikey’s.
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Good luck. If you need any smoking tips, let us know.
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Well, once I get done putting together 40 or so sets of nuts and bolts on this fucker, I'll do just that. Hard to believe that with all of the parts involved that were packed up in China, it appears that the only things I'm missing are two washers. And what I'd like help with initially is a basic rub. I do have Steve Raichelin's BBQ Bible as a reference. I plan to start with ribs which I've done before in the oven and finished on the grill, and a pork butt.
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
My rub. This is enough to liberally rub down about 2 racks of baby backs or a rack of spare ribs.
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup paprika
2 tablespoon onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
2 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon cayenne (or more or less to taste)
2 tablespoons ancho chili powder
I have some 1 gallon jelly jars with clamps. I actually have a couple different rubs that I make huge batches of and keep sealed in the airtight jelly jars. Last time I just measured all these out individually then weighed them each so I can now make the big batch based upon weight quickly rather than mess with the measuring spoons.
My other rub I keep in stock is for beef such as beef ribs, steaks and hamburgers. I don't have the exact rub recipe here, but it has pretty much the same ingredients with a few little differences. It has coriander whereas my pork rub does not. Couple other ingredients too.
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup paprika
2 tablespoon onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
2 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon cayenne (or more or less to taste)
2 tablespoons ancho chili powder
I have some 1 gallon jelly jars with clamps. I actually have a couple different rubs that I make huge batches of and keep sealed in the airtight jelly jars. Last time I just measured all these out individually then weighed them each so I can now make the big batch based upon weight quickly rather than mess with the measuring spoons.
My other rub I keep in stock is for beef such as beef ribs, steaks and hamburgers. I don't have the exact rub recipe here, but it has pretty much the same ingredients with a few little differences. It has coriander whereas my pork rub does not. Couple other ingredients too.
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Goobs,
Found this online if you are ever interested in cold smoking with your setup.
http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/coldsmoker.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Found this online if you are ever interested in cold smoking with your setup.
http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/coldsmoker.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Seems like an awful lot of work just so you can make your own bacon.
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
I was thinking more along the lines of once you decide to move on, if you do, to something bigger, you could convert your old one to a new one. Of course, the contraption I have on post 1 of this thread looks a lot easier to install and you could do it on your existing smoker while only having to drill a 5/8" hole and tighten a couple screws.
My main reason is to cold smoke cheese, some meats (to be cooked fully later) and vegetables (olives, asparagus, etc.)
My main reason is to cold smoke cheese, some meats (to be cooked fully later) and vegetables (olives, asparagus, etc.)
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
This is were the electric shines.
And in the end, you're still torching up wood. Easy to keep the temp down, good for poultry and cheese... and especially fish.
And in the end, you're still torching up wood. Easy to keep the temp down, good for poultry and cheese... and especially fish.
I got 99 problems but the 'vid ain't one
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
My cold smoker is part electric. I plug the air pump into the wall.
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Dins,
Going out on a limb here. In reading the Bradley Smoker forums, many of those use their Bradley to smoke salman. MANY swear that hot smoking previously frozen salmon is damn near as good as cold smoking fresh salmon.
As I have said before, I'm not much a salmon fan. I have had smoked salmon that I liked. As I don't have ready access to fish that was clubbed a few seconds ago, any thoughts on smoked previously frozen salmon?
And if you say you ONLY eat fresh salmon, I will call you a liar or a waster. Because there's no way you eat an entire fish or few you pull out of the river "fresh." You freeze some of it or you toss it.
Going out on a limb here. In reading the Bradley Smoker forums, many of those use their Bradley to smoke salman. MANY swear that hot smoking previously frozen salmon is damn near as good as cold smoking fresh salmon.
As I have said before, I'm not much a salmon fan. I have had smoked salmon that I liked. As I don't have ready access to fish that was clubbed a few seconds ago, any thoughts on smoked previously frozen salmon?
And if you say you ONLY eat fresh salmon, I will call you a liar or a waster. Because there's no way you eat an entire fish or few you pull out of the river "fresh." You freeze some of it or you toss it.
Goober McTuber wrote:One last post...
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Don't tell his wife. She just might get jealous.IndyFrisco wrote:Dins,
Going out on a limb here. In reading the Bradley Smoker forums, many of those use their Bradley to smoke salman.
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Re: Just bought a cold smoker
Fitty for you.Mikey wrote:Don't tell his ex wife. She just might get jealous.IndyFrisco wrote:Dins,
Going out on a limb here. In reading the Bradley Smoker forums, many of those use their Bradley to smoke salman.
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
I didn't know about the "ex" part.
This thread is about smokin', right?
I think she fits the bill, ex or not.
This thread is about smokin', right?
I think she fits the bill, ex or not.
Re: Just bought a cold smoker
And you'd be sorely mistaken.IndyFrisco wrote:And if you say you ONLY eat fresh salmon, I will call you a liar or a waster.
Because there's no way you eat an entire fish or few you pull out of the river "fresh." You freeze some of it or you toss it.
When I catch a chromer and whack its melon, picture it this way...
When you cook up a massive brisket, is it just for you? Or do you call your friends and have a big feed?
I'll cook up a bunch. What doesn't get eaten right away (can you say "grossly overeating"?), generally ends up as salmon salad sammiches, for myself.
But once it's fileted/steaked.... and this might be hard to believe... but once it's dressed, it ain't too tough to give away fresh chinook.
No, really.
Then, when Joe Buddy gets one next week, I've got fresh fish in "the bank."
Getting it yet?
Salmon feasts are very much a communal thing round these parts.
And if there's surplus... well, there's this thing called a "smoker," and...
And no... there's no such thing as "hot smoking" salmon. That would be a "smokey barbeque." Absolutely not the same. Smoking salmon/fish in general is completely different from smoking anything else -- with fish, there's an actual chemical reaction involved, that isn't working the same if it's done at over about 165 degrees. More of a dehydrating process than a cooking process. I doubt "hot smoked" salmon would have the same near-forever shelf life that smoked salmon does.
Years and years ago, on a day off, fishing was to be good... realllllly good, or so we figured. But I was young and poor, and just short of payday. Me and a buddy scrounged through the couch cushions and scraped up enough pennies and pocket lint to get to the coast and back, and that was about it. I landed a chromer-for-the-ages, a HoF example of a freshwater chinook, around 35 pounds. The catch was, being broke, that it couldn't have been a more timely catch... since that's the only freaking food I had for the rest of the week. Threw the whole sumbitch in the oven at once. Came up with enough cash for a loaf of bread and a jar of mayo. Are salmon sammiches 3+ times a day for a week. I was OK with it, but a nothing-but-salmon diet can make for some pretty gamey farts... my coworkers were a little tired of it by week's end.
I got 99 problems but the 'vid ain't one