I am presently looking to get another charcoal grill/smoker companion
for my Kamado #7. It would for big gatherings where I need to cook
multiple items while the K's locked down with a low and slow.
The Weber Smokey Mountain was a natural choice until I did a
benchmark...
Weber Smokey Mountain (2x18.5" Grills) $180
Big Green Egg Mini (9.5" Grill) $180
Big Green Egg Small (13" Grill) $270
Kamado #1 Textured (13" Grill) $199 (Sale Price)
Kamado #3 Textured (15" Grill) $199 (Sale Price)
For reference...
Weber Performer (22.5" Grill) $300
Weber Kettle (18.5-22.5" Grill) $85-$150
So if you really don't need the additional space in the WSM, you may
want to reconsider.
That said... Having started myself with an el-cheapo Brinkmann, I can
absolutely recommend it. Or look for a dirt cheap kettle style grill
at a garage sale and set it up indirect smoking.
There is another smoker only option. The Alton Brown Terra Cotta pot
somker. Do a google newsgroup search and you'll find information on
this. Essentially a terra cotta flower pot with a $10 electric hot
plate on the bottom, pie pan with smoke wood in it on top of th
hotplate, a grill near the top of the pot and a terra cotta pot lid
with a thermometer in the hole. Basically a poor man's ceramic cooker.
If you have an IKEA nearby their patio/garden section has very
inexpensive large terra cotta pots that'd be perfect for this.
Electric is a lot better than gas (and in some ways charcoal) since it
does NOT need oxygen to create heat since it's not burning. No airflow
through the cooking vessel... less chance for the meat to dry out.
I've been wanting to build one of these for some time but haven't had
the time. This may be the best option for colder climates... although
wind is really the enemy of these metal water smokers.
In any case...one does not need expensive gear to cook good Que.
Expensive gear just allows one to be lazy
Be creative and have fun.
Yes fun! Check this out... (Trash can smoker):
http://www.cruftbox.com/cruft/docs/elecsmoker.html
Brad Houser wrote:
On 25 Aug 2005 10:19:23 -0700, wrote:
Hi there.I'm a complete newbie,and I MUST have a smoker.lol.I'm tired
of the propane grill I have.What I was wondering is...does anyone know
of a inexpensive smoker for the inexperienced? I'm in Ottawa,Ontario.
Thanks.
If you mean under $50 (more in Canadian) then the Brinkmann (affectionately
known as "El Cheapo Brinkmann" or ECB) is right in there. With a few
modifications, you can get some decent smoking done. You can also grill on
it.
Smoker:
http://store.barbecue-smoker-grill.c...24/smgrch.html
Mods: http://www.randyq.addr.com/ecb/ecbmods.html
Pork Butts I cooked with ECB:
http://www.geocities.com/bradhouser/porkbutt2.jpg
When you fell like you want more control, etc. you can upgrade to the Weber
Smokey Mountain or above.
Brad H