Has anyone used the new Great Outdoors Big Block Smoker (see
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...%3A4089%3A4885) ?

Seems that if may fix many of the complaints that people had with the old
36" Great Outdoors Gas Smoker: not enough cooking space and that the firebox
was too small and required frequent reloading.

If anyone has one of these new Big Block smokers, how is it working? Is it
easy to maintain a constant temp? How long can it go before the wood needs
reloading? And most of all, how does the food that comes out of it taste?

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"Dave K." wrote in message
...
Has anyone used the new Great Outdoors Big Block Smoker (see

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...%3A4089%3A4885) ?

Seems that if may fix many of the complaints that people had with the old
36" Great Outdoors Gas Smoker: not enough cooking space and that the
firebox
was too small and required frequent reloading.

If anyone has one of these new Big Block smokers, how is it working? Is it
easy to maintain a constant temp? How long can it go before the wood needs
reloading? And most of all, how does the food that comes out of it taste?


Did you notice the shipping cost?

Shipping & Handling $53.11
Estimated based on the lowest cost shipping method available.

Dimitri

Did you notice the shipping cost?

Shipping & Handling $53.11
Estimated based on the lowest cost shipping method available.

Dimitri


I didn't look up the shipping cost, but because it weighs over 100 pounds,
that doesn't surprise me. Our local Gander Mountain stores in Mpls. also
carry that model, so if I decide to buy it, I'd avoid shipping and buy it
there.

Wal-Mart carries it for $179. I had my eyes on the smaller version (also
sold at Wal-Mart for $149) for awhile until they got the bigger one so I'm
opting for it instead. I'm going to pick one up tomorrow but I probably
won't get a chance to use it until this weekend. I'll let you know how it
goes.
--
Regards,


Henry -------
"Dave K." wrote in message
...
Has anyone used the new Great Outdoors Big Block Smoker (see

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...%3A4089%3A4885) ?

Seems that if may fix many of the complaints that people had with the old
36" Great Outdoors Gas Smoker: not enough cooking space and that the
firebox
was too small and required frequent reloading.

If anyone has one of these new Big Block smokers, how is it working? Is it
easy to maintain a constant temp? How long can it go before the wood needs
reloading? And most of all, how does the food that comes out of it taste?

--
NOTE: Please delete the word "REMOVE" from my e-mail address when
replying.
This is a spam guard.


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I was able to take a look at both these models at a local store since
posting my original message, and the woodbox on the larger model is only
about an inch longer and wider than the box on the smaller model. So it
seems like it would still need frequent refilling, which is a common
complaint of these GO gas smokers (in another forum, a person says their box
on the smaller model needs refilling every 45 minutes to 2 hrs depending on
conditions). If they had a larger woodbox, I'd seriously consider getting
one.

--
NOTE: Please delete the word "REMOVE" from my e-mail address when replying.
This is a spam guard.
"Dave K." wrote in message
...
Has anyone used the new Great Outdoors Big Block Smoker (see

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...%3A4089%3A4885) ?

Seems that if may fix many of the complaints that people had with the old
36" Great Outdoors Gas Smoker: not enough cooking space and that the
firebox
was too small and required frequent reloading.

If anyone has one of these new Big Block smokers, how is it working? Is it
easy to maintain a constant temp? How long can it go before the wood needs
reloading? And most of all, how does the food that comes out of it taste?

--
NOTE: Please delete the word "REMOVE" from my e-mail address when
replying.
This is a spam guard.

I guess how often you would have to refill the woodbox would depend on how
much wood you use. I used the GO Big Block yesterday for the first time and
I'd estimate that the smoke lasted around 2 hours, maybe a little longer. I
probably had the box filled with 7 or 8 good sized, dry hickory chunks and
it was probably only 70% filled. I smoked 4 slabs of baby backs and they
were pretty good. If I had a complaint, maybe they were just a tad too
smoky. I prefer a more subtle smoke flavor. I suppose after a few uses,
I'll have everything figured out and be able to get exactly the results I
want.

About the smoker, it is very solidly made and easy to assemble and generates
a lot of heat. It took me approximately 30 minutes to put it together while
taking my time. The instructions are very clear and all the nuts, bolts,
and washers fore each assembly section are in individual, labeled packages
to avoid any confusion. There are 4 adjustable racks inside; a large
rectangular water pan slides into a rack just below the cooking racks; the
cast iron wood box sits on another sliding metal rack just below the water
pan; below the woodbox is a drip pan that covers the bottom of the unit
(except in the center where the cast brass burner is located). It has a
rotary igniter and burner control.

After assembly, you have to season it by using it as if your were cooking
(including wood and water) but without any meat for about an hour. I
seasoned it the day before yesterday so it was all ready to go yesterday.
As far as heat is concerned, it'll have no problem whatsoever in that area.
I had the burner control set halfway between low and medium and the temp was
in the range of 230 - 250. The ambient temp here was around 75F yesterday.
It also has 3 adjustable dampers (one on either side and one on the top) for
further temp control...I haven't quite figured out how to use them yet...I
just use the burner to adjust the heat.

All in all, I'm very pleased with it and imagine that it'll last a very long
time. As you can probably tell, I'm a relative newbie having graduated to
the GO Big Block gas smoker from my first which was a Char-Broil electric
water smoker that I bought last summer. The electric smoker was ok but it
just didn't seem to get hot enough (with or without water) even though I
always kept the thermostat at it's highest setting. It never seemed to get
any higher than 210-215F and as a result, cooking times were extremely long.
Again, the GO smoker will not have that problem. I've opted for gas for
it's convenience. I simply just don't have the patience or skill required
to maintain the proper temps with a "real" charcoal smoker.

Anyway, I've got an 8 lb. Boston Butt going right now....practice makes
perfect.

--
Regards,


Henry -------
"Dave K." wrote in message
...
I was able to take a look at both these models at a local store since
posting my original message, and the woodbox on the larger model is only
about an inch longer and wider than the box on the smaller model. So it
seems like it would still need frequent refilling, which is a common
complaint of these GO gas smokers (in another forum, a person says their
box
on the smaller model needs refilling every 45 minutes to 2 hrs depending
on
conditions). If they had a larger woodbox, I'd seriously consider getting
one.

--
NOTE: Please delete the word "REMOVE" from my e-mail address when
replying.
This is a spam guard.
"Dave K." wrote in message
...
Has anyone used the new Great Outdoors Big Block Smoker (see


http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...%3A4089%3A4885) ?

Seems that if may fix many of the complaints that people had with the
old
36" Great Outdoors Gas Smoker: not enough cooking space and that the
firebox
was too small and required frequent reloading.

If anyone has one of these new Big Block smokers, how is it working? Is
it
easy to maintain a constant temp? How long can it go before the wood
needs
reloading? And most of all, how does the food that comes out of it
taste?

--
NOTE: Please delete the word "REMOVE" from my e-mail address when
replying.
This is a spam guard.






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