How many have upright gas smokers?

Troupey · Posted: Jun 08 2008 Post subject: How many have upright gas smokers?

And what do you think of them? A buddy of mine just got one from Cabelas and we tried it out with some ribs. I was very impressed with the temp control as opposed to charcoal. We just put the food on and found the sweet spot on the regulator and the temp never moved for 5 hours. So anyway, I was thinking of converting my cheap Mecco charcoal smoker into a duel fuel. Just cut a hole in the bottom and set it on top of the gas burner from my turkey fryer set. When I want to go to charcoal, I can make a plate to set in the bottom to cover up the hole. Anyone else do something like this?

Steve

graybeard · Posted: Jun 08 2008 Post subject:

I have a Camp Chef vertical. It works very well here in Colorado since I don't have that great of access to good smoking wood. Use pellets to produce the smoke.

Not sure I would use the burner from the Turkey fryer. The Camp Chef only produces 20,000 BTU and I think the fryer burner is much higher.

necron 99 · Posted: Jun 08 2008 Post subject:

I recently converted my old retired Brinkmann Gourmet to gas, via purchase of an Afterburner V-burner rig, and can get nice crispy chicken skin with it, but it's still not the same as using charcoal - I think I just need to practice more with it. But I can have smoked chicken in an hour - that's how long it took me to cook a 10 pound bag of leg quaters with this setup.

I'm not directly familiar with the Meco smokers, but I think either that burner or the Afterburner mini-V could be retrofitted.

The EZ Smoke system couldn't be simpler, you might be able to do something similar, as you mentioned you had a turkey fryer burner.

I was extremely unimpressed with the King Kooker Smoker / Cooker Combo for use as a gas powered smoker - there is no provision for the heat from the flame and exhaust to enter the cooker, and it has a porcelainized heat diffuser plate to keep from scorching the paint on the bottom of the cooker. After 30 minutes of use, I could remove the foil packet of wood chips I had put directly on the inside floor of the cooker with my bare hands. I have a colleague who's buying his first house soon, I'll pass along the cooker / smoker portion as a gift, and I have a SS pot coming to use with the gas burner - I'll keep it for shrimp & crab boils.
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Troupey · Posted: Jun 09 2008 Post subject:

stevo · Posted: Jun 09 2008 Post subject:

I have the same cooker from Bass Pro. I use it mainly for camping and the overnight cooks. Run sticks during the day and switch to the gasser over night. Good cooker for the bucks and good for the new guys.

JeRmZ · Posted: Jun 09 2008 Post subject:

I just bought a Kenmore Vertical gas smoker to use at my sister in laws house in a pinch (long story). After I got it all set up I of course had to season it. I set the flame and let her burn and I'm telling you I was highly impressed ... It held temps for 2 hours with no fluctuations at all.

I know a lot of people may not consider it the proper way to Q, but if your looking for something to "set and forget" I'm quickly believing that propane is the way to go. Sure it's not as fun as tending to a fire as you would with charcoal/wood but if your looking to spend more time with the family and less with your smoker it's the only way to go IMO.

I bought the Kemore at Sears for $127.99 on sale ... I bet with Fathers day coming up they may have a better sale here in the next few days if not already.
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pyper · BBQ Fan Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 164 Location: S.C.

polock · Posted: Jun 17 2008 Post subject:

i have one of the larger gas verticals from cabelas, and i like it and hate it. I love the temp control and the easy of just turning it on, you can really almost set it and forget it except for the adding of the smoke chips.

I do need to make a bigger smoke basket then what comes with it. I can't get enough smoke flavor in the stronger meats like brisket and some large butts. I just like wood better, but for small meats that you don't wanna watch every 20-30 min to make sure the heat doesn't go extreme they are great... would i buy one again, probably but i would rather have a bad ass wood smoker. thats why i built the bullpen
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merlin · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Warren Mi