Halftime Smoker?

[dpearce]

Just ran across this on my FB feed. The Halftime Smoker.

Anyone ever see or try this thing out? It "looks" like it would work as advertised, but you never know! The design seems like a good use of space, at least.

https://halftimesmoker.com/products/the-halftime-smoker

[Jerod Broussard]

They say it locks in moisture so that's got to be right.

[Jfrosty27]

I have two of these. But mine are from the original brand that invented them. The Orion Cooker. There is a review on these (the original) on the free side. I have had them for over 10 years. They are incredible. I was introduced to them by a coworker and couldn’t believe all the claims made by him and on their website. But for just $169 at the time, I thought what the heck and bought one. Yup. It’s all true.

Up to 6 racks of ribs in about an hour and 20 minutes. A whole 20 pound turkey in 2.5 hours. Up to three whole pork butts in about 5 hours give or take. And so on. Plus it’s set and forget.

The downside is that they are fuel hogs. You use a whole 12-13 pound bag of briquettes minimum for a cook. More for the longer cooks. They recommend the Matchlight type which is more expensive too. So you want to fill it up to the max for each cook to maximize return on the fuel cost. I have two for big gatherings. So for example, I can bang out 12 racks of ribs in under 1.5 hours. Pretty cool.

But no worries about the lighter fluid because the coal is outside the can. Meat on the inside. So totally separated from each other.

[RonB]

If the charcoal is on the outside, how does the protein get charcoal flavor?

[Jfrosty27]

RonB. There’s a drip pan inside the can. Its diameter is smaller than that of the can leaving a gap between the drip pan and the can. You stuff wood chips in the gap. It holds quite a bit. The can gets hot enough to cause the chips to smolder throughout the cook. It’s very effective.

[jfmorris]

Yep - I was going to comment and say it was a knock off of the Orion… I have one friend who isn’t a smoking guy, but uses an Orion to do his thanksgiving turkey every year.

[dpearce]

Now that I think about it, it kinda reminds me a little of the Trashcan turkey cooker, with the way the charcoal is arranged outside the bottom edge.

[BKYDBBQ]

Looks similar to what a friend of mine does where he take a metal trash can and put it over a turkey on a rack and then pile up charcoal around the can and some on top and then light the coal.

[Ace]

Very much like camp site Dutch-oven cooking only larger. Very cool... :-)

[Spinaker]

The Orion cooker is similar. (As you mentioned above) This one looks like pretty much the same design. I bet they fun to use and put off some great aroma.

As you mentioned, I wonder what kind of flavor they produce as you do not have the fat dripping onto the coals and vaporizing. I suppose you do get some with it hitting the drip pan, but that is really not the same thing as hitting a fire.

[dpearce]

Spinaker you look very "LinkedIn"...

[Panhead John]

You look like you’re trying to sell us some solar panels or somethin’…..

[Spinaker]

How about chemicals, supplements and ag products? Panhead John

[Jfrosty27]

Spinaker yes it’s definitely a different flavor profile vs a PBC or other charcoal cooker where you have drippings hitting the hot coals. And yes there is some flavor from hitting the hot drip pan but as you guessed, it’s different than hitting hot coals. Plenty of smoke flavor though. And very moist and juicy.

[Spinaker]

Yeah, I bet that is a fun set up when you are cooking for a crowd.

[Johnny Booth]

Sounds like an offset flavor profile. Convection smoke, no meat over the heat. 😎

[randy.56]

They are bigger than they appear on the website. Still do not see how ya get a smoke flavor. But it's cool.

[Jfrosty27]

Last time I looked at the Orion site they had three sizes. Small, original, and XL. I have two original. Trust me. They work.

[dpearce]

Looks like you have to put some wood chips inside under the grates? So maybe the heat from the charcoal surrounding the outside eventually lights them up? Just guessing.

[Jfrosty27]

dpearce see my post above. I describe how it works

[Johnny Booth]

As was said; Halftime and Orion are nearly identical. Orion is the original, but Halftime just applied for a Patent under Mr-BBQ LLC.

Is this a re-brand? Or will Halftime (Mr BBQ) push Orion out of the market if/when they get a patent?

BBQ espionage?

[captainlee]

I have a real problem with the charcoal and flames on the outside exposed as a safety issue. No thanks. Trying to be different in a mature market.

[dpearce]

If you’ve ever seen the “trashcan turkey” method it’s eerily similar. Course, better not try by that in a dry environment! Our August has been so dry, I wouldn’t even consider it unless I was on gravel driveway.

[captainlee]

Yes, that would be a never use it around here, way too risky.