I don't currently have a dedicated smoker, but I'm somewhat on the hunt right now. I'm pondering pellet grills, and the Grilla original is looking intriguing.
I do have a Weber Performer kettle that I have done plenty of grilling, and a little smoking on.
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
Welcome to The Pit cscheib! Thanks for joining up! Good luck in the gear acquisition. Do you have a Slow 'N Sear for your kettle by chance? They make smoking easier for sure. You should look into it if not, at least in the meantime.
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I recently added a pellet smoker to my old modified COS to increase my cooking space and allow me to comfortably cook brisket without having to constantly tend a fire. It essentially replaces my old GMG Davy Crocket, which I got to try out pellet smoking first since the full-sized ones can be expensive. Personally, I love the convenience of the pellet smoker, but definitely prefer the smoke taste I get from my modified COS. I'm hoping that the full-sized pellet smoker I ended up getting will bridge the gap.
After much research, I settled on the Pellet Pro 1190 from Smoke Daddy Inc. They make various cold smoking attachments that allow you to increase the smoke applied to the cook chamber without changing your cooking temp (I went with their Magnum P.I.G. cold smoke generator). They will also modify the pellet grill with an additional port for the cold smoker before shipping it out if you call them to palace your order. I'm guessing that the cold smoker, which uses small wood chunks rather than chips or pellets, will sufficiently add the extra smoke I want. They also have YouTube videos showing it in action, and it seemed to work really well.
They also have an attachment for high-heat direct flame grilling called the Sear Daddy. They also have YouTube videos showing it in action, and it seemed to work well too.
This set up, with both cold smoking and searing options, was the most versatile that I found. It was also the least expensive for the size. So I would recommend that you check it out. They also make a smaller model, the Pellet Pro 770, if you don't want anything as big as the 1190. But if you like having people over for a BBQ, I would not go smaller than the 1190. Unlike grilling, if you're smoking for your BBW, whatever you can fit on your smoker is all the food you will have because of the long cook times. So the extra space definitely comes in handy.
Finally, don't just judge a smoker based on its cooking area size total, but look carefully at the grate dimensions. The St. Louis spares I get at Costco are just under 19" long. So it's a big advantage to have at least a bottom grate that is that long front to back, as it allows you to fit more food on the smoker compared to a grate that is the same in total area but is less than 19" front to back.
Hi, my name is Darrell. I'm an OTR truck driver for over 25 years. During my off time I love doing backyard cooks. I have a 48" Lang Deluxe smoker, Rec-Tec pellet smoker,1 Weber Genesis 330, 1 Weber Performer (blue), 2 Weber kettles (1 black and 1 Copper), 1 26" Weber kettle, a WSM, 8 Maverick Redi Chek thermometers, a PartyQ, 2 SnS, Grill Grates, Cast Iron grates, 1 ThermoPop (orange) and 2 ThermoPens (pink and orange) and planning on adding more cooking accessories. Now I have an Anova sous vide, the Dragon blower and 2 Chef alarms from Thermoworks.
Weber Summit Kamado with SnS and Vortex.. Broil King Baron, Primo Oval Junior. Primo XL. Love grilling steaks, ribs, and chicken. Need to master smoked salmon. Absolutely love anything to do with baking bread. Favorite cool weather beer: Sam Adams Octoberfest Favorite warm weather beer: Yuengling Traditional Lager. All-time favorite drink: Single Malt Scotch
Welcome to the Pit from Baltimore, MD! The Weber Performer is an awesome grill. If you add the Slow and Sear to it, you have a pretty nifty smoker too. The Weber Smoky Mountains are pretty great dedicated smokers.
Howdy from Kansas Territory, Welcome to th' Pit!!!!
Lookin' forward to hearin' how th' big 1190 pellet pooper does, what with all th' extry smoke, an' all...
It'll take a helluva bunch of convincin' me that ya' can get th' stickburner flavor, an' I'm along fer th' ride, to learn!
"It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory." - W. Edwards Deming
Welcome from KC, MO. While it may not be technically considered a smoker, take a look at the Pit Barrel Cooker. I've literally done one cook on it and I'm completely sold.
As Huskee mentions, check into the Sns for you Weber. You'll love it.
Cookers:
Large Big Green Egg with a Ceramic Grill Store rack system, and the SnS setup.
Weber Genesis SA-E-330 LP INDIGO with SS Grates, Weber Crafted frame kit, baking stone, griddle (2/3), all from Ace Hardware.
For the first time in a long time I have no kettles as I gave them all away.
Everything Else:
SnS #3 with certificate. I was their first customer.
Sous Vide equipment.
SnS and Thermoworks instant read and leave-in thermometers.
Grill Grates for BGE.
Kingsford Blue Bag, Weber lighter cubes, Weber charcoal chimneys.
Rubs with salt: Meat Church Holy Cow.
Rubs without salt: Home-mixed versions of previously sold SnS Grills Rocky's Rub and Not Just for Beef using their recipe. SPOG.
Spices: Lots of 'em.
Welcome to the Pit from up the road in Grand Ledge! I agree with previous posters. Pick up a Slow N' Sear for that Performer before you pop for a dedicated smoker....
John "JR"
Minnesota/ United States of America
******************************************** Grills/Smokers/Fryers Big Green Egg (Large) X3
Blackstone 36" Outdoor Griddle 4-Burner
Burch Barrel V-1 Karubeque C-60 Kamado Joe Jr. (Black) Lodge L410 Hibachi Pit Barrel Cooker Pit Barrel Cooker 2.0
Pit Barrel PBX
R&V Works FF2-R-ST 4-Gallon Fryer *******************************************. Thermometers
FireBoard (Base Package)
Thermoworks ThermaPen (Red)
Thermoworks MK4 (Orange)
********************************* Accessories Big Green Egg Plate Setter
Benzomatic TS800 High Temp Torch X 2 Bayou Classic 44 qt Stainless Stock Pot
Bayou Classic 35K BTU Burner Eggspander Kit X2 Finex Cat Iron Line FireBoard Drive Lots and Lots of Griswold Cast Iron Grill Grates Joule Water Circulator
KBQ Fire Grate Kick Ash Basket (KAB) X4 Lots of Lodge Cast Iron Husky 6 Drawer BBQ Equipment Cabinet Large Vortex Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum Marquette Castings No. 13 (First Run) Smithey No. 12 Smokeware Chimney Cap X 3 Stargazer No.10, 12 ******************************** Fuel FOGO Priemium Lump Charcoal Kingsford Blue and White B&B Charcoal Apple, Cherry & Oak Log splits for the C-60 ************************************************* Cutlery Buck 119 Special
Cuda 7' Fillet Knife Dexter 12" Brisket Sword Global Shun Wusthof ********** Next Major Purchase Lone Star Grillz 24 X 48 Offset
Weber Kettle -- 22.5" (In-Service Date June 2015)
Slow-n-Sear/Drip-n-Griddle/Grill Grates (In-Service Date March 2016)
Pit Boss 820 (Retired)
GMG Jim Bowie WiFi (In-Service Date April 2017)
Maverick ET-733
Fireboard
Home-brewer
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