Sounds like me. Love my FEC, but keep thinking of getting a Kamado Joe for the novelty. I don't need one, but I want one. If I do get one, don't know how often I'd use it. But I still want one...
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Sell me on a pellet smoker
- Thread starter bosco0633
- Start date
Sounds like me. Love my FEC, but keep thinking of getting a Kamado Joe for the novelty. I don't need one, but I want one. If I do get one, don't know how often I'd use it. But I still want one...
bosco0633
is one Smokin' Farker
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2013
- Location
- Ontario Canada
a Kamado is the real deal LYU370. I would never not own one personally. But yeah needs vs wants can be a real bi tch!!
SmokerKing
is One Chatty Farker
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2010
- Location
- Sunny AZ
I have a few friends that have the poopers. They both complain that they don't get enough smoky flavor, but their wife and kids are ok with them.
Leftwngr
is one Smokin' Farker
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2015
- Location
- Orange County, CA
Purely a convenience thing. One less thing to think about while cooking. Takes the whole fire management right out of it.
I had a Rec Tec which served me well when my kids were in diapers and I couldn't spend the time with a fire. Great value and service. I got disillusioned with it (and all things electric while cooking) when I had a short because of wrap juices. Still a great cooker, just lost the love. Service had me the parts in no time. I was up and going fast, but after one more cook on it, I went back to coal and wood.
I found myself hoarding it but not using it. It was taking up space, so I gifted it to a friend and his sons. It's been smoking away ever since. I'm happy it gets good use.
If you want one for novelty, I'd look at the mini Rec Tec. Stores away small, priced reasonably, and can handle a fun little pellet cook when the mood strikes.
I had a Rec Tec which served me well when my kids were in diapers and I couldn't spend the time with a fire. Great value and service. I got disillusioned with it (and all things electric while cooking) when I had a short because of wrap juices. Still a great cooker, just lost the love. Service had me the parts in no time. I was up and going fast, but after one more cook on it, I went back to coal and wood.
I found myself hoarding it but not using it. It was taking up space, so I gifted it to a friend and his sons. It's been smoking away ever since. I'm happy it gets good use.
If you want one for novelty, I'd look at the mini Rec Tec. Stores away small, priced reasonably, and can handle a fun little pellet cook when the mood strikes.
Rogerfromco
Found some matches.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2016
- Location
- Denver, CO
Bosco, when I bought my Primo XL I had just come from an Ace Harware demo days. They had brined pork loins and added rub to them the same way. One was cooked on a Trager and one on a BGE. I tasted both side by side and went back for several samples because they were that close as to be hard to distinguish. The smoke profiles were the same on both but I found the BGE loin a little moister, so that sent me to the ceramics. I think with the KK, you'd be eating your money on a pellet smoker - you've got the best already.
As a current GMG Daniel Boone owner and a former Louisiana Country Smoker owner if you really want one check out the Louisiana Country Smokers (Canadian Made). They have the ability to sear at 600° and smoke as low as 180°. I wore mine out, but I believe it was a much better rig than my GMG DB. A little CS 300 that is portable is similar to what I had because of its portability. I would take it camping with me and make ribs for the crew.
On the flip side, you won't out cook what you already have with a pellet pooper.
On the flip side, you won't out cook what you already have with a pellet pooper.
SoHappy
Full Fledged Farker
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2010
- Location
- Springfield, MO
Yesterday we had such high winds there was no way I could cook on my charcoal or wood cookers safely but with my pellet unit cooking was easy and safe. Point for the pellet cooker.
TropicDad
is one Smokin' Farker
I use my Rec Tec mostly for convenience when I don't have the time to babysit my stick burner. I sometimes use it in conjunction with my Lang, like cooking pork butt for about 4 hours or so on the Lang for the smoke, then put it on the Rec Tec to finish. That gives me the time to do other things.
Rec Tec has a 6 year warranty which sold me. In 2 years I had a fan go out and the lcd readout started to burn out, in both cases I had replacement parts in a couple days, no questions asked. great service.
Only complaint, in the winter here, which of course is only in the 50's, it sometimes has trouble getting up to temp. Don't know how it would do up north or it could be a factor in any pellet smoker, don't know.
Rec Tec has a 6 year warranty which sold me. In 2 years I had a fan go out and the lcd readout started to burn out, in both cases I had replacement parts in a couple days, no questions asked. great service.
Only complaint, in the winter here, which of course is only in the 50's, it sometimes has trouble getting up to temp. Don't know how it would do up north or it could be a factor in any pellet smoker, don't know.
cpw
Babbling Farker
I'm a lazy SOB, but love to smoke everything so I bought a GMG Jim Bowie when they had their black friday sale. I've used it more since then than I used my Backwoods for the entire year. That right there makes it worth the money to me. Granted, I don't get as heavy a smoke flavor as I would on a stick burner or Green Egg, but personally that's OK with me. I love the fact that if I want to grill/smoke some chicken on a Tuesday night after work, I can.
Wesman61
is Blowin Smoke!
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2008
- Location
- Caldwell, Idaho
Another thing I like about my Traeger is that it works about the same in any weather condition.
Gersidi
Knows what a fatty is.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2010
- Location
- Hamilton, ON
+1 for the convenience factor. I had an fec-100.
Super efficient, super easy to use, smokes in a blizzard, no issues.
Cons: Without adding secondary smoke source your large cuts come out like roast. Different brand pellets made little difference for me. I used an amzn tube thing in it but airflow inside always caused it to go out. I had two cookshack mods that added a firebox extension that allowed me to add wood chunks. That did help but nearly caused a fire, more than once.
I dont know much about other pellet poopers but Ive seen traegers up close and I can tell they are made in China. My 2c.
Pellet smokers are really great for their ease of use. Like an oven. I sold mine.
Super efficient, super easy to use, smokes in a blizzard, no issues.
Cons: Without adding secondary smoke source your large cuts come out like roast. Different brand pellets made little difference for me. I used an amzn tube thing in it but airflow inside always caused it to go out. I had two cookshack mods that added a firebox extension that allowed me to add wood chunks. That did help but nearly caused a fire, more than once.
I dont know much about other pellet poopers but Ive seen traegers up close and I can tell they are made in China. My 2c.
Pellet smokers are really great for their ease of use. Like an oven. I sold mine.
Smithers1945
Knows what a fatty is.
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2015
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
Look into MAK grills. Definitely more expensive, but IMO it's better to just cry once and buy quality. I had a Traeger for about a year and got rid of it. The legs were flimsy, flame always went out in the middle of cooks, and you could just tell it was made in China. If your budget is $1000 or less, look into Rec Tec.
jaestar
Full Fledged Farker
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2011
- Location
- Smithville, MO
Like any smoker, you have to learn how to use it properly to get your best results. There is a learning curve to using pellet smokers and each pellet smoker is a little bit different. I have use an FEC-100 for competing and have also competed with a Yoder and the small GMG for chicken. I have absolutely no problem getting good smoke flavor with a pellet cooker.
The key is that you need to start at a lower temp and have it in the smoke for a longer time. For instance, I cook my butts at 180 for six hours before wrapping and upping the temp to 285 (this is with the FEC). The temp and time varies when I use a Yoder. But once you find the sweet spot, they will produce excellent bbq.
They are also very easy to use, have less clean-up and mess than with charcoal/wood and you have more consistent results. I have 15 smokers and the only one I would not get rid of is the FEC.
The key is that you need to start at a lower temp and have it in the smoke for a longer time. For instance, I cook my butts at 180 for six hours before wrapping and upping the temp to 285 (this is with the FEC). The temp and time varies when I use a Yoder. But once you find the sweet spot, they will produce excellent bbq.
They are also very easy to use, have less clean-up and mess than with charcoal/wood and you have more consistent results. I have 15 smokers and the only one I would not get rid of is the FEC.
Hog1990
Full Fledged Farker
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2014
- Location
- Springfield, MO
I would take a good quality Pellet grill or smoker over a Kamado any day. I have owned a Shirley, Deep South, Humphrey's, Pitmaker, BGE, Yoder YS480, 640, 1500, GMG DBoone, FireCraft Pellet Grill, FEC 100 & 120, Weber Kettle and PK Grill. If I had to choose one, it would be the Yoder YS480 with the PK Grill being a close 2nd, and Shirley being 3rd.
I recently cooked brisket for 400 warehouse workers in Memphis using both FEC 100 & 120. Not one single person complained that there was not enough smoke flavor. I didn't use a nasty smoldering smoke tube either. They are begging me to consider cooking for their summer Employee Picnic and their Holiday Party. Like I said, no one complained about the lack of smoke, and Memphis is not an easy town to impress with Que.
I recently cooked brisket for 400 warehouse workers in Memphis using both FEC 100 & 120. Not one single person complained that there was not enough smoke flavor. I didn't use a nasty smoldering smoke tube either. They are begging me to consider cooking for their summer Employee Picnic and their Holiday Party. Like I said, no one complained about the lack of smoke, and Memphis is not an easy town to impress with Que.
fivelombardis
is one Smokin' Farker
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2003
- Location
- TEXAS
I just don't have the space in my back yard for chord(s) of wood, so I just purchased a Yoder 640 with the second shelf...first batch of chicken (first cook on it) the leg bones slid out of the leg quarter when I pulled it. Can't wait to try some beef ribs and a brisket! Love it so far!
Al_T
Knows what a fatty is.
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2015
- Location
- San Antonio Texas
I love my Yoder YS640. I came from a stick burner. It came to the point that I stopped cooking on the stick burner because of the time involved. I now cook at least every weekend with the Yoder. I think the food that comes off the Yoder is every bit as good as what came off the stick burner. The Yoders seem to make a lot of smoke and the only time I use a smoke tube is if I am cooking at a high temperature. Such as cooking chicken to get a crisp skin.
sfrancis353
Knows what a fatty is.
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2015
- Location
- Johns Creek, GA
If you aren't sold on a pellet, and don't mind feeding wood, but want something that will produce off the hook Q. Check out the Karubeque.
http://www.kbq.us/
http://amazingribs.com/bbq_equipment_reviews_ratings/smoker/karubecue-c-60-pit
http://www.kbq.us/
http://amazingribs.com/bbq_equipment_reviews_ratings/smoker/karubecue-c-60-pit
SmokinCW
Knows what a fatty is.
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2010
- Location
- Oceanside, CA
My wife says I'm cheating since I started using Traegers. :-D . I can put the big meats on at night and sleep. The food is consistently good. I am much more likely now to cook briskets and shoulders. The Traeger also does a great job on ribs and chicken. I highly recommend pellet grills.
YearRound
Got Wood.
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2016
- Location
- Portland, OR.
I have the GMG Daniel Boone on the patio and a GMG Davy Crockett for the motorhome.
Highly recommend the GMG line of pellet grills. Got my first one about 4 years ago and find that I can cook/smoke almost anything on it. Use it year round about 3 or 4 times a week.
The GMG line is a great bank for the buck. As stated previously, the ease of use and the great food they produce makes a pellet grill a must in my book.
Highly recommend the GMG line of pellet grills. Got my first one about 4 years ago and find that I can cook/smoke almost anything on it. Use it year round about 3 or 4 times a week.
The GMG line is a great bank for the buck. As stated previously, the ease of use and the great food they produce makes a pellet grill a must in my book.
