Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

So, this was my first foray into smokers (Electric or otherwise). I didn’t want to spend too much, since this was kind of an experiment, so I went with this inexpensive model. In this case, inexpensive does NOT equate to cheap! I consider myself a HUGE fan of BBQ goods and cook several times a week on the Char Broil BBQ grill that has served me well for many years, and will continue to as well – this smoker is NOT a replacement for my grill. I wanted to dip my proverbial “toe in the water” for smoking foods, specifically Boston Butt (Also called pork butt) and pork loin. The entire family LOVES pulled pork sandwiches, pulled pork BBQ plates, as well as a nicely cooked and seasoned pork loin. I was as prepared as possible for using my smoker, as I purchased a Kindle eBook through Amazon called “The Unofficial Masterbuilt Smoker Cookbook 2: A BBQ Smoking Guide & 121 Electric Smoker Recipes (The Unofficial Masterbuilt Smoker Cookbook Series) Kindle Edition”. Yeah, I know, this book doesn’t reference the make and/or model I purchased, but it’s still a VERY valuable resource. The Kindle eBook is about $1, and worth MUCH, MUCH more. The main thing you need to know when using a smoker is that you cook by internal meat temperature, not time. Anyway, I ordered my smoker, it arrived in 2 days thanks to Amazon Prime, and went together quickly and easily. The instructions are pretty clear and with my handy dandy cordless screw driver, I was ready for seasoning the smoker in about 20 minutes. I seasoned the smoker that evening; it takes about 3-4 hours and is straight forward. Fast forward to my first use of the smoker. The wife picked up a Boston butt and I coated it with a rub, letting the flavor soak in overnight in the fridge. Early the next morning, I loaded the smoker with wood chips (A mixture of apple and cherry), filled the water pan, set the temperature on the smoker grill to low and let it preheat to 225 degrees – the desired smoker temperature for this process, according to my eBook. Once preheated and maintaining a constant temperature, I threaded my wireless thermometer cable through the back of the smoker (Using the adjustable air flow vent), inserted the thermometer probe into the Boston butt, placed it on the top rack and let the magic begin. The process went pretty smoothly, taking about 9 hours from start to finish. I stopped the process when the internal temperature of the meat reached 200 degrees. My remote wireless thermometer notified me with a BEEP when this milestone was reached. I quickly went outside, turned the smoker off, removed the Boston Butt and let it sit inside for about 30 minutes to cool down. After cooling a little, I took my “meat claws” (They came with my silicone gloves as a combo package) and shredded the meat. The family watched intensely, with their plates ready for the pulled pork goodness that awaited. Not a single person was disappointed with the results. And, not a shred remained for left overs. Things that I wasn’t TOTALLY prepared for: I found myself replacing the wood chips every 2-3 hours. They seemed to burn rather quickly. I might try soaking the wood chips next time to see if they last longer and still provide a great smoky flavor. Of course, I’ll experiment with the vent on the back of the smoker to control air flow and see if that makes a difference. Final notes: You’ll need a few things to make your smoker experience a success. The first thing you’ll need is a cooking thermometer. I chose the ThermoPro TP09 model, which is about $20 right here on Amazon. This model is wireless and does exactly what I need. You’ll also need wood chips for a smoky flavor, silicone gloves, meat claws (for pulling the pork apart at the end) and rubs and BBQ sauce. But, the only things you “can’t live without” when using your smoker is the cooking thermometer and wood chips. What’s next? I want to try the Texas Crunch variation described in the eBook I purchased. I’ll also try some different rubs and additives (Mop sauces, etc.) during the smoking process. And, of course, I’ll try different meats like a pork loin and maybe even some chicken. If you’re considering this smoker, I can highly recommend it based on my experience.