Hi all,
I've decided to purchase a smoker, and after some research, I've settled on a Bradley. However, I'm not sure which model is best for me and am hoping for some advice. It's for home use only and I'm not a hunter, so I'll never have huge quantities to smoke. It will live outside, in an area with access to power. The climate here in Southern California is mild near the coast. I'm a good cook, but a novice smoker. Budget isn't my primary driver, but there's no sense in paying for bells and whistles I'll never use.
What do you think? Any and all advice appreciated.
--Matt
What do you want to smoke? You can smoke all sorts of stuff...
How many do you plan on feeding at one time?
Smoking now and then? Or often?
To quote you, I plan to smoke "all sorts of stuff" -- everything from meats to fish to mayonnaise. I can't imagine I'll have too much at once. I can envisions batches like a couple of chickens or a side of salmon...things like that. Realistically, every now and then. I can't imagine smoking becoming a weeknight dinner thing.
If you do not plan on smoking sausage or smoking huge loads of meat then a Original Bradley 4-rack with a Auberins dual probe PID would be the ticket instead of the digital. If you plan on smoking cheese or anything else cold then the cold smoke adapter is a must. You can make your own cold smoke adapter to save some money.
mkindc...I have a four rack OBS for the last number of years...I love it...and we probably smoke like you do (meaning the size of loads you're thinking about) the unit is a trooper...I did buy the cold smoke adaptor because of where I live in So Cal...our cold smoking window is pretty short so...it was a well worth it investment...but...I know people who love the digital too..but I like the original...
Just my 2 cents...Where do you live? Lots of us in SoCal... ;D
Hi mkindc and welcome aboard
I have the 6 rack digital along with the cold soke adaptor and the single probe PID. Some times I would some some cheese but others I had to smoke in two loads. Always believed in; "its better to have it and not need it, rather than to need it and not have it".
Hady
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on June 01, 2011, 08:18:28 AM
I have the 6 rack digital along with the cold soke adaptor and the single probe PID. Some times I would some some cheese but others I had to smoke in two loads. Always believed in; "its better to have it and not need it, rather than to need it and not have it".
Hady
Especially when you got a bunch of angry women standing over you demanding that you go out in the middle of the night in Jordan to buy more cheese to smoke, right Hady? :D (I remembered that little situation ;) HR)
Quote from: KyNola on June 01, 2011, 08:32:34 AM
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on June 01, 2011, 08:18:28 AM
I have the 6 rack digital along with the cold soke adaptor and the single probe PID. Some times I would some some cheese but others I had to smoke in two loads. Always believed in; "its better to have it and not need it, rather than to need it and not have it".
Hady
Especially when you got a bunch of angry women standing over you demanding that you go out in the middle of the night in Jordan to buy more cheese to smoke, right Hady? :D (I remembered that little situation ;) HR)
Me too. :D
mkindc;
I got the 6 rack mainly for the taller cabnet, made it easer to hang summer sausage.
Quote from: OU812 on June 01, 2011, 08:43:37 AM
Quote from: KyNola on June 01, 2011, 08:32:34 AM
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on June 01, 2011, 08:18:28 AM
I have the 6 rack digital along with the cold soke adaptor and the single probe PID. Some times I would some some cheese but others I had to smoke in two loads. Always believed in; "its better to have it and not need it, rather than to need it and not have it".
Hady
Especially when you got a bunch of angry women standing over you demanding that you go out in the middle of the night in Jordan to buy more cheese to smoke, right Hady? :D (I remembered that little situation ;) HR)
Me too. :D
mkindc;
I got the 6 rack mainly for the taller cabnet, made it easer to hang summer sausage.
Quote from: KyNola on June 01, 2011, 08:32:34 AM
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on June 01, 2011, 08:18:28 AM
I have the 6 rack digital along with the cold soke adaptor and the single probe PID. Some times I would some some cheese but others I had to smoke in two loads. Always believed in; "its better to have it and not need it, rather than to need it and not have it".
Hady
Especially when you got a bunch of angry women standing over you demanding that you go out in the middle of the night in Jordan to buy more cheese to smoke, right Hady? :D (I remembered that little situation ;) HR)
You guys remember that!....... IT STILL HAUNTS ME.
Hady
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on June 01, 2011, 08:50:32 AM
Quote from: OU812 on June 01, 2011, 08:43:37 AM
Quote from: KyNola on June 01, 2011, 08:32:34 AM
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on June 01, 2011, 08:18:28 AM
I have the 6 rack digital along with the cold soke adaptor and the single probe PID. Some times I would some some cheese but others I had to smoke in two loads. Always believed in; "its better to have it and not need it, rather than to need it and not have it".
Hady
Especially when you got a bunch of angry women standing over you demanding that you go out in the middle of the night in Jordan to buy more cheese to smoke, right Hady? :D (I remembered that little situation ;) HR)
Me too. :D
mkindc;
I got the 6 rack mainly for the taller cabnet, made it easer to hang summer sausage.
Quote from: KyNola on June 01, 2011, 08:32:34 AM
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on June 01, 2011, 08:18:28 AM
I have the 6 rack digital along with the cold soke adaptor and the single probe PID. Some times I would some some cheese but others I had to smoke in two loads. Always believed in; "its better to have it and not need it, rather than to need it and not have it".
Hady
Especially when you got a bunch of angry women standing over you demanding that you go out in the middle of the night in Jordan to buy more cheese to smoke, right Hady? :D (I remembered that little situation ;) HR)
You guys remember that!....... IT STILL HAUNTS ME.
Hady
And you havent ran out sence then. :D
Curt right before I left, I smoked around 8-9 pounds of different cheeses that my wife picked. Now I am entering my 6th week on my business trip and will on skype with my wife, she showed the only two vacuum packed pieces left.
HR
welcome aboard, YES another west coaster, we are gaining more and more all the time. But yes we are a long way from the following going on the East coast.
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on June 01, 2011, 09:12:42 AM
Curt right before I left, I smoked around 8-9 pounds of different cheeses that my wife picked. Now I am entering my 6th week on my business trip and will on skype with my wife, she showed the only two vacuum packed pieces left.
HR
I know what you gotta do when you get home. :D ;D
Quote from: OU812 on June 06, 2011, 08:26:58 PM
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on June 01, 2011, 09:12:42 AM
Curt right before I left, I smoked around 8-9 pounds of different cheeses that my wife picked. Now I am entering my 6th week on my business trip and will on skype with my wife, she showed the only two vacuum packed pieces left.
HR
I know what you gotta do when you get home. :D ;D
Not only cheese I am afraid. There are two whole atlantic salmons pending, a stuffed leg of lamb and a small surprise to all that I believe has not been done here before.
Hady
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on June 07, 2011, 03:04:13 PM
Quote from: OU812 on June 06, 2011, 08:26:58 PM
Quote from: Hopefull Romantic on June 01, 2011, 09:12:42 AM
Curt right before I left, I smoked around 8-9 pounds of different cheeses that my wife picked. Now I am entering my 6th week on my business trip and will on skype with my wife, she showed the only two vacuum packed pieces left.
HR
I know what you gotta do when you get home. :D ;D
Not only cheese I am afraid. There are two whole atlantic salmons pending, a stuffed leg of lamb and a small surprise to all that I believe has not been done here before.
Hady
Oh Oh,,,,,I love suprises,,,, cant wait. ;D
Oh man, a small surprise from Jordan that has not been done on here before? Hady I cannot wait! :) Give us a hint. Is it native to your part of the world?
What Larry said. ;D
mkindc...hopefully you can make a decision...either way you'll be good... ;D
matt,
I also live in calif and have the 4 rack with a timer / pid controller for 6 years now and only once needed a little extra space. Like you have indicated you will not being doing large loads so a 4 rack will do.
when you order your bisquetts i would order 1 each of the 12 pack bisquetts and try them all .. then order the 120 packs of the bisquetts you like.
also when you smoke you can mix and match the different bisquetts for a different flavored smokes... and order bubba puck savers ( aluminum disk same size of the bisquetts ) to save burnt pucks
btw welcome aboard
You only really need one bubba puck....the other two behind it won't burn...just my observation...
Thank you all for the advice. I ordered and received the digital 4-rack. Seasoned the unit and smoked my first beef today. Smoked a tri-tip and rump roast at 140f for 7 hours. Now going to cook sous-vide at 146f for 48h, following Nathan Myrvold's guidelines in Modernist Cuisine.
BTW, I live in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica...nice...way nice weather...I'm a beach gal who lives in the desert now,,,outside Palm Springs...my hubby is a Brit and somehow he loves it here...I do miss the water outside of our pool!!!
im down in orange county