Little help with a decision

[brderj]

First off I'm totally new to the forum, my name is Jay, live in Denver Colorado.  I've been smoking for a few years.  By no means an expert, but I can make a pretty good Boston butt!!   ;D 

I moved into an apartment and have lost the ability to bring my smoker with me.  Sad day, yes I know.  I do not know much about electric smokers, and most of the guys I talk to laugh them off like most people do with hybrid cars.  Basically, an electric can never do what an offset can.  That's not my opinion, just what I hear.  I have no opinion on electric smokers at all.  I have been doing a little research as of late and the one that Bradley makes is by far the most eye catching (features and the such) that I have come across.  I really enjoy the feature of cold smoking, cheese, fish, peppers and the such.  As well as all the digital do hickies that help me do the job right  ::)  I was looking at the 4 rack.  2 butts in there and you got enough food to feed most families, med. sized brisket, some jerky etc. etc.  I was just hoping that someone could point me in the right direction to find out more info on this other than what websites say to sell it.  My biggest concern is smoking in the winter.  My last smoker was painfully slow at smoking in the snow.  From what I read its pretty well built and holds a good temp.  I'm currently not able to go to any stores and look at the smoker in person, so you all are my eyes as far as that goes.  A little help would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you in advance.

Jay

[standles]

Jay:

Welcome aboard.   I can say that you HAVE ALREADY FOUND the best place for advice on Braldey Smokers on the web.   I am a recent convert and this forum was more helpful than anything else out there.   

I live in FL so do not know about the snow angle but I can tell ya I have smoked with many non-electric methods before.   The electric part is NO DETRACTION fro mthe taste and quality of the product.  I can compete with the "authentic" people at half the prep time and 1/4 the frustration.

Smoke is smoke and the electric bradley smokes better than anything your goingto get off of coals.   The secret is the smoldering smoke not the fire.   You take a piece of wood to fire or to far into charcoal and your not getting the smoke flavor your getting the tar and acridic byproducts of combustion.   Now most folks think this is smoke flavor but it isn't.   The Bradley controls the smoke production better than any other method and delivers a clean smoke taste that is WAY BEYOND the capability of most "authentic" smokers.


I also do not have to sit and tend the thing religously either.   For the snow problem I would thin that you could smoke it then bring it inside to finish it in the oven.   


Hope this helps, Stveen

[projump]

Welcome Jay,
      The Bradley is an insulated unit. I have smoked in the winter with great results. Hope this helps. 

[begolf25]

Jay,

Welcome to the board.  I agree with projump, I have smoked in temps as low as 20 degrees here in PA without much of a noticeable difference in time or temps.  The only time I run into any problem holding temps is when it is very windy out.

GL,

Bryan

[brderj]

Wow thanks guys!  So let me get this straight.  You just plug this unit it, right?  Then is there a dial that you set to your preferred temp?  What is the max temp?  Is it a true set up out of the box and start using?  My old off set smoker had a few altercations that needed to be made to get it at 100%. 

I want a smoker that is easy to use.  I've done the 48 hours of bbq, I've done the soaking wood chips, chunks and logs.  I've smoked everything up to a whole pig, but surely enough to count as a whole pig.  :-)  This smoker seems to me, as uneducated as I am on the subject, to be a breeze.  Set a temp (the hardest thing to do with an offset smoker) its automatically controlled.  Never have to open the door to add more wood (a HUGE plus for temp control), control the smoke... Am I wrong in these assumptions? 

I feel like the kid that goes backpacking, hundreds of miles, just to find out that people do the same thing with R.V.'s.  So much easier, AND you get a hot shower.  lol.  Thanks guys!!

[Consiglieri]

Depends on which Bradley you get.  The digital has a temp setting and cooking and smoking duration settings.  Plug it in, set your temp, load the puck tube, set your smoking duration, set your total cook time.  Here's the caveat though: temp readings are taken near the heat source, so temp higher up in the tower may be lower.  I did two butts this weekend and while the Bradley's temp reading was at or about 240, my temp probe (admittedly above the meat) was reading 210 to 220.  So there still is a bit of compensation you'll have to make, but it's a far cry from monitoring fuel, heat levels, vents, etc.  Set the temp with the compensation and then go open a cold one.  Mop every now and again and rotate racks of meat.  But for the most part, your "up all night" smoking projects will be a thing of the past.

Original Bradley controls heat by adjusting a slider, so you'll have to play with that somewhat if you go that route.  Some guys have built or bought temp switches that they've incorporated into this model.

The Bradley is not a set it and forget it machine, but it's pretty darn close.

[standles]

The Bradley is not a set it and forget it machine, but it's pretty darn close.

I will back that up.


I unpacked mine (6 rack DBS).   Within 15 minutes had it operating.   I seasoned it (Burned some special blend pucks through it for 4 hours).  Washed the racks and pan but not the insides of the unit.   Next day I did 6 racks of ribs.


BE SURE to buy pucks with the smoker as you will need some to season and then to smoke with.  Each puck is ~20 mins of smoke.

[brderj]

I would go with the totally digital model, 4 rack.  I'm very interested in this smoker, I want to buy it now, but I'm not home to do so.  I know all about setting up the smoker before first use.  Its my favorite part, something very nice about getting it all seasoned before the first butt goes in  ;D

Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it.

[hillbillysmoker]

Whatever Bradley you choose you will be happy with your decision.  I have the OBS and love it.  Good luck with your purchase.

[SKSmoker]

I sleep at night while my butts go on smoking. Nothing better than punching a few buttons, changing water now and again, and basically ignoring your food while it cooks. the DBS I think is an almost perfect machine. It is as close to set and forget as you are going to get out of the box. You are in the DBS forums, so we might be a little slanted :P

I never regretted my 6 rack DBS purchase. I work around the yard, go shopping, sleep, etc, all while supper is cooking away. I even went to work one day when I put my butt in before work. This unit is great. The smoke flavour is much more "strong" than your traditional wood smoker though, so when the stick burners smoke for 15 hours, we bradley users might only use 3 hours. The smoke is much more clean tasting too. Start less when smoking, because you can always put in more pucks the next smoke!

[standles]

Only drawback to the DBS I have seen is the limit on the timer (9.5 hours).   If you forget to reset it then it will shutoff during a most inopportune time .

Steven

[brderj]

You have no idea how good that sounds to me.   ;D  I always enjoy throwing a whole chicken in a crock pot for the day, just before I go to work.  With the timer on the smoker thats impossible (I work 12's) but it would be nice on the days when I need more beer.  I always need more beer.   ;D  I dont know guys, I think you sold me.  When I get home I will look into ordering one.  I think I'll just set aside "smoker" money that I cant spend on something stupid.....like more beer.   

[SKSmoker]

With any bradley unit, you cannot, cannot go wrong. They are magic boxes! Good luck choosing!