I'm just all for keeping it simple with no mods if I can get the results I want. If the AMNPS hadn't been invented I would have gone with MES Cold Smoker and would have made it work with both units on tables or a MES stand.
Anyone use wood pellets in their MES?
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Why would anybody want to do a mod on an AMNPS?
Up to 11 hours of Perfect, consistent, constant smoke without touching it after it's lit & put in place.
Bear
- May 12, 2011
- 22,172
- 7,150
The AMNPS has been available since 2010-11...The Cold Smoke attachment was released 2013-14...Hundreds of MES 30/40's were purchased '10 to '13 by SMF members alone. So to answer your question, the AMNPS was the only game in town designed specifically for the MES, was cheap, easy to use, gave 10+ hours of perfect TBS and Todd gave UNMATCHED customer service...JJ
susieqz
Smoking Fanatic
tun, you guys are driving me crazy. i bot a vacuum sealer, an amns, meat probes, now a MS 30.
all this stuff i guess i needed, but jeepers, i can't keep throwing money at this.
this hobby is turning out way more expensive that i ever dreamed..
all this stuff i guess i needed, but jeepers, i can't keep throwing money at this.
this hobby is turning out way more expensive that i ever dreamed..
LOL----Only time ice is needed is when smoking cheese in warmer weather. We could also put the Smoker away & put the AMNPS in a cardboard box and smoke the cheese. Which external smoker would do that?
My point is, just because you love your external smoker doesn't mean everybody is supposed to drop what's been working perfectly for years, and run out and buy one like yours.
If Masterbuilt would have come out with their newfangled instrument 5 years ago, maybe we would have bought one before the AMNS & AMNPS came out. Then we never would have bought anything "Amazing".
I think I just saw somebody asking how to clean some channel or chute in his Masterbuilt cold smoker, because it keeps jamming up. My AMNPS never jams up on me.
Tell us how good yours works 4 or 5 years from now.
BTW: Not putting Masterbuilt down---They're a Great smoker company to deal with.
Bear
I use Ice for cheese when it's warm out. That's the only time I use ice. You could put your external smoker 3 miles away, and if it's too warm out the cheese is gonna melt. You gotta read what I said.
I'm not going to argue with you. You obviously don't read my replies, so just keep using your external without ice on a hot day for cheese.
You're right---All the AMNPS owners are wrong.
BTW: I'm done on this topic.
Have a Great New Year.
Bear
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- May 12, 2011
- 22,172
- 7,150
- May 12, 2011
- 22,172
- 7,150
I don't think it has been mentioned that the AMNPS also burns Wood Dust that does not increase the MES temp more than the MES attachment. There is nothing wrong with the Masterbuilt unit but at $80+ vs. $35 for the AMNPS...Being on an Old Guy fixed income, I'll do without. Not to mention that me and the Bear will still be Cold Smoking after the coming Apocalyptic Power Grid Hacked Power Failure.
. Thanks guys for keep things to a calm discussion and not one of the heated arguments that get nasty. We would not have wanted to lock this thread. My best to all in the coming year...JJ
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susieqz
Smoking Fanatic
haha, you guys love your points of view. i think you are missing the point. the MS should come with one or the other option, inculded. more importantly, dave is teaching me to attach a dimmer switch to the unit.
without that, this thing is very poor. out of the box, MB just isn't a very good unit. a constant heat is essential to proper smoking. i shouldn't have to learn mechanical skills to run a smoker.
i personally wouldn't touch the MB except for the price of $129.
i get that they want to keep the price point low, but how much would adding dave's dimmer switch cost?
without that, this thing is very poor. out of the box, MB just isn't a very good unit. a constant heat is essential to proper smoking. i shouldn't have to learn mechanical skills to run a smoker.
i personally wouldn't touch the MB except for the price of $129.
i get that they want to keep the price point low, but how much would adding dave's dimmer switch cost?
Amen to that!
Todd and Rhonda are the greatest...Wonderful customer service and great products from a family owned business.
Their line of Amazn smoke generators and pellets in my opinion have revolutionized the home smoking industry!
Thanks again Todd and Rhonda, John
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susieqz
Smoking Fanatic
tun, i have no idea what PID means. i have no mech skills, nor do i find working with electronics fun.
still. i'm stuck with the traeger, which does ok for temps of 225 n up.
i just want lower temps for cured meats. i enjoy the curing process but believe 225 won't produce the best product..
i'd prefer a high end smoker, but i can't afford one.
i can't afford the MB either, but you guys spread some sort of insanity.
still. i'm stuck with the traeger, which does ok for temps of 225 n up.
i just want lower temps for cured meats. i enjoy the curing process but believe 225 won't produce the best product..
i'd prefer a high end smoker, but i can't afford one.
i can't afford the MB either, but you guys spread some sort of insanity.
susieqz
Smoking Fanatic
tun, i'm talking about sausage, ham n back bacon mostly. i thing hot smoking under 200 is best for these.
i know others here don't share my beliefs, but they feel right to me.
i'll go look at that site now.
i know others here don't share my beliefs, but they feel right to me.
i'll go look at that site now.
susieqz
Smoking Fanatic
lanshark42
Fire Starter
- Aug 10, 2014
- 31
- 11
At first, I thought my MES should have come with a rotisserie, an external light, and a cover large enough to keep the snow off of me as I tend to it. Then I came back to reality and realized I love it for what it does. And when I realized I wanted longer lasting smoke, I added the MES cold-smoker kit and loved it EVEN MORE! As a noob to smoking, I continue to be amazed by the quality of smoked meat I pull from it.
To.Each.His.Own.
lanshark42
Fire Starter
- Aug 10, 2014
- 31
- 11
For my needs, I don't see the benefit is adding a $200+ PID controller to my setup. I can't imagine, again, FOR MY NEEDS, how it would add to my process or to the end product. But I'm glad you like YOUR setup. Happy smoking to you!
I going to weigh in with Bear on your criticism of the AMNPS because to me, said owner of the pellet smoker, you're not guiding Susie in the right direction at all. Since you don't own an AMNPS you really can't comment on it with any authority; you're going off critiques you've read from just a few people. I can point to major and smaller appliances that work great in my home that some reviewers swore were pieces of junk and warned against buying them. You'll find a lot more positive reviews of the AMNPS than negative.
It's important to note that the AMNPS was designed specifically for both the MES 30 and 40 Gen 1. Some of the most experienced smokers here contributed to its R&D in their own MES units, Bearcarver being one of them, which I say makes him an expert whose advice is well worth taking.
As for the jugs of frozen water, that was one method to keep cheese from over-softening during cold smokes since it had a tendency to start melting onto the racks. Oh yes, the last time I cold smoked cheese this didn't happen; the cheese remained firm. However, the solution I'm using next time is to slightly freeze the cheese and to use QMATZ I just bought from Todd Johnson which will keep the cheese more intact. No more need for jugs of frozen water.
My biggest objection to the MB Cold Smoker--for me--is I don't want to hassle with yet another box for smoking that needs to be attached to my MES. Since I place my MES on a small table. it would be a huge hassle to try to connect the cold smoker to the wood chip loader hole. Much, much easier just to place the AMNPS inside my smoker and be done with it.
Lastly, the cold smoker has an electrical-powered feeder. That's yet another device which has to be plugged in, using yet more electricity over a smoke. Also, electrical motor can develop problems as can the feeder parts. The AMNPS is a metal tray for burning wood pellets; no moving parts and no feeding required. Will it work on smokers other than the MES? I don't know; Todd would be the one to answer this and would be happy to if anyone should ask him. He probably has already done so countless times.
Really? You bought an MES 30 Gen 1? That's exactly what I own and so do most of the MES owners here. You got a fabulous deal--I paid $189 for mine over two years ago because I didn't want to wait for a better price. The AMNPS was designed for the MES 30 (and 40). You'll have plenty of help here with questions on everything MES and AMNPS.
Sorry you had to lay out the extra money but you're now all set for great smoking, Susie. I love my MES 30, and using the AMNPS has enabled me to make large strides in my smoking technique. No need to attach an extra cabinet-like device to the MES because the AMNPS slips right inside it and can be used for both hot and cold smoking.
Welcome to the MES club! You can still use the Traeger as a grill and it will also add wood smoke to whatever you grill. You can sear meat on a Traeger but you can't in an electric smoker. If I want to sear meat I've got to use my Weber charcoal kettle grill and throw wood chips on the coals if I want extra smoky flavor. I think you've now got the best of both worlds now.
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