Hello from St. Louis!!!

[donnie crawford]

Hello everyone!  My name is Donnie and I reside in St. Louis.  We have hot and humid summers, cold and damp winters.  With that being said, I'm guessing I will need a smoker with pretty good insulation to protect against the elements.  I am quite the novice when it comes to smoking.  Pretty much have only smokes ribs on my Charbroil smoker.  I discovered this forum when researching cabinet smokers, more specifically when I stumbled upon the A-Maze-N Products website.  I currently own a Charbroil Smoke'N Grill canister smoker.  I am looking to purchase a cabinet smoker.  Initially I was thinking seriously about the MES40 with the AMNPS.  After reading many reviews on the Masterbuilt smokers and other cabinet smokers I am more torn that I was before.  I have read a lot of reviews.  I looks as if you either love or hate your MES and it appears to be driven around the specific generation of your MES.  I am looking to purchase a smoker in the $250-300 range but would be willing to go a little higher for quality.  One member suggested the SmokinTex and Smokin-it smokers noting that they clearly stand by their product due to a longer manufacturers warrant over the Masterbuilt smokers.  Those smokers are a bit smaller than the MES40 but appear to be made like little tanks.  Also, besides a smoker what other accessories would you suggest purchasing?  Rib racks?  Electric thermometer?  In regards to electric thermometers are they used to confirm the true temperature inside the unit, the internal temp of the meat or both?  I am very excited to stumble upon this site and I would love to hear any input or suggestions from the expert smokers on here.  Hope you all have a great weekend!  Look forward to hearing any feedback you can provide.  Happy smoking!

 

[noboundaries]

Welcome to SMF Donnie.  Ray here.  Sounds like you are seriously in the fun hunt for a new smoker.  I'm a charcoal guy so can't help you with the electric but as you've already discovered there are lots of MES owners here. 

Not to turn your head from electric but the WSM would be quite a step up from your Smoke N Grill and would stick with a heat medium you are familiar using.  Just another option to consider.

IMO a dual probe thermometer is an absolutely must for any serious smoker.  To answer your question above: both. 

I also have lots of other accessories I use, but a solid pair of hot gloves to me are essential.  I also prep all my meat on aluminum half bakers sheets to minimize kitchen contamination and speed cleanup. 

Glad you stumbled into the SMF family.  Keep us posted on whatever you choose for your next smoker.

Ray     

 

[gary s]

  Good afternoon and welcome to the forum, from a rainy and cool East Texas. Lots of great people with tons of information on just about  everything.

           Gary

 

[themule69]

Glad you joined the group. The search bar at the top of any page is your best friend.
About anything you wanna know about smoking/grilling/curing/brining/cutting or slicing
and the list goes on has probably been posted. Remember to post a QVIEW of your smokes.
We are all smoke junkies here and we have to get our fix. If you have questions
Post it and you will probably get 10 replies with 11 different answers. That is
because their are so many different ways to make great Q...

If you get a MES get the first generation The add the AMNPS Yes a Maverick Is very nice to have

You can monitor the meat temp as well as the smoker or a second meat. The factory gauges

On most smokers are junk.
Happy smoken.
David

 

[donnie crawford]

Ok smokers.... After teeter tottering back and forth, I believe I have settled on a MES30 or MES40.  I have found two first generation smokers on Amazon.  The MES30 is Masterbuilt 20070910 30-Inch Black Electric Digital Smoker, Top Controller for $177.00, the MES40 doesn't have a model number but has the following description Size: 40" Features: -Thermostat-controlled temperature.-Digital timer with automatic shut-off.-Convenient side loading wood chips, 4 cooking racks.-Thermostat temperature control for even cooking from 100F to 275F.-Removable drip pan and rear-mounted grease pan.-Top air damper for $236.47 with a cover included in the price.  However it is shipped and sold by Wayfair.  Sounds to me like both are 1st generation due to the location of vent and controller.  I feel with the $60 difference, it would be better to get the MES40.  I'm a bit leery of it not coming directly from Amazon.  Any thoughts?  Do these sound like Generation 1's?  Price fair?  What is the difference between the amount of meat that can be smoked between the MES30 and MES40?