Stick burner in the cold?

[russmn]

I'm trying to decide on a new smoker. I thought I had my mind made up on getting a cabinet smoker but then I seen a Shirley! My main concern is can traditional off set smokers be used in the cold? I'm talking cold ! Minnesota winters? I do concrete for a living so I get laid off in the winter. With all that free time I like to smoke meats. Is it realistic to use one of these smokers when it's a high of 1 outside?

 

[shyzabrau]

[...] when it's a high of 1 outside?

Man. I never once have regretted turning down that job in Minnesota! I told the guy that was offering me the job that Virginia was as far north as I would live. (And even that seems too far north as I get older...)

 

[russmn]

Yeah it's to dang cold... thank god for beer and ice fishing!

 

[daniels]

russmn,

I'm in Iowa and I've seen -30* F but I don't run the smoker then. Fortunately I have a shed/outbuilding and run my smoker in there year round except when it's too cold for me. I don't have any issues with the smoker keeping up because I don't have to deal with the wind. Even in the summer the temperature fluctuations caused by wind can really screw with a cook.

Anyway, I can't answer your question directly but I'm guessing that even in the coldest weather a smoker would do okay if you can keep it out of the wind. That may not be an option for you though. I'm interested to see what others say.

 

[hardcookin]

I would think as long as the wind was not a problem you would be able to smoke with a offset. But you sure would go through a lot of wood.
A good cabinet smoker would make life easier for you in the winter.

 

[crazymoon]

Yeah it's to dang cold... thank god for beer and ice fishing!

 I'm in NH and we too have the cold winters but we too have beer and ice fishing ! 

 I ended up getting an expensive cabinet smoker with good insulation to smoke in the winter,it cost some but I don't regret it as I can smoke all winter. It's a PS 100 model.

 

[russmn]

I'm leaning towards the 270 standard smoker

 

[russmn]

I'd like A good stick burner but I'm afraid it just doesn't make sense for my needs.

 

[3montes]

I'm in northern Minnesota and smoke in the winter all the time. I have two stick burners. I don't smoke in bitter cold like 20 below but I will fire one up on a mild above zero day no problem. As long as there's not a 30mph wind. Takes a few more sticks to get the temp up but once you have the steel heated up it chugs along just fine. A stick burner is going to perform better than a gas or electric in the cold imo.

 

[bbqluvtoo]

What 3montes said above - agreed- a couple of more splits but will smoke and cook just fine