what fuel is best?

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bigjoec

Newbie
Original poster
Aug 8, 2011
12
10
My wife bought Mena nice Masterbuilt 20051311 propane smoker. She told me she wasn't sure if I'd want electric, propane or charcoal. If I had to guess, charcoal would be best for the taste but a pain for temp regulation. Propane would cost some money as I use propane for grilling and brewing beer.

Any thoughts on what I should get? Or Mayne stick with this one?
 
My wife bought Mena nice Masterbuilt 20051311 propane smoker. She told me she wasn't sure if I'd want electric, propane or charcoal. If I had to guess, charcoal would be best for the taste but a pain for temp regulation. Propane would cost some money as I use propane for grilling and brewing beer.

Any thoughts on what I should get? Or Mayne stick with this one?
I don't know that model so I will give you my answer anyways. As you get farther along with your smoking you will find you need more than one rig. Their is nothing that does everything fantastic. You can do most things with any smoker. You can probably do most things well with practice and patience. But in order to take it to the next level you have to have another rig or 2 or 3 or.......... Ok you get the idea. Look at the bottom of my post for my list of toys. I still need more.

Happy smoken.

David
 
By all means , Joe , I suggest "Wood" ,
biggrin.gif
 . I'm a stickburner and we need more in our bunch
ROTF.gif
.

On a more serious note (Da-ta -duuum) , when learned , charcoal is a decent fuel (although wood is far superior
cool.gif
) , saves the Gas expense , works through power failures and can be used for grilling also...
yahoo.gif


However you go , have fun and . . .
 
By all means , Joe , I suggest "Wood" ,:biggrin:  . I'm a stickburner and we need more in our bunch :ROTF .

On a more serious note (Da-ta -duuum) , when learned , charcoal is a decent fuel (although wood is far superior :cool: ) , saves the Gas expense , works through power failures and can be used for grilling also...:yahoo:

However you go , have fun and . . .

Thanks! I sincerely don't know what to do. Seems even propane burns coal and wood for the smoke. Kinda like electric. I wish I knew how much propane gets burned. It just seems like hours upon hours of burning will use a ton of gas.
 
I like a good stickburner smoker myself as well. There's something about sitting around stoking a fire and feeding it wood. Sure it isn't nearly as easy and convenient as an electric or propane smoker. And I would probably smoke more things if I had an MES or something because I don't often have an entire day or afternoon to sit on my patio. But in my opinion, you can't beat the food that comes out of a stickburner simply because of the combustion from the fire, and you also can't beat the experience of tending a fire to cook your food. Disclaimer: not to take anything away from folks who use other units, because I know there are benefits to both sides. Like I said, a stickburner sure isn't convenient.

Just my $0.02.
 
Also, if you have the right charcoal/wood unit and learn how to use it, temp regulation isn't too difficult. At first I had a lot of trouble while learning. Now that I've done it for a while, I can consistently keep my temp where I want to be, or at least fluctuating within 10-15 degrees. If I want to cook at 250, I have no problem keeping it between 245-255.
 
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