Camp Chef Pro pellet smoker

Does anyone have this smoker? Or has anyone purchased a smoker under 500 bucks that you would really recommend

 

I’ve got an electric, master chef I think. It was under $150 I think. Love it. We use it all the time

 

Hows the taste with electric? I like the idea of an electric smoker to use as an oven during the summer to keep house cooler.

But man i love wood smoke flavor!

 

Camp chef makes good quality products. I have one of their smokers and camp stoves.

 

You still use wood chips w electric. Just very convenient w setting temp and time. There’s a little tray you pull out, put wood chips in and then they go right over heating element.

 

The taste off an electric is the same. The only difference I've noticed is that you don't get the smoke ring. But that doesn't add flavor, just a nice appearance. I had a Masterbuilt for about 10 years until it developed a ground fault. It was very good. My new one I'm not as happy with. I have to set it 30-50 degrees higher than the desired temperature. It maintains temperature well, about +/- 5 degrees, but I have to get it dialed in when I load it.
I've also been told that pellet smokers produce a lighter smoke flavor, but I can't verify that.

 

Masterbuilt max temp is 275, not good as an oven.

 

So I think I have decided to purchase the Camp chef pellet smoker PRO model
.......since I cant afford a Tundra PRO but I can afford a Camp chef PRO

 

I have the Camp Chef Woodwind.

 

How do you like it?

 

I have a Z Grills pellet smoker. Same brand that makes Traeger but half the cost.

 

Sams club has new masterbuilt pellet grill for 299 check that one out

 

If I had it to do over again I'd buy a bigger one. Other than that its been a good one. Had it for three years so far.

 

I got my green mountian grill Daniel Boone for around $450. They have deals around any bigger holiday. Never had any issues with it so far in 3 years.

 

There is a much steeper learning curve then the set it and forget it, big box stores type smokers everyone is using nowadays, but this was $300cad, used, farmer built, and comparable to $1000 smokers in terms of build quality.

Check your local used sites. Lots of people buy smokers and then realize they don't use them enough to warrant the footprint it takes up on their deck.

Plus, this is a real wood smoker, no charcoal, no propane, no electricity, no pellets...all wood and all smoke.

 

I have a Wber smokey mountain already and love it just sometimes I dont want to sit there and watch it to much so I wanted the pellet for a little less work

 

I've had a Camp Chef DLX pellet grill for about 5 years. I like it to a certain point. I've had it flame out on me several times even though I'm quite diligent about keeping chamber and temp probe clean. On the smoke settings, the low smoke in particular, it won't hold the temp for shit. The low smoke is supposed to hold the temp at 165 degrees. For me it goes as low as 140 degrees and as high as 190. That's a 50 degree swing and far too much to do any sort of serious smoking. I mainly use it for adding a little smoke flavor to steak and burgers so I usually put it on low smoke for 30 minutes then ramp the heat up.

 

Yup, they all serve a purpose and it's nice to have a few if possible. It took me years to build up the confidence to take the plunge on a dedicated stick burner, then a few more years finding one that didn't break the bank and meet my expectations for build quality

A WSM has long been on my want list.

 

Use a Traeger year around here. Its our second unit and is hard to mess up a piece of meat on it. Think it was on sale at HD for around $600. But the next one will be a Green Mountain...