Bought a $200 smoker that couldn't hold 225 degrees

Picked up a cheap offset smoker from a hardware store in Tulsa last month and spent six hours fighting to keep the temp above 200 while the brisket sat there raw. The metal was so thin you could see the fire through the sides and I ended up wrapping it in a welding blanket just to get dinner done. Anyone else ever get burned by a budget smoker that just doesn't seal?

2 comments

2 Comments

sage_lewis104d ago

Bought a cheap offset myself a few years back, thought I was getting a steal. Spent all day fighting that thing, wrapping it in foil and wet towels just to keep it from dropping below 200. Totally changed my mind on budget smokers (I used to swear by them). The thin metal and gaps just kill any chance of holding steady heat. Ended up saving for a year and got a used Weber Smokey Mountain instead, night and day difference. You gotta have a way to seal those leaks or you're just burning wood for nothing.

the_dylan4d ago

Man, the "wrapping it in foil and wet towels" part hit way too close to home. I did the exact same thing with a $150 offset I got off Craigslist. I spent an entire Saturday babying that thing, feeling like I was trying to keep a dying campfire alive. The thin metal was so bad you could watch the temp drop 30 degrees every time a breeze hit it. Eventually I gave up and just used it as a fire pit. It's wild how much harder you have to work when the smoker itself is working against you. Totally agree that saving up for a used Weber or something built better is the only move unless you enjoy stress.