Smoking Meats in TV
 

When up north in the summer I like to smoke meats. I have a very unfancy, "entry-level" electric smoker that meets my needs just fine.

I'm curious to know if any of our TOTV brethren use a smoker, or live near anyone who does. Any insight on how it affects the neighbors? (other than making them hungry)

I have a Masterbuilt Gravity smoker that I use. I have never had any complaints yet from my neighbors about the smell. There are also a couple of clubs in the Villages that you may want to look into.

We have a golf frontage home. Golfers seem to enjoy the smoke. I hear them on the course trying to ID which house has the smoker.

Depending on the wind my neighbors might not even know I'm smoking. If they do get a whiff they ask what time dinner is. lol

Never had a problem with neighbors. Only suggestion smoke in the shade most smokers like mine are black being in the sun may effect cooking. When the smoker is not running the temperature probe may read up to 120+.of course, you'll save on pellets.
We just have better results in the shade.

I'm in the process of completing an outdoor kitchen. I insisted on having a spot for a smoker separate from the grill head.

I had an electric smoker up north, and I will be starting with that down here. I liked the ease and the ability to "set and forget". I've had sidebox smokers and while they have their charm, they require too much attending and work for my tastes.

As far as the smoke, I suspect my biggest issue will be fighting off the neighbors that "just happen" to drop by to see if I'll invite them to dinner!

Here's hoping your smoke-exposed neighbors will not be strict Vegans who truly detest anything that has to cooking/eating meat! lol

Smoking Meats
 

I am not a frequent Smoker, only have done Salmon. Using a really old Outers Electric smoker, great brine formula. But, must be fresh Salmon, frozen doesn't smoke well at all.
A number of the complaints I have had from others is "Can't you make more!?"
Never a complaint on the smell, except, "When is going to be ready!?"
For sure not an issue.

My favorite thing is brisket. We have a smoker and we tell neighbors that we will smoke whatever they have at the same time. Then we get together at the end and have a wonderful time!

Have used our low tech, charcoal fired, smoker on our lanai on a regular basis since we build our home in the LSL general area. Interesting coincidence, the people who built directly behind us, were also life long "smokers", and have a home made, charcoal fired, smoker they have used for years also. Other than us, and that neighbor, others seem to cook out a lot, but not smoke meats like we do (ribs, chicken, pork loin and butt, beef brisket, and even have done whole salmon as well as a smoked turkey every year). Been here many years now, but rest of neighbors seem to just grill, using propane, natural gas grills, Weber kettles, or Big Green Eggs ! But, we usually do a smoked turkey between Thanksgiving and Christmas.... and yes, people "seem" to just happy by around the time each year they know we have smoked turkey !

Exactly ! And I mentioned in a previous comment, we do at least one whole turkey each year, some years, twice a year (to break the boredom of Covid we did two a year !) And yes, people do try to "catch" a whiff as often as possible..

thanks for the input, everyone.

How much is a decent but not crazy money smoker. I get smoked brisket and pork twice a week from a local bbq joint in Naples. I would love to be able to buy the best meat and smoke it myself.

Well.....the short answer is....I dunno.

the long answer is, it's one of those black holes of the universe. I have probably one of the cheapest set ups. It's called a "Cajun Injector" brand. It's electric, with a pan that holds wood chips on top of the element to produce smoke, and heat the chamber. No longer made, but Amazon has something similar by "MasterBuilt" for around$200.
Issues with this set up are that the temperature swings are considerable, and the gurus will tell you that you don't get as even or as pleasant a smoke with this system.

From there you can go up, all the way to the moon. There are tons of videos on YouTube on the various types of units you can buy, and the pros, the cons, and the techniques.
I'm happy with my cheapo, and if I buy one for TV it will be something similar.

Home Smokers run from about $100 up to $3000. A decent electric or pellet smoker $300-$400. Easy to spend more.

I have a Traeger I got at Rural King for $129 two years ago. Love smoking Baby Backs and whole chickens. Love the pellets. Neighbors have never complained.

I have been using a Zgrill for 3 years now. Quite reasonably priced, smokes just fine.

I'm smoking a chicken today for the 4th.

Here's a video I did a few years ago on smoking a brisket using extra beef tallow. It was an experiment of sorts and comes out great.

https://youtu.be/XtA1bAaR6js

I have a Camp Chef Woodwind I bought years ago. I upgraded the Wifi controller, etc and it is still going strong. In fact, I am currently cooking an 11 lb Boston Butt for pulled pork later today. I started it around 5pm last night and it still has a few hours to go today before it is done.

A bare bones pellet grill can start at around $400.....more features that I think are a game changer would be Wifi controller, etc. I mid level very decent pellet grill smoker would be $800 to over a thousand. You can easily go MUCH higher. There are other good brands like Yoder, Z-grills, Halo, Grilla, etc...I like Pit Boss griddles also.

I personally do not like Treager brand smokers and really urge anyone to avoid their pellets. I use lumberjack pellets, but Bear Mountain ones are good also. If I were building a outdoor kitchen today I would go with a pellet grill and a griddle over a regular gas grill. Smoke on!

I also have a Camp Chef Woodwind wifi (Thanks Frank!). I love it. It has four separate temperature probes so you can monitor several different items at the same time, or let’s say a large brisket, you can check several areas at once. I usually put one probe in the point and one in the flat.

The wifi capability is great. I don’t need to babysit the smoker all day. From my phone I can see the temperature from each probe. I can set limits for each probe. I can adjust the smoke level and temperature from wherever I’m at. I think I paid around $900 for it two years ago.

We have a Camp Chef pellet smoker. Doesn't generate as much smoke as a stick burner but good enough but if really needed you can add a smoke tube. I like the "computer controlled" temperature feature the best. Keeps "low and slow" temps at a constant +-5 or so degrees. Also can control it remotely from one's phone. Pellets come in dozens of "flavors" (apple wood for pork, hickory wood for meet and many other varieties). It also has a separate sear grill so you can reverse sear.after smoking and add those "lines." :D