Pellet Grill Smoker
 

Plans are to retire in a couple of years. We are having the what to leave and what to bring to The Villages. We have a pellet grill smoker that we occasionally use for things like beef or pork tenderloins. The thing is - sometimes I'll put large pork butt on it and smoke it for 12 hours (1a to 1p) . We live in a rural area now and that applewood smoke and pork smell will get your attention in the wee hours of the morning. Are smoker grills frowned upon in The Villages? Do you know of people using them? Can I use it in my driveway instead of backyard? I have thought about contacting a villages Smoker Grill Club but I didn't think it appropriate due to we don't currently live there yet. Thank's in advance for any insight.

Absolutely contact the club, I would not put on the driveway for 12 hours over night, we have wild animals around here and IHMO you might find your smoker broken and on it side in the morning, at least the birdcage would have some screening, but this will not stop larger animals. You might want to adjust your cooking schedule, but let's see what the club suggests.

Thank you.

It's pretty clear the previous poster doesn't have a smoker. You can operate them in your front or backyard anytime of the day. Animals will not bother anything that is smoking at smoking temps, even at 180.

Most meat smokers are generous people. A gift of some smoked foods will be welcomed by the neighbors.

There is local farm supply store, Rural King, that sells 100% flavor wood pellets quite reasonably. Smoking food is widely accepted here, although not a religion as it is in some states.

I have a Kamado type grill/smoker I regularly smoke a butt overnight with no problems.
It is always wise to invite close neighbors for a pulled pork BBQ!:)
Other than Butts and brisket, most of my smoking is shorter length 3-5 hours.

Love my Trager no negative feed back from the neighbors

Sorry for my ignorance about smokers, thank you for the first hand experience.

I smoke a brisket once in a while for 8-10 hrs on the patio off the lanai. I've asked the neighbors if it bothers them, and they either didn't know I was doing it, liked the smell, or offered to help me eat it, so it's all good. Have a big corned beef in the freezer that I'll be turning into pastrami this weekend......nothing like homemade pastrami!

Sorry if this came across as an attack, it wasn't. Smoke, to animals, represent danger perhaps even more so than heat. The pellet smokers have a stable base which isn't prone to tip over.

The electric smokers which are more like a small fridge would be easier to tip. Some of those are insulated as well, not so for a pellet smoker.

One thing not to do is use a smoker during love bug season. It was the largest concentration of lovebugs I've ever seen. The lanai, birdcage, and side of house were covered. They would land on the hood and fall off from the heat. Once I turned the heat up to brown the meat I was cooking (spatchcocked chicken), they left. They are attracted to the smoke, not the heat

I was just logging in to ask the very same question as yours! Thanks for beating me to it! Saved me some typing.:mademyday:

ABSOLUTELY TRUE! Whenever I smoke during lovebug season it's like a plague! I put out a 5gal white bucket half-filled with water and some citrus soap and it attracts a LOT of them but still like a half-plague! I have to take a leaf blower and blow the layer of bodies off the patio! This season wasn't as bad as the previous 2 which was hell.

I didn't (although not surprised) know there was such a club. However PERSONALLY while you can use it wherever you want really wouldn't suggest putting it on your driveway just for the aesthetics. You might earn a visit from the mysterious "2 ladies in a golf cart with clip board." :D They are the Villages equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster complete with shadowy pictures. Everyone KNOWS SOMEONE who saw them.

Bring it, lots of smokers in The Villages , I have a green egg use it all the time.

Yes, bring it! I use my Traeger at least 5 times a week on my unscreened patio outside my lanai. Sometimes for short -1 -2 hrs or brisket all night, seems to attract more hungry neighbors than love bugs! From bacon in morning to meat at night and yes a few invites during the year to my great neighbors and all is well. Bring some recipes to share also!