new smoker...propane or electric?

[mallard79]

Lets hear the provs and cons. My parents picked up an electric but gave me the option to trade it in for a propane unit. The propane unit is $20 less but I want the better of the two.....

The one they picked up is a Master Forge digital electectric smoker. The other is pretty much the same except propane......

Which would you go with?

[stevemiller]

I love my propane smoker,seems to be way more even than my electric one was. 

[Kc_Kracker]

issue #1 with most propane, controlling the heat and getting it low for fish etc (120ish) .
issue #1 with elec, most get high enough to do poultry and get it out of the danger zone fast enough (275ish)

theres your homework 

[h2ofowlr]

Hmm!  $2 something a gallon and you have to refill it or inexpensive hydro-electric power.  Plug into a wall and call it good.  Hmm!  I guess you could get the propane and smoker further away, so your whole hose doesn't smell like smoked goods.  Only benefit I see.  Distance away from house vs. cost.   

[Alchase]

Depends on the brand of smoker as well.
I prefer the Bradley (electric) digital smoker for my needs.
If I was building a smoke house, I would use propane.

[stevemiller]

issue #1 with most propane, controlling the heat and getting it low for fish etc (120ish) .
issue #1 with elec, most get high enough to do poultry and get it out of the danger zone fast enough (275ish)

theres your homework 

The danger zone should not be a prob. with pre heating  ,for getting the heat down when i smoke salmon i open the drafts turned down to low and it stays at 120 no prob.The best thing about the propane smoker for me is that i can take it to the lake rv ing,i can leave it outside on my uncovered patio with out messing up the heating element from weather.and cost I dont know i use the same propane for my bbq, for pot to make my beer,and the smoker and it last a long time? i fill my 15 pound tank for 19$. Best reason i guess is when it comes time to clean i break out the pressure washer and have at it.     

[Blacklab]

Have both. The electric is a MES 40. First year of the window. Nice little unit but low on watts. Can't remember if it's 800 or 850 watts. Which makes it weather challenged during the cold times. They have fixed that issue with 1200 watts and more. Propane models imo are great. I've had my gosm big block for I don't know how long. It's a work horse for sure and I love it. Propane is my go  to smoker 

[lokidog]

I would agree that one problem with propane is too much heat for soft smoked fish.  My smokevault has almost 2/3 of its burner holes plugged and still can only get down to 225 deg with the air vents open.  Does a turkey great though.

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[Kioti]

Propane smokers do get hot, one problem I have found is you can't get a low temp smoke. 
I have a Smokevault 18, which is propane, and the only way I can do a low temp smoke, like smoking cheese, is crack the door and keep the flame as low as I can. 
Its not a cold smoke, but dang the cheese and fish I smoke sure turns out good!

[jeepster]

Get a Bradley 6 rack digital.

It takes all the guess work out of smoking. It works at any temperature, set and forget. You can even cold smoke at ambient air temp. If it's 45 deg out, you can smoke at 45, or you can crank it all the way up to 350

The hardest part about owning a Bradley is not trying to mess with it every half hour like other smokers.....

Seriously, do yourself a favor..... get one, it's the easiest most fool proof smoker out there that simply will amaze you with what you can make. Meat, fish, professional grade bbq.... I love mine, I haven't found something it can't do, you can even do sausages and pepperoni.

[Hawgdawg]

Please check this one out  in the classifieds. Kind of a offset set up, all stainless and will burn wood or chips or pellets!

[jackson7]

if the propane runs to hot it can bean easy fix with an adjustable regulator. cost about 25$
it worked for me. good luck.

[NRA4LIFE]

I ran a single 1000 W electric heating element (from The Sausage Maker) in my smoker for many years, swore I'd never deviate.  It worked great, all temperatures.  However, I burned 2 of them up over the last couple years, the last during the middle of a long smoking session.  In an emergency, I put a small 2 burner propane cooker and fired only one of them up.  Very controllable anywhere from about 100 degrees up to who knows what high temperature.  I am now hooked, propane it is.  If you want to go low enough to do cheese, get an Amazin Smoker.  Perfect little unit for cold smoking, I can keep mine at right around 75 degrees or so lighting one end of the sawdust in it.  My smoker is an old gutted, now very well insulated Hotpoint fridge.

[LndShrk]

Lets hear the provs and cons. My parents picked up an electric but gave me the option to trade it in for a propane unit. The propane unit is $20 less but I want the better of the two.....

The one they picked up is a Master Forge digital electectric smoker. The other is pretty much the same except propane......

Which would you go with?

It depends on what you really wish to do with it?

I have two Bradley Electrics Both I have modified and added a second element to as well both are controlled by PID controllers
I also have (had) a Gas Smokey mountain smoker
As well I had in years past numerous little chiefs, Big Chiefs etc.
I am in the process of building a larger smokehouse out of wood for low temp smoking (Below 200) it will be electric.

Do you plan to do more BBQ type smoking (Briskets, Chicken, Ribs etc) or More Cured type smoking (Fish, Sausage, snack sticks etc)?

Based on a couple of things.
1. I smoke sausages and cured meats no higher than 175 deg
2. Salmon gets smoked at 180 deg
3. Ribs are cooked at 225
4. Chicken is cooked at 225

IMO Pros and cons are as followed.
Pros:
Electric you can maintain a much more precise temp (especially with a PID controller)
Electric you can maintain lower temps for the cured type smoking
Electric is inexpensive to build a set it and forget it type smoker (PID devices)
Gas you can get hotter temps for BBQ type smoking
Gas will hold temps in colder weather better
Gas wood chips are cheaper typically

Cons:
Electric: Electric elements will fail eventually
Electric: Tougher to maintain higher temps in cold weather
Gas: Have to buy fuel
Gas: Even with an added valve tough to get down below 200 deg

[CAMPMEAT]

I have a Bradley and a regular big sized Weber BBG/Smoker. I've had the Brinkman ( tall smoker ) too. I've had the best flavor and out come with the big Weber.

The Bradley is OK, but you need a bunch of the " pucks " which are pretty spendy.