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Community => Butchering, Cooking, Recipes => Topic started by: salish on September 08, 2022, 08:36:35 AM

Title: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: salish on September 08, 2022, 08:36:35 AM: I found an older Little Chief smoker at garage sale this summer, complete with an old bag of wood chips. I'm not familiar with these things. Do you just fill the pan with wood chips and smoke whatever you want to use? Does the act of smoking for several hours actually cook for the food, or do you still have to grill your meat afterwards? Sorry if it's a stupid question. The only things I kill are game birds and turkeys. Well, occasionally fish, also.

Thanks,
Cliff
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Woodchuck on September 08, 2022, 08:41:06 AM: They will cook birds and fish ok but a turkey in a little chief will take a looooooooooong time. :twocents:
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: luvmystang67 on September 08, 2022, 08:48:47 AM: They work pretty well, but you can't do much to control temperature.

Great for smoking fish.

Good starting smoker.

If temperature is a concern, then the smoker is a challenge. You can't really cold smoke things, everything is hot smoked at one temperature. Time and elevation in the unit are your only controls.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: trophyhunt on September 08, 2022, 09:18:34 AM: Yup, great for fish, and after you use it a few times, just open the lid and smell the goodness!! That sweet smoke smell just sticks around in those!
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 08, 2022, 09:22:43 AM: Soak the chips a little while in water. They'll produce smoke longer. I have two that I used for smoking salt and paprika that I sold to my top restaurants. They've been sitting in the shed for a few years not doing anything.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: salish on September 08, 2022, 09:27:41 AM: Guys, thanks very much for your suggestions. So, these Lil Smokers don't actually cook the food, unless it's a salmon steak or a trout, correct? You could smoke them and eat them? Or would you have to smoke them and then cook them on a stove or in an oven? For instance, I have a large turkey breast in the freezer from a tom I shot this past spring. If I smoked it for a couple of hours would I them have to cook it in an oven? If this is the case then the smoker is used mainly for imparting smoky flavor to a cut of meat that's then cooked conventionally?
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Farmer72 on September 08, 2022, 09:42:50 AM: It does heat up and can cook the breast but may take a long time to cook it fully. We used to use it mainly for salmon and it worked awesome (I like a hard smoked fish) but we used to do chunks of deer also.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: birddogdad on September 08, 2022, 10:12:08 AM: have used these to infuse the flavor for a few hours then pop into oven to actually cook ... works great for thanksgiving turkey breast to do this..
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Evil_EdwardO on September 08, 2022, 10:15:00 AM: Maybe throwing a fire blanket on it may help retain the heat.

They do make insulation covers for them.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: WSU on September 08, 2022, 10:15:23 AM: Temp isn't high enough to smoke/cook most things. I have one and us it only for fish. I'm sure other things would work to infuse flavor but not cook (salt like Pmas said, or cheese, etc.). I smoke everything else on a different smoker with higher temp and more temp control.

I like it more than other smokers for fish though!
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Angry Perch on September 08, 2022, 10:23:34 AM: Very dependent on outside temp. You could probably cook a chicken in August, but it'd be Salmonella Sashimi in January.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: luvmystang67 on September 08, 2022, 10:24:19 AM: All this said you COULD cook on it, you'd just have to watch temps.

I tried to smoke cheese in my Big Chief, but it was too hot. I'm sure the temp inside the box is around 200 degrees (never measured it). As others have mentioned, insulation blankets, or even the box it came in, were used to increase temperature on these.

The nice thing about more modern ones with temp control is you can crank them up to maybe 300 if you want to really cook something while it smokes.

I think the little chief would work for things like pepperoni or other smoked meats, just might be tough to do something like a turkey at 200 degrees... it'd take a day.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Sandberm on September 08, 2022, 10:45:26 AM: My old, little tin can Chief smoker is good for smoking fish and making jerky. No way Id do a big bird in it.

NOTHING IS EXACT.

Ive learned to adjust my smoking time based off what the temp is and if the wind is blowing. If its warm, put it in in the morning, pull it out before you go to bed. If its 40 degrees, put it in in the morning, take it out the next morning. If the wind is blowing, smoke in the garage.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 08, 2022, 10:51:26 AM: Quote from: Evil_EdwardO on September 08, 2022, 10:15:00 AM
Maybe throwing a fire blanket on it may help retain the heat.

They do make insulation covers for them.

I have those.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Alchase on September 08, 2022, 11:15:22 AM: Quote from: pianoman9701 on September 08, 2022, 10:51:26 AM
Quote from: Evil_EdwardO on September 08, 2022, 10:15:00 AM
Maybe throwing a fire blanket on it may help retain the heat.

They do make insulation covers for them.

I have those.

I use to use a cardboard box over my Little Chief, helped alot on windy days. You can also replace the element with a single burner stove element to get your temps up between 150-200 degrees.

:tup:
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: OutHouse on September 08, 2022, 11:48:45 AM: I also use the box it came with slightly modified as insulation. I have the big chief and it will get to around 165 degrees but have had it up to 180 degrees. Perfect for fish if you ask me but I don't do other meat in it. And yes soak your chips first and don't over do it on chips. I only use two pans worth sometimes just one.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: BD1 on September 08, 2022, 01:08:00 PM: I have done truck loads of duck and goose jerky in a Little Chief back in the day. Takes awhile but but works!!!
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: h2ofowlr on September 08, 2022, 02:49:43 PM: Quote from: salish on September 08, 2022, 09:27:41 AM
Guys, thanks very much for your suggestions. So, these Lil Smokers don't actually cook the food, unless it's a salmon steak or a trout, correct? You could smoke them and eat them? Or would you have to smoke them and then cook them on a stove or in an oven? For instance, I have a large turkey breast in the freezer from a tom I shot this past spring. If I smoked it for a couple of hours would I them have to cook it in an oven? If this is the case then the smoker is used mainly for imparting smoky flavor to a cut of meat that's then cooked conventionally?

They are like a slow cooker. They only get up to about 165F and if the wind is blowing or cold out it can get much lower. I was smoking some fish this past winter and it was running about 127F, which was perfect for me as I just cooked it longer and kept an eye on it. I will usually burn about 2 pans of chips in it during the smoking process. If you are wanting a cooker, I would look at some of the other smoker options that are insulated and have temperature options. A Bradley, Masterbuilt or Trager also are good options.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Oldguy on September 08, 2022, 03:39:32 PM: A tip someone gave me was to take two or three briquets and whack them with a hammer to get smaller chunks and place in pan. Then add chips to fill the pan and the first pan gets the process going with smoke and heat. Use normal pans of chips for finnish. An aluminum blanket the Little Chief sells really helps in cooler weather. The Little Chief site should provide directions and recipes.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: MeepDog on September 08, 2022, 04:15:54 PM: Quote from: Angry Perch on September 08, 2022, 10:23:34 AM
Very dependent on outside temp. You could probably cook a chicken in August, but it'd be Salmonella Sashimi in January.
:yeah:
I've done salmon, ducks, sausages, and hams in my big chief smoker. Any warm blooded creatures need to be finished in an oven. Get an instant read meat thermometer. They're cheap and remove the guesswork.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: PsoasHunter on September 08, 2022, 05:44:16 PM: Lots of good info here. Mine runs between 140 and 165 deg with the box it came in as insulation, depending on weather. Keep it out of the wind.

Those temps are good for fish and jerky, but don't cook thick cuts.

However, when smoking a big cut, they only take smoke on for flavor for 3-4 hours of smoke anyway, even on a big fancy pit trailer smoker. So smoke your turkey in the little chief for 3-4 hours, then finish it in the oven and it will be every bit as good as if you used a hotter smoker. I've done this with bear hams and small pork butts before I had bigger smoker.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: CastleRocker on September 08, 2022, 06:31:10 PM: I've got two Little Chiefs, and use them exclusively for fish, and cold smoking cheese. They work awesome for me. They came with instructions for cold smoking. Just don't do it when the ambient temperature is over 70°.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: salish on September 09, 2022, 07:45:03 AM: Thank you ALL for the additional comments since my last response. It is very much appreciated.

UPDATE: I tried the smoker yesterday for most of the afternoon, not cooking anything, but just trying to burn a pan of chips. The element got hot, but apparently not hot enough to burn chips. They're supposed to burn and create smoke, correct? The smoker itself got hot and I could feel heat, but saw no smoke. I ran it for about 4 hours. At one point I tried to dampen the chips just a little with a few droplets of water. It was a warm day and no wind. I'm using an old bag Little Chief chips & chunks fuel that came with the smoker. Maybe it's too old? Should I try brand new chips? If that doesn't work maybe buy a new element?

Thanks gain,
Cliff
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Oldguy on September 09, 2022, 07:56:13 AM: If the heating element is bad, a replacement is available for most units. Mine was out of production so I called Little Chief and they sold me a brand new smoker with a huge discount.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 09, 2022, 08:52:31 AM: You can get replacement elements on Amazon for about $30.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: CP on September 09, 2022, 08:58:33 AM: The Big Chief is my favorite fish smoker. I should buy another before they are banned for wokeness.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 09, 2022, 09:00:54 AM: Quote from: CP on September 09, 2022, 08:58:33 AM
The Big Chief is my favorite fish smoker. I should buy another before they are banned for wokeness.

Funny, I was just thinking about that. Hope they don't get woke and go broke. :dunno:
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Oldguy on September 09, 2022, 09:11:31 AM: "Little Leader steamer" and the bigger version, "Large Leader steamer". These climate friendly smokers don't offend the tribes and care for the environment. No chips or smoke, but utilze boiling water to cook with hot vapor!
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: CP on September 09, 2022, 09:16:32 AM: Quote from: Oldguy on September 09, 2022, 09:11:31 AM
"Little Leader steamer" and the bigger version, "Large Leader steamer". These climate friendly smokers don't offend the tribes and care for the environment. No chips or smoke, but utilze boiling water to cook with hot vapor!

:puke:
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: PsoasHunter on September 09, 2022, 09:19:37 AM: Was your chip pan directly on the element? It should be resting right on the element.

Did you temp it? Maybe the element got warm but not hot? I use a cheap meat probe sitting in one of the little vent holes in the top, it's OK to leave it there the whole time you're cooking.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: CP on September 09, 2022, 09:49:27 AM: If you have the room, you can get a higher wattage element. Just make sure that it fits.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: salish on September 09, 2022, 01:41:38 PM: Thank you all. I'm going to have to call the company because the element I pulled from the smoker bears zero resemblance to any replacement elements I've seen on their website or on Amazon. The one I pulled has shorter "bent" rails that exit the holes in the bottom of the smoker and run back underneath the smoker to the electrical connectors. None of the replacement elements I've found do this. I did also find a replacement element but it doesn't bend back around and underneath, and it's obvious it cannot be "bent" to do so. Photos attached. The cheapest replacement elements I've found are $20 not counting tax and shipping, so it may be a better idea to just find a used smoker that works. (https://photos.smugmug.com/Temporary/i-46FRsTR/0/0ce5023a/M/IMG_0094-M.jpg)
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: CP on September 09, 2022, 02:21:58 PM: Looks like someone modified it. That's probably the cause of your problem.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: salish on September 10, 2022, 09:37:34 AM: Quote from: CP on September 09, 2022, 02:21:58 PM
Looks like someone modified it. That's probably the cause of your problem.

I don't think it was modified. It's too perfect for that and it looks like it was designed this way. It's probably just old. I have an email in to the company. Thank you.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Alchase on September 10, 2022, 07:02:59 PM: Just go to Walmart and buy a single electric burner around $15, and use that anytime you want to smoke anything but fish. You can still us the chips if you want, or you can bump it up and use real chunk charcoal.
Little Chiefs do fish well, but you have to fight the wind, and outside temps to get close to a good meat or bird smoking temps.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Twispriver on September 10, 2022, 10:09:41 PM: You have to figure them out but I'd wager that more fish and jerky has been smoked in those Luhr Jensen models than any other brand on the market.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Alchase on September 10, 2022, 10:32:50 PM: Quote from: Twispriver on September 10, 2022, 10:09:41 PM
You have to figure them out but I'd wager that more fish and jerky has been smoked in those Luhr Jensen models than any other brand on the market.

:tup:

I produced a lot of good smoked product with Little Chief smokers.
They definitely are great for small spaces and learning how to smoke.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: salish on September 11, 2022, 07:21:01 AM: Thank you.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: GWP on September 11, 2022, 02:48:20 PM: I think the person meant the original element was changed out, not that the element itself was modified. You CAN bend them, however.
If you get an Auber controller, and a bigger or additional element, you can control your temp better, go hotter and lower.
As has been said, there has been a LOT of stuff smoked in those. I owned 3 before I settled on the smoker I have now, but would not hesitate to get one again if mine died.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Bullkllr on September 11, 2022, 03:04:09 PM: I think that element is from a really old Little Chief smoker, not modified in any way IIRC. :twocents:
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: salish on September 12, 2022, 07:53:46 AM: Thanks GWP & Bullkillr, I tend to agree with you. I'll be curious to hear from the company this week. Thanks for your comments.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: salish on September 12, 2022, 10:00:39 AM: Ok, I heard back from the company. Looks like I'm in the market for another Little Chief smoker.

"That element dates back over 30 years ago. We no longer have that available or anything that will retro fit".
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: CP on September 12, 2022, 10:16:08 AM: Walmart has the Big Chief on sale:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Big-Chief-Top-Load-Smoker/7386359?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=aud-393207457166:pla-51320962143&wl5=9033394&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=7386359&veh=sem&gclid=CjwKCAjwsfuYBhAZEiwA5a6CDGIH1VfPL4qtPkrl9OatR2AcHWm3bOv-sJFP-iRB9KgqCmenEXhJahoCcdcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It has a more powerful element than the little guy, I think it does a better job.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 12, 2022, 10:41:01 AM: When you guys smoke trout or salmon, is it hanging on racks or on shelves?
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: salish on September 12, 2022, 10:58:26 AM: Quote from: CP on September 12, 2022, 10:16:08 AM
Walmart has the Big Chief on sale:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Big-Chief-Top-Load-Smoker/7386359?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=aud-393207457166:pla-51320962143&wl5=9033394&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=7386359&veh=sem&gclid=CjwKCAjwsfuYBhAZEiwA5a6CDGIH1VfPL4qtPkrl9OatR2AcHWm3bOv-sJFP-iRB9KgqCmenEXhJahoCcdcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It has a more powerful element than the little guy, I think it does a better job.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: 206 on September 12, 2022, 11:11:38 AM: Another vote for the big chief. My MES 40 electric heat element recently kicked the bucket mid smoke and pulled the old reliable big chief out of storage after 10 years to finish the job. I will never go back to the MES for smoking fish. The big chief has the better air flow which makes a huge difference in the end product.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: CP on September 12, 2022, 11:43:37 AM: Quote from: pianoman9701 on September 12, 2022, 10:41:01 AM
When you guys smoke trout or salmon, is it hanging on racks or on shelves?

I don't hang it, just lay on it on the racks.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: GWP on September 12, 2022, 12:01:28 PM: Quote from: CP on September 12, 2022, 11:43:37 AM
Quote from: pianoman9701 on September 12, 2022, 10:41:01 AM
When you guys smoke trout or salmon, is it hanging on racks or on shelves?

I don't hang it, just lay on it on the racks.

Same here.
I hang jerky and tube stuff, that is about it. Everything else is on the racks. I put fine mesh on a couple racks for stuff that has more liquid or breaks up easily. Spray Pam on everything to keep it from sticking.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: pianoman9701 on September 12, 2022, 12:38:47 PM: Quote from: GWP on September 12, 2022, 12:01:28 PM
Quote from: CP on September 12, 2022, 11:43:37 AM
Quote from: pianoman9701 on September 12, 2022, 10:41:01 AM
When you guys smoke trout or salmon, is it hanging on racks or on shelves?

I don't hang it, just lay on it on the racks.

Same here.
I hang jerky and tube stuff, that is about it. Everything else is on the racks. I put fine mesh on a couple racks for stuff that has more liquid or breaks up easily. Spray Pam on everything to keep it from sticking.
:tup:
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Stein on September 21, 2022, 09:33:50 AM: If you're buying a new one, go big chief as there really isn't any drawback other than a few bucks more. I have the little and I can fill it up fairly easily. Not a big deal, but I could use a larger one from time to time.
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: Blacklab on September 21, 2022, 11:20:00 AM: Always better to grow into it. Then grow out of it :twocents:
Title: Re: Little Chief Smokers
Post by: salish on September 22, 2022, 09:46:41 AM: I found another used (but unused) Little Chief for cheap, and I've been having fun with it. Just smoked pheasant breasts yesterday and had them for dinner last night, delicious. I've also smoked some sockeye fillets, and some bacon. It has all turned out well, except the sockeye fillets were too salty. I'll remedy that with a less salty rub. I tried smoking some Tillamook Sharp cheddar, but it was a disaster and melted all over the racks and into the drip. I'll figure that out later. Anyway, I don't know why I waited so long to get into this.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Geezer-Hunt-2022/i-2cBDPg6/0/d0c5419d/L/IMG_0107-L.jpg)