Meco 5029 Stainless Steel Electric Combo Water Smoker

Buy Cheap Meco 5029 Stainless Steel Electric Combo Water Smoker

Buy Low Price From Here Now
Stainless Electric Water Smoker, Two 15.5 Daimeter Grids, Built-in Heat Indicator With Two Acess Doors
Readmore

Technical Details

- Electric Water Smoker
- 1650 Watt Heating Element
- Removable Thermostat
- Heat Resistant Wood side and Hood Handles
- 351 Square Inches of Cooking Surface
See more technical details

 "Bought as a gift" 2008-10-15
By Heather Goodwin
I use a charcoal smoker, but bought this for my father who really wanted the electric version. After a lot of trying, I could not convince him that an electric smoker was just a big old crock pot. He's glad he held out. He called me after using it and was thrilled with the results.



Brownie points from dad are always a great thing!

 "Fine for most people most of the time..." 2007-12-13
By Eric in MO
I've owned and used both the black steel model (5030) and this stainless one (5029). There are 2 things missing on the stainless model that my black 5030 had: 1) There are no dampers in the lid to help regulate smoke/heat and 2) The body does not rotate a few degrees and come up-off the base. You have to reach down in this model to clean the pan around the element and empty ashes. I miss both of these features.



Tips:

--Soak wood chunks overnight, at a minimum. As soon as you open the lid to take food out or open the door to check your wood, it's pretty easy to start a fire in the bottom. Wood that is soaked to the center really helps.

--The first time you use it, turn the dial to low and let it heat up. You may be temped to crank it up, but the element will stay on without occasionally turning off -- good way to start a fire.

--Unplug before spraying hose in bottom to put out fire. You'll end up wandering around the house trying to find which GFI circuit your patio outlet was piggy-backing on.



Cons;

--The thermometer is a "Low/Ideal/High" type - completely worthless. I drilled a hole in my 5030 for a large dial thermometer, but no such luck with stainless. You'll definitely want to keep a thermometer inside, either wireless or wire pinched under the lid, if you care about temps like I do.

--The bottom rack is very awkward to get in and out, especially with anything on it. The top rack supports get in the way.

--The body does not detach from the base making it difficult to clean out the ashes. I recommend letting it cool and using the shop-vac.

--The 2 racks won't fit nearly as much meat as you may think. A cabinet style smoker is for you if you want to cook for more than a small get-together.



Overall I'm actually pretty happy with this smoker. Sure, it's not a giant competition rig, but for 200 bucks it's hard to beat. This is my go-to backyard smoker.

 "Wish to top fit better" 2007-12-08
By Kevin P. Decker (Harsens Island, MI USA)
This is a replacement for another (not stainless) smoker. It is as advertised, quite easy to assemble, however, the cover should fit more snuggly as to retain more of the heat. Other than that - a fine unit.

 "MELCO 5029 Stainless Steel Electric Water Smoker " 2007-06-26
By K. Norton (California)
The smoker was delivered as promised. It took around an hour to assemble it while I was having my morning coffee. If you are in a hurry, just buy your meats from the market already smoked.



So far I have smoked beef tri-tip with apple wood, and king salmon with cherry wood. Both turned out fantastic.



Beef takes a few hours and the fish takes around one hour; of course it depends on size and temperature, etc. It is nice that I only need to add wood chips and turn the electric thermostat on without the need for charcoal.

 "Good, but..." 2007-06-12
By Frobozz (Alexandria, VA USA)
This pulls some serious electricity -- it runs off a 1000-plus-watt element -- and in my house, it causes breakers to switch off. I eventually converted this to a charcoal smoker (Meco sells a kit to do this). This really shouldn't be a problem in newer houses.



At this price, though, I'd have to look hard at a Weber Smoky Mountain cooker. It's not stainless but it is enameled steel and it comes with a cover -- it should last for years and years, if not decades and decades. It also has superior heat control (this Meco unit, like many water smokers, has no controllable vents). I've made some very good BBQ with this Meco but it does require a lot more attention than my Smoky Mountain. I use this at big BBQs when I often will fire up this, plus a Weber, plus a big barrel grill.


Images Product

Buy Meco 5029 Stainless Steel Electric Combo Water Smoker Now

Brinkmann 810-7080-K Electric Gourmet Grill and Smoker

Buy Cheap Brinkmann 810-7080-K Electric Gourmet Grill and Smoker

Buy Low Price From Here Now
Brinkmann 810-7080-K gourmet grill and smoker (Electric).
Readmore

Technical Details

- UL-listed electric smoker and grill with stay-cool wooden handles
- 2 chrome-plated steel cooking grills can hold up to 50 pounds of food
- Base contains a 1500-watt heating element and lava rocks
- Dome lid; front-hinged door; porcelain-coated steel water pan
- Measures 17 by 17 by 35 inches; 1-year limited warranty
See more technical details

 "Brinkmann Smoker" 2009-05-26
By S. Anderson (College Station, TX USA)
Product shipped in orig box with no packing matl so bent in shipping but still usable. If instructions say item will take 4 hrs to smoke, it will take 8 hrs so put item in in a.m., smoke all day, and it should be done when you get home from work!


Images Product

Buy Brinkmann 810-7080-K Electric Gourmet Grill and Smoker Now

Meco 5030 Electric Grill and Combination Water Smoker

Buy Cheap Meco 5030 Electric Grill and Combination Water Smoker

Buy Low Price From Here Now
Satin Black Electric Water Smoker, Two 15.5 Daimeter Grids, Built-in Heat Indicator With Two Acess Doors
Readmore

Technical Details

- Electric Water Smoker
- 1650 Watt Heating Element
- Removable Thermostat
- Heat Resistant Wood side and Hood Handles
- 351 Square Inches of Cooking Surface
See more technical details

 "Junk!" 2009-08-02
By Kurt W. Baumgarten (Mendon, MA United States)
Total wast of money. Will not heat up enough to cook anything unless you plan to cook it over the course of three to four days. Because the heating element it soo cheap and the fit of the rest of the smoker is loose - it will not hold even enough heat to generate smoke. The design of having a smoking pan at the bottom that is also the base for the heating element just does not work. It even has a hole in the middle of the smoking pan for ???What??? I dont know. Its a water smoker and has a water pan between the element and the meat - so it cant be for a drip cup. Just an all around aweful thing. I went out to Lowes and bought a Brinkman $89 electric water smoker that does a MUCH better job. Amazon should not even sell these as they really are not fit for use. Total garbage and now in the garbage!

 "DON'T BUY! - Lasted 9 months: Already THROWN Away - Electrical Problems" 2008-10-16
By K. Laere (San Francisco, CA)
I'm editing my review (thanks Amazon) less than a year later (about 9 months) to tell you I've already TRASHED this smoker. I have run into the same exact problem other have, namely the dreaded electic element/controller burnout. Don't believe me? Check out Amazon's own page on the replacement element (http://www.amazon.com/Meco-Replacement-Heating-Element-Grills/dp/B0000CGEQX/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1247782625&sr=1-1) which gets a two star review by the way. The reviews on the side of the main Meco 5030 page tell the story, as others mention the power problems.



I noticed that the smoker had been having temperature issues and ended up checking the electrode of the heating element. Sure enough, one had cracked completely where it joined the element, and melted (metal) itself so that it wasn't straight anymore. The electic controller had plastic burn marks at the hole and the conductors where burned as well. I even thought about shelling out the $50 bucks to replace these parts, but then noticed that people were having these issues over and over again, even with the replacments!



If you buy this smoker, you expose yourself to a systematic defect since there seem to be numerous instances of this. I can't believe this grill didn't last a year. On top of that, the wire grills are rusted out and have lost their coating and the thermostat is broken as well.



Planned Obsolescence? Perhaps, but they won't be getting any more of MY money. I'm buying a new smoker: the Old Smokey Electric. So long, Meco. There's a reason why the smoker gets lots of one and two star reviews.



DON'T BUY!

 "Not well built" 2008-09-02
By SMK (New Mexico)
This smoker creates some terrific Bar B Q, but the construction of this smoker is disappointing. After two years of use, we have to replace it. The metal lid warped the first time it was used, which means the lid and body don't fit together well. The biggest problem, though, is that the electric control is flimsy and must be jiggled constantly or it stops cooking. This smoker was recommended by Cook's Magazine, and while the food is terrific, poor construction means that after only two years of infrequent use, we have to replace it.

 "Great Performance at a Good Price" 2008-08-08
By Timothy S. Shropshire (Boulder, Colorado)
First let me say that I am not a cook, But I have gotten nothing but rave reviews on the BBQ briskets and chicken that I have done on this great little smoker. An eight pound brisket fits quite well on the top shelf, while a chicken and some links snuggle on the bottom shelf. I followed the cooking times given in the Meco instruction sheet for all items, and the results are Great! Both mesquite and hickory have yielded excellent flavors. We can't wait to try some other fruitwoods and rubs.



Given the price of this smoker, I find the quality to be right on. I can, and have, recommended this water smoker to friends and family. It is well made, Very easy to use and very easy to clean up (both grates and the water pan clean up well on the pots-n-pans setting on our dishwasher).



If you are looking for a good, easy-to-use home smoker, look no further ... You've Found It in the Meco.

 "Quality control stinks" 2008-07-05
By D. Vawter (Aurora, CO USA)
The first shipment arrived missing the heating element. The replacement arrived with a damaged bowl. Fortunately I had not yet returned the first one so I managed to cobble one together by combining parts. Assembling was not too bad, given that the manual did not have step by step pictures but only a picture of the overall assembly.



I really can't comment on the smoker's performance yet as I have only used it once. At least it didn't blow a fuse and given the poor quality control exhibited I had my doubts about that.



I will probably keep it unless it fails to perform correctly but I cannot recommend anyone purchase it given the quality control issues.


Images Product

Buy Meco 5030 Electric Grill and Combination Water Smoker Now

Char-Broil Electric Water Smoker

Buy Cheap Char-Broil Electric Water Smoker

Buy Low Price From Here Now
The Char-Broil Electric Water Smoker takes the standard vertical barrel chamber and utilizes a 1650 watt heating element to smoke or barbecue food. The heating element is controlled by a 5-foot electric cord and a temperature dial. The grill comes with both a charcoal pan and a water pan to help provide great smoke flavor that also absorbs the moisture from whatever liquid is used. A large door provides easy access to both pans. The grill includes two chrome cooking grids that provide a total of 380 square inches of total cooking space.
Readmore

Technical Details

- 1650-watt heating element that plugs into the wall and has a dial for easy temperature control
- Included charcoal pan and porcelain coated water pan for smoking and barbecuing
- Large door for easy access to the pans
- Two chrome cooking grids for a total of 380 square inches of total cooking area
- Integrated heat indicator for monitoring temperature
See more technical details

 "Good Product Overall When Used Properly" 2008-07-21
By Robert M
The problems most people are having with this smoker are due to connecting an extension cord. I tried using a 25' 12 gage cord and the burner barely warmed up. Plugged in directly, it burned my finger. So if you don't have a good location close to an outlet, this one may not work well for you. Yes, drill a hole at the bottom of the unit for drainage and add a thermometer indicating degrees and smoke at 225 F or so. Another must is adding some kind of vent to the top of the lid. I pulled a baffle from a discarded BBQ unit, drilled some holes for ventilation and made myself an adjustable smoke ejector. If you do not do this, the food in my opinion gets way too smokey. If you get a sick feeling after eating over-smoked food, then this will solve your problem. Another thing others have done is drilled holes (I put in four) around the burner casing to allow air to be drawn up. This sets up a draft from bottom to top and out the holes you drilled for the vent and works quite well. If you use a 7/8" hole saw for these holes, you can always plug them with the electrical plugs used to seal junction boxes. The construction of the unit is quite heavy and has a quality feel to it. I also use a Brinkman charcoal smoker, but I like the idea of having tight temperature control and two cooking platforms.

 "awful, must have been defective" 2007-09-02
By Steven T. Engle (Phoenix, AZ)
i left a cut up chicken in there for 3 hours and nothing happened. the tempature never made it to 200 even. The meat was about 10% cooked when i gave up and finished it on the grill. I was looking forward to some smoked meats for Labor Day, alas, the grill will have to do. :( I used a 14 gauge cord as well so that wasn't the issue. never saw any smoke, it never got hot, they say where theres smoke there's fire, never saw either one or heat over 190.

 "Certainly a 'budget' smoker. " 2007-07-14
By T. Dennison
It seems you either see a "GREAT SMOKER" review with 5 stars, or a "THIS IS A HORRIBLE SMOKER" review with 1 star. Well, they're both wrong. I'm going to tell you the straight up truth about this smoker.



I bought it about a year ago and have used it, maybe, 10-12 times. I'll be honest, if I had better results, I would have used it much more. The truth is, the thermostat did burn out on mine after about 6-7 uses. Not short out, burn out. It melted the plastic surrounding, and just couldn't take the heat the heating element puts out. I used another thermostat from one of our other kitchen appliances, got about another 5-6 uses out of that, and the same thing happened. With both of these, the inside temp never got above 210 (the thermostat dial turned up to the max), which was a tiny bit lower than I wanted for smoking purposes.



The reviews about using a heavy duty (low gauge like 14-15) extension cord are ABSOLUTELY correct! I read them recently, tried it, and sure enough, I got about 250-260 degrees heat, the coils were bright red, and I had to turn down the thermostat (a new one) dial to achieve my desired 220 smoking temp.



Bottom line: it's a cheap smoker, that's why you bought it cheap, and you shouldn't expect high grade smoking quality barbeque. If I had the chance again, I'd probably spend an extra 50-100 bucks and get a more reliable smoker. Good luck. And go to H.D., buy a $6 temperature gauge (one with the degrees included), drill a small hole in the top of the lid and bolt it in. The temp gauge it comes with is horrible, without degrees, and completely unreliable.

 "Dangerous element, dangerous information" 2007-05-17
By BilHerd (Blackwood, NJ USA)
The heating element was shorted to the bracket, literally inside the element. Casual observation looked like the material that holds and insulated the conductor broke down allowing contact with the edge/bracket. When I spoke with Charbroil they asked if I used an extension cord, in a couple of cases I used my good heavy duty 14 gauge cord.



The rep assured me that that was the problem, I must use a 16awg cord, which is smaller (worse) then what I used. She also assured me that they wouldn't cover the unit if a better cord was used, because it gets "power". I then asked if I could plug it straight in to the outlet to which they replied "yes". I tried to relate that a better cord is more like plugging directly in to the outlet, "on no, it needs to be a 16guage orange extension cord."



Guess I will shop for a new unit rather than fix one that requires the use of an extension cord as a voltage dropping device.

 "waste of money" 2007-01-25
By Nicholas D. Mogzec (slc,utah)
I have to agree with the bad reviews, I used this smoker 6 times and the element burned out ,of course a replacement was 40.00. I purchased it new on sale for 65.00. It is now a charcoal smoker.Unless you have money to burn!I would not recomend this item.


Images Product

Buy Char-Broil Electric Water Smoker Now

Masterbuilt 20070106 30-Inch Electric Smokehouse Smoker, Black

Buy Cheap Masterbuilt 20070106 30-Inch Electric Smokehouse Smoker, Black

Buy Low Price From Here Now
Known for quality and innovation, Masterbuilt's cooking products set the standard. With a powder-coated steel outer body, Masterbuilt Electric Smokehouse comes with four smoking racks that allow ample room for turkey, sausage, chicken, ham, pork, fish, jerky, vegetables, and more. It is 100° to 275°F thermostatically controlled for a perfect temperature every time. It features a push-button precision digital control panel and an 0-24 hour digital timer with auto shut-off. It offers a safe and convenient side-loading wood tray. This Smoker has 100-percent insulation for energy-efficient cooking.
Readmore

Technical Details

- 2-1/2-cubic-foot electric smoker with powder-coated steel exterior
- 4 smoking racks; push-button digital control panel; 24-hour timer; auto shut-off
- Thermostat-controlled electric temperature; insulated for energy-efficient cooking
- Air damper; side-loading wood tray; removable drip pan and rear-mounted grease pan
- Measures approximately 19-1/2 by 18-2/7 by 34 inches
See more technical details

 "Work's Well. Won't Last!" 2009-06-24
By K. Abbott (Arlington, TX)
I have had one of these for 2 years now. I don't use it much, but when I do, it's really nice. The maximum temp of 275 degrees will bake perfect potatoes in 2 hours, and it's got to be the most trouble-free way to create a smoked meat masterpiece.



However, in the 2 years I've owned mine, I have had to pull the back off twice and repair the wiring. Apparently, the trouble with wood chip flare-ups that caused it to be recalled (that's right!) also caused it to burn up the insulation behind the thin metal wall in the back of the unit. This seems to have also burned out my wiring - twice.



Fortunately, I'm handy enough to fix it. Now that the grate that holds the wood chips over the heating element has rusted out, I seem to be hard-pressed to find a replacement. Looks like I'll have to fashion some sort of grate to replace that, as well.



People rave about the barbecue pork shoulder I can do in this thing, and it's super easy. Just don't expect it to last very long.

 "Texan's Opinion" 2009-06-24
By John H. Raach
Before I bought this smoker I read many, many of the yahoo reviews for this and other smokers (they're pretty accurate to my experience). I also own a non-electric smoker. And my final qualification is that I'm from Austin...



GOOD - The construction is very solid, but you shouldn't treat the latch to shut the door roughly. The temp is perfect - validated by my internal device. The temp goes high enough to cook anything. There's plenty of room for everything. You can cook a brisket for 20 hrs. on a low temp, and let it cook in its own delicious fat - man it's good.



BAD - It doesn't smoke like crazy. Smoke won't billow-out like a non-electric. You'll have to smoke at a high temp to burn the wood chip sufficiently, and even then I haven't seen them do anything but dry-out. Actually, this is perfect for me because I don't want to meat to have a super-smoky taste. I'm more of a marinade guy.



Good smoking!

 "Short life" 2009-06-22
By W. Parker (Bossier City Louisisna)
This is a great product while it works. It is easy to operate and works well. The problem is that it does not last long. It worked for just over one year and the heating element went out. I used it less than ten time.

 "Fine until it breaks" 2009-06-16
By J. Richter (Tucson, AZ USA)
This is a good product...until it breaks. My heating element went out so I thought it would be simple to get a replacement. I was wrong. The sympathetic people in Customer Support told me the heating element cannot be replaced. The entire unit except for the racks and electronic control had to be replaced. They said they could not quote me a cost since they had no replacement units in stock but hoped to get some in stock "in a few months". So if you buy this product expect to throw it away in a year or so!

 "Great smoked pork shoulders" 2009-06-03
By Robert G. Duke (APO, AP)
I agree with most of the comments about how nice this unit smokes food.

I can load it at lunch one day, take the food out the next morning to carry to work for a party at noon that day.



Cons;

My heating element stopped after 2~3 years of use. Masterbuilt wanted $80 plus shipping for a new "body" were I would have to move my rack, door, electronics over. After nearly 3 years of use, I was not ready to move those old items into a new box at nearly 1/2 the cost of a new unit.

I pulled the back off and found a broken wire on the heating element, replaced and rivited it back together and I continue to smoke some of the best pulled pork I have ever found.

The family has stopped going to the local pulled pork joints in the area and co-workers order pork shoulders for their parties.



Also I have lost 2 of the wire racks since I removed them to make room for the larger pork shoulders I find at Sams club.

The water pan has pitted and now leaks unless I line it with foil.



Planning on selling it to a co-worker while I locate the larger model.



Enjoy!


Images Product

Buy Masterbuilt 20070106 30-Inch Electric Smokehouse Smoker, Black Now