Char-Broil Electric H2O Smoker

Pros: Compact, competent, easy-to-use, reasonably priced.
Cons: Not insulated, no access doors to add water or wood chips.

Having owned and used large wood-burning smokers before, I wanted a smoker that 1) didn't cost a paycheck or two and 2) did the job with as little tending as possible. Of course, the end product had to be acceptable, as well, or else what's the point? ...

Pros: Electric (set it and forget it), water pan, small size
Cons: Peeling paint, bad temp control, hard to add wood, so-so customer service

For my first smoker I thought the I would buy something inexpensive and then move up after I gained some experience with smoking. This is a vertical water smoker that only takes up a few square feet of space. It has 2 racks that allow for smoking 4 ...

Pros: Price. Low, even temperature which allows smoking and avoids over heating.
Cons: Temperature gauge is elementary. Stacking unit makes it hard to get to racks.

I bought this in a 40% off sale. My dad does the best smoked salmon in the world, being from the NW, near Roslyn Washington where the salmon run wild along with the people. Anyway, he has an expensive set up. I tried his recipe this weekend and ...

Pros: Somehow everything I have made has tasted pretty good
Cons: Heating to a high enough temperature and generating smoke are difficult.

I bought this for $20 off of some guy on craigslist and sadly I don't think it was worth the money. I have used the smoker 5 times now and that is all I can handle. The biggest problem I had was that I could not get the temperature of the grill high ...

Pros: A hassle free smoker at a good price. Great for newbies.
Cons: It can be a little tricky to find the ideal temperature setting.

If you haven't used an electric smoker before, it may take a couple of tries or so to find the ideal setting to cook with, but it does an excellent job of cooking the meat without the hassles of keeping a charcoal fire going. You just throw your soaked wood chips on the burner, turn it on, put in the meat after it's heated up and you can ignore it until it's time to check if the meat's done. Great value for the price.

Pros: Good smoke when it works. Easier than charcoal on big long jobs.
Cons: Not reliable

Without fail, the element or the thermostat burn out, short out, and or stop working. My last one, given to me in Christmas 07, lasted two smoking sessions before it failed. Charbroil has never responded to me. Avoid this product.

Pros: I do not have anything positive to say about this smoker.
Cons: Cooks slow, the top doesn't fit proper and no access door.

I made the mistake of buying it, not noting that it wasn't comparable to the Brinksman I had before. The top doesn't fit properly. There is not a booklet that gives good tips and cooking times but you have to keep the entire set of instructions. Even with this it only gets as detailed as whole chicken, no suggested times for pieces of chicken. There is no access door, if you add chips you have to pick up the entire body, which with water, 2 racks full is quite heavy. Very easy to spill the water. It took forever to cook, even on high. Unfortunately I forgot to keep my receipt, but am going back to Loews to beg them to take it back. The Brinksman I had was great, and I've got to find another one of those.

Pros: Easy, adjustable heat, easy to clean.
Cons: I wish it had one more rack!

Ribs, chicken, and pork butts. Once I dialed in the thermostat, even smoking the pork butts for 18 hours or the ribs for four hours they are perfect every time.
Wood chunks, a full water pan and your favorite rub is all you need for perfect smoked meet. I found no need to add anything during cooking.