Why only 250?

[skioutwest]

I just ordered a model 3 as my first smoker.  Really excited!!  I have been researching recipe sites and noticed that most recipes say to smoke chicken at 300-350.

I am just curious why Smokin-it smokers only run up to 250 when their competition runs to 300?  Is there a way to hack the thermostat, or replace it with one with a higher limit?  It would seem that the unit could easily handle the additional 50 degrees.

Thanks all!

-Mark

• Tweet
• 

[Alphax]

low and slow baby...

[swthorpe]

I agree with the low and slow...  I smoke chicken (quarters, wings, whole) at 225.   The skin on chicken can be a bit rubbery, so I sometimes use my gas grill at the end of the smoke to add high heat and crisp up the skin (10 minutes or so).

[old sarge]

It would be nice to be able to crank up the temp on occasion to 300 or maybe 325, for crisping up skin.  But smoking is all about slowness and smokiness.

[Muttley]

I think at temps above 300 you are baking at that point and not really "smoking". 

Two different cooking methods is what it boils down to. 

[skioutwest]

I'm just sayin'.....Cookshack uses a 300deg thermostat.  Why not provide the option to go higher.  The cost of the part could not be significantly more...

I agree with low and slow...would rarely go over 235, but with chicken I can see increasing temp

-Mark

[old sarge]

With smokers sans a digital controller, the temperature fluctuates and an average cooking/smoking time is achieved producing very good results, even if we do agonize over the swings. A smoker that can reach 300 degrees has the potential to swing to a higher temp when one sets the control at say 275 or 300 and could produce disastrous results.

 At those temperatures, I would guess that a digital controller would be highly desirable, however,  a poorly designed or inaccurate digital controller would be pretty much a liability as reported on another well known and popular smoker sold at big box stores and commented on in other forums.  The controller on the Cookshack is accurate and stable.    The smokers themselves are also expensive, and a replacement controller is extremely expensive to the tune of $600.00 or thereabouts for the Amerique 066 which is similar in size capacity to the model 3.

That is my take on high temp and digital control, for what it is worth.

[afratki]

With smokers sans a digital controller, the temperature fluctuates and an average cooking/smoking time is achieved producing very good results, even if we do agonize over the swings. A smoker that can reach 300 degrees has the potential to swing to a higher temp when one sets the control at say 275 or 300 and could produce disastrous results.

 At those temperatures, I would guess that a digital controller would be highly desirable, however,  a poorly designed or inaccurate digital controller would be pretty much a liability as reported on another well known and popular smoker sold at big box stores and commented on in other forums.  The controller on the Cookshack is accurate and stable.    The smokers themselves are also expensive, and a replacement controller is extremely expensive to the tune of $600.00 or thereabouts for the Amerique 066 which is similar in size capacity to the model 3.

That is my take on high temp and digital control, for what it is worth.

Thanks for that detailed explanation old sarge, makes perfect sense.

[skioutwest]

Thanks old sarge....great explanation.  I like the idea of a temperature controller...would be interesting to offer it as an add on accessory.