Had to replace my old offset smoker after a bad brisket night

I spent $350 on a cheap offset smoker about 5 years ago and always thought it was good enough. Then last month I pulled three briskets off that thing and they all came out dry and tough with terrible bark. I ended up buying a used Oklahoma Joe for $500 off Facebook Marketplace and it holds temps way better. Has anyone else found that a decent smoker saves you more in meat than you spend on the upgrade?

2 comments

2 Comments

wadepalmer7d ago

Respect that opinion but learned my lesson after ruining six racks of ribs on a cheap smoker.

schmidt.blake7d ago

Six racks? Man, that seems like a lot of bad luck. Are you sure it was the smoker and not just a bad day? I mean, I've burned burgers on a fancy grill before, doesn't mean the grill is junk. Sometimes you just get distracted or the wind picks up. Is it really that deep to call it a "lesson learned" like you just lost a family heirloom? A cheap smoker can still put out decent ribs if you know what you're doing. Maybe it was the rub or the temp that was the real problem, not the gear itself.