Customer Reviews for Brinkmann Gourmet Electric Smoker

I bought this item for my teenage son. He loves it. Simple to use. He uses it frequently. His only issue is that you cannot set your own temperature on it.

This little thing works like a charm. Smoked a whole chicken and brisket that came out awesome. Perfect for guys like me who do not want to babysit a smoker all day.

I've had my electric smoker for 5 years. If you want smoked flavorful food, you can't go wrong with this purchase. I was hesitant purchasing this smoker because it was electric. Don't be turned off by the electricity. It always delivers the most fall off the bone ribs, mouth-watering pork loin, etc. It will smoke large cuts of meat.

We are on about our 3rd or 4th Brinkman Gourmet Electric Smoker. It is fantastic! We have never used a meat thermometor or needed a thermometor in the lid. You learn how long each kind of meat takes to smoke/cook by experimenting. We put the meat on the grill in the center position and never have used the water bowl---not necessary. With the meat in the center part of the grill---and wood chips dropped near the element (no foil necessary)---we have plenty of smoke and it circulates around the meat just fine. We do turn the meat over about midway of the time period. 3 or 4 Chicken quarters---about 1 hr total time. Pork Loin---about 1.5 hr. total time. Sausages--about 20-30 min. It is almost impossible to burn anything. We have forgotten and left the meat on too long before and dried it out too much but that was our fault. We are buyin a new one today @ Home Depot as the element went out in our 8 yr. old one yestereday. Absolutely CANNOT go without one. We cook on it all year long.....in really cold weather---it just takes longer. Also have an identical one at our weekend place. One of the few things I hope they never stop making just the way it is! Please don't "new and improve" it into something worthless!

used ittwice sofar. recomend using chunks and adding extra lava rocks on top of heating element. also get a digital meat thermometer but meat comes out excellent. i have only smoked pork butts with it but u will not b disappointed

Heating element goes out every quick does not heat as hot as it should.

I have purchased two of these smokers and the heating element has died in both of them! Too bad, we loved this smoker but are tired of replacing them every year and a half. Trying a different brand this time.

I considered this smoker for about a month before buying it. I have used mine a few times now and I definitely like it. I decided to take the advice of another reviewer and paint the inside of mine, but this is completely unnecessary. If you cure it the way the instructions indicate it will last a long time. Now please note I have no illusions that this will match a much nicer smoker in performance, but it gets the job done. I measured this internal temp at around 180F while using it the other afternoon. It could be higher but it still cooks up to a food safety temp. For very thick cuts of meat you may want to finish in an oven or on a grill depending on your preference, but for me after 2.5 hours cooking a 3lb beef roast it come out a very nice medium rare - medium with an internal temp around 150F.

I bought this smoker for my husband last Father's Day and it was one of the best purchases I have ever made. Given that I am the cook in the house, I can now put him in charge of the main entre while I prepare the sides. This is a great, easy to use product and yields tasty results every time.

About a year ago we bought this model to replace one that wore out twenty some years. We use it regularly. Our son was so impressed that he has been wanting one so we bought one for him and his family. My husband has found over time to make cleanup of the water pan easier he coats it with Pam before adding the water to it.

Easy to use and does a nice job smoking meat and fish. Recommend using the blocks instead of. Hips for easier cleanup

This smoker is SO good. The food comes out fabulous. I would TOTALLY recommend this smoker. It is so easy to use and very convenient. Cleanup is easy too. GREAT smoker grill.

It took a while to put together, but overall seems to be good product. The first time we used it, the temperature outside was cold and smoker struggled to keep up. Better used in the warmer months! Nice feature to be able to use it as a grill.

although this is the least expensive Electric smoker on the market it straight up works. The wife bought me a newer electronic version, remote control and all for more than three times as much and I asked her to take it back for this one. through the course of the years I've have owned at least four.

Great smoker at a fantastic price! Does the same job as the pricier brands. Definitely recommend this product. I purchased this one on Christmas Eve at the South OBT location last minute and this happened to be the last unit left in all of Orange County. They sold me the floor sample and even discounted it for me. Very pleased with the purchase and the customer service!

Great purchase price and product is a great quality.

I have purchased 3 of these over the years, they are very fast and easy to use. I use mine for grilling 90% of the time. I will continue to purchase in the future. The heating element either burns out or the bottom pan rust out. GREAT PRODUCT GREAT PRICE TO REPLACE.

I have been buying this smoker for years and I use it nearly every week for grilling since it is easily converted from smoker to grill. I use the electric model instead of the charcoal model since it is easier for me to use. It's barrel is large enough to smoke 6 half chickens, several racks of ribs or what ever you choose. The included water pan keeps the meat moist and tender. The only thing that fails on this cooker is the electric element which has lasted 5 to 7 years for me. I am glad that Home Depot is now selling the cooker since the store I was using no longer sales it. I was dissappointed that Home Depot did not have I t in stock although the web indicated they did therefore wasting my time with an unnecessary trip to the store.

I've smoked ribs, pork butt, chicken quarters and even an 8.5 pound bird in this smoker and the meat always turns out delicious. I usually like to add 2 wood filled chunks covered in foil to the bottom and also apply aluminum foil around the lid so that the smoke is trapped. The foil around the lid helps the smoke go further and that way you will use less wood. I bought a large flat cement stone in order to put the smoker on top on my back deck.

Do yourself a BIG favor and purchase a spray can of hi-temp black grill paint. The inside of the lid and main body do NOT have enough or any paint. PAINT THE INSIDE with black grill paint before using the first time! This is a 5 minute job when the smoker is brand new and clean on the inside. It's a chore after you use it. Note- even though the outside is bright red the inside is going to be smoked black after one use so you might as well paint the inside black. It WILL rust inside if you don't paint it. Also note- this smoker is not very hot. I purchased a thermometer and installed in the lid as recommended by other reviewers. I was only able to reach 140 degrees outside on a cool 40 degree winter day. I'm sure it will get good and hot in the summer but in winter it won't cook your meat. It will smoke it nicely but you'll need to put your meat in the oven after smoking in order to get it to cooked temperature. I still think it's a good smoker for the money.

My boyfriend had wanted a new smoker for a while now. He had left his old one behind when he moved and his father had, uh, not been kind to it. So he had repeatedly mentioned wanting one. I decided to get him one for Christmas and couldn't be happier with the choice I made. I did feel him out for what he would want, and decided to step up to this one from the smaller one. He was so happy to see it sitting in the garage! He has used it several times now. He only wishes it was warmer outside so he could use it more often! We do plan to make a few enhancements as have been suggested - adding a heavy-duty thermometer, for one.

The Smoker is of find quality and were bought as gift's. They had purchase the smoker several years back and loved the quality and the way the smoker performed, The smoker was pack very well and they are enjoying the benefits of a great smoker at a great price. I don't think you can find a electric smoker at this price and quality any lower.

It was easy to assemble. The original water bowl was severely damaged, but we had no problem getting it switched out in the store. We have used it twice - a whole chicken, and beef ribs. Each time we had a good rub recipe, but there just was no special smoked flavor. Everything tasted just as if we baked it in the kitchen oven. The electric smoker cooked just fine, on time as per instructions. We may consider returning it or just use it as an alternative to cooking in the oven so as to not heat up the kitchen in the warmer months.

Some assembly required but only took a few minutes ....

A few years ago, I had bbq at my cousin's who had one of these smokers. I,then, purchased one for my husband for Father's Day (much to my chagrin, he's never USED it, but has enjoyed its benefits!). Next, we recently bought one as a Christmas gift for relatives! As of this date, we haven't gotten any feedback from them, but no doubt, they'll enjoy it as much as we do! My warning to them was that their BBQ-competing friend would probably not condone it as an 'authentic' smoker, but if you want easy, good and electric - this is the way to go!

The electric grill was a gift for our son. This is the third one in our family, two of the other brothers are very happy with this and highly recommended this same smoker. Easy set up and the results are the same every time.

I bought this for my husband for Christmas. He's been wanting an electric smoker. Got this opened and realized it has no settings on it. It's either on or unplugged. It seems like a nice cooker but it would be nice to be able to regulate the temperature. Taking it back tomorrow.

This smoker was a waste of my money. The first time I used it I ended up finishing the roast in the oven since after 4+ hours it was not cooked. I bought the cover and have kept it covered when not in use. However, obviously the smoker must cool off before putting the cover on. Unfortunately the last time I used it, it rained before it was cool. Since the lid doesn't fit AT ALL (there is a gap around the edge that in places is as big as my index finger) rain got in the smoker and filled the area where the lava rocks and electric element is as well as the water pan. That was a mess to clean and I don't know if the smoker still works since I haven't used it since. Also, in order to add wood you must remove the meat, the racks, and the water pan. Not convenient at all. I will replace this smoker with one that works. This is TERRIBLE!!!

bought after much more expensive smoker died after 1 year. many in family have this one & i decided to go with it too. haven't put thermometer in yet. learning as we go. i hate to clean grills & have been using a foil lined roasting pan with a rack, instead of putting meat on the smoker's rack. works ok.

This smoker is wonderful. I bought this smoker years ago and just bought it again. Good price and quality product.