Help Needed - Should I Buy a Cookshack?

I know nothing about the electrics, so someone else can address that issue. I have two FE100s and love them. In my opinion, if you consider going the pellet route, the FE beats the Traeger hands down. I read on other forums about Traeger owners using different types of moving blankets etc. to insulate the smoker and keep heat in, whereas the FE is already insulated.

A Traeger with a similar capacity is probably not much cheaper than the FE. I guess I'm probably a little prejudiced, but for ease of operation, ease of cleanup, versatility in temps, and quality of product, FE rules.

Tom,

You can't go wrong with a fec 100. Look at the results from the cooking comps. This weekend at Lenoir, Tenn. There must have been 9 or more teams cooking on FEC100 out of the 30 there. I don't know all the teams, or what they were cooking on but the ones I do know.
The FEC's took
3rd in brisket, 3rd in pork, 1st in ribs, 2nd in chicken. These are the teams that I know were using the FEC, but there may been others above them that I just don't know thier equipment.

We took 2nd in chicken and 3rd in pork, and 5th overall.

RandyE

If the FE is too large, try the AmeriQue, I bought one and love it. It has nice large racks, has the timer and probe and the hold feature. Check it out!!

I just sold my Traeger 075 after 5 years of service and today I am preparing my first cook on the FEC100. Like stated earlier there is no insulation in the Traeger so cooking ribs in January and cooking ribs in August are two different ball games.
One more little thing to consider is customer service. I live 40 miles away from where Traegers are made and I have had sub par customer service from them. Cookshack, on the other hand has been EXCELLENT to me!

Well, I expect to see some pics of the finished result ASAP.

I highly recommed the AmeriQue. Had mine since August (read the forum for a long time) and have been very pleased with the AQ and the food. Just decide how big of a unit you need. The guys in the forum are great and can answer any thing. The AQ is straight forward to use. Best BBQ I have ever made!

Smokette 009 or nothing else for me.Got it .gave away my offset and never looked back.Now everyone in my world thinks I know everything about bbq. Fooled them all.Get it you wont regret it and stainless last forever.

Thanks to the many who have responded to my initial posting. I guess the main concerns I have are as follows:

1. I do want a smoke flavor (and from what most of you have said, the CS is the way to go);

2. I'm still a little concerned about the 'steam effect' that I have gotten on the Old Smokey smoker that I have. The CS and Old Smokey (some folks refer to it as the 'garbage can' smoker)basically rely on the same principal of closed, intense smoking using an electric heating element. I've been LESS than thrilled with the Old Smokey because even though it does a decent job smoking, the meat seams like it has been steamed. I sure do miss the bark and smoke ring when I use this cooker.

3. I'm pretty much talked out of the Traeger pellet smoker. It especially concerns me that many folks have commented about the LESS than adequate insulation of these smokers PLUS the seeming lack of good smoke flavor. Still, the concept intrigues me big time. Many have recommended the FEC100, but that is a WAY too steep price right now.

4. What I really want to know is this: I'm a serious Q chef looking for consistently excellent results and for an easy smoke when I don't want to pull all-nighters playing with my NBBD smoker (New Braunfels Black Diamond offset smoker). If you are a TRUE Q-head and can vouch for the superior product produced by the CS, I'll bite the BIG ONE and like start with the 009. The AmeriQue looks great, but I'd have to be convinced first.

So, if there are any purists out there who can talk me into this, PLEASE try ... I'm so close to wanting to take the plunge with my first CS. I just don't want the disappointment of not having good 'cue ... Metro New York is NOT a place for really good 'cue. On the otherhand, having had my fill of Texas, Tennessee and Kansas City 'cue on roadtrips, I'm hankering for some serious 'cue here in New York.

HELP!

You'll find a lot of posts where a piece of charcoal is added to the smoke box on the electrics to get a smoke ring. You'll find even more about the smoke ring adding nothing but looks to the meat.

Again I'm prejudiced. With the FE100 I can get as much smoke ring as I want, but I don't worry about it. My concern is primarily with taste. The higher temps that the FE reachs will also allow you to crisp skin on poultry that you can't do in the electrics.

I guess it all comes down to your taste, your needs, and what you're willing to spend.

As a side note, I cooked in a LSBS comp weekend before last. I turned in some of the best ribs and chicken I've ever done and the worst brisket. I got sixth in brisket and didn't even make the final table in ribs or chicken. It all comes down to taste.

Truthfully, the CookShack is a moist cooking smoker and some steam is produced. By the end of a long cook, the excess moisture is gone, however. Some folks talk of opening the door during cooks to let out moisture, at the expense of time. I have never needed to do that with my Smokette. These little jewels were originally designed as a brisket cooker, but handle ribs, butts, jerky, chicken, venison roasts, etc., very well also.

Hope this helps.

I had the same concerns over a year ago and went from a Brinkman offset to a CS55 and could not be happier. My Q is consistently better and I get a lot more sleep now. I have been Qing for 25 plus years and have a reputation of good Q and I have not had any negative feedback since switching to the CS. I do however smoke a lot more since it is so easy. Also if you buy direct from CS you get a unconditional 30-day money back guarantee. Try a CS you'll love it.

Tony In N.Y.

1. FEC 100 Smoke Flavor YES

2. FEC 100 Along with rub. BARK YES

3. FEC 100 I though at the time it was
high . But now it was well
it was well worth it.
[ BITE THE BULLET, GIVE UP
COLA,DONUT,A VISE. IT WILL
BE WORTH IT.]
4. FEC 100 Consistancy YES
REST YES
Push the settings for the
time & temps. Say;12 hrs if
not right there, it will
drop to a holding temp .
NOT CHUGGING AWAY AT TOP TEMP

earl

First, remember this, CS has a 30 day money back guarantee. If you have any issues, just ship it back, now there's a deal most smoker companies won't give you

quote:

Originally posted by Tom in NY:
a. I don't like the Old Smokey electric smoker I have because it steams the meat more than smokes it. Does the Cookshack give a nice bark to meat?

CS have such high quality insulation, that they will tend to be a more moist cook. I wouldn't call it steaming, but the simple thing to do is open the door occassionally and let moisture out. However, the moisture helps a lot of different cuts do well without having to wrap in foil (aarrrggh FOIL)

quote:

b. The New Braunfels Black Diamond is a purist's smoker, but it is a pain to clean and requires constant attention to maintain the fire at the right temperature for a long smoke. Will the Cookshack solve a lot of my problems here?

Don't know about Purists
Except for worrying about the power turning off, yes it will solve the problems. Very little maintenance (scrap the walls, empty the grease pan, clean the racks) In my experience, which is a lot, there are a number of people who learned to cook less than perfectly on their offsets and got used to oversmoked meats. You'll find it very difficult to do that in a CS. You question about bark, etc might be in that area. Until you taste the meat, sample the meat you won't know (hence the idea of the money back guarantee

quote:

c. I'm torn between the smokette and a larger Cookshack. I do Q for 10-12, what is the best size smoker for me?

When in doubt, go bigger.

quote:

d. Finally, I've also contemplated buying a Traeger pellet smoker. Any experienced Cookshack/Traeger owners out there?

Yes, I have experience. Oh, you didn't just want to know we had experience... Traeger have terribble insulation. Real good grills and average as smokers. The FEC is awesome and overcomes all the limitations of the Traeger grills. You might want to see if an FE is anywhere around.

IMO I would go with the Amerique. I have a 08. I bought it last Xmas for myself. It is the best thing I ever bought. I cook for 4-5 and there is always plenty. But, I wish I would have bought the Amerique. I just love the features. Great bark on my butts. Best ribs ever. I do put a piece of coal in my 08 when smoking a brisket for the ring. It has to do with combustion or some b.s. like that. Smokin Okie will and has explained this many of times. If there is one thing Okies and Texans know is Que. Bottom line! I love it. And everyone in this forum is so infromative and helpful. I don't know anyone on this forum personally... Yet. But I trust them like a brother! Best smoker purchase you will make. IMO!

Awww gee thanks Derek!

You might wanna add Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Arkansas to that list!

Tom in NY, buy the CookShack already!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Derek:
... I do put a piece of coal in my 08 when smoking a brisket for the ring. It has to do with combustion or some b.s. like that. Smokin Okie will and has explained this many of times. If there is one thing Okies and Texans know is Que. Bottom line! I love it. And everyone in this forum is so infromative and helpful. I don't know anyone on this forum personally... Yet. But I trust them like a brother! Best smoker purchase you will make. IMO!

Ah, if only everyone felt that way. SR isn't the definition of good Q (but we can't convince everyone)

And thanks for the observation about the forum, that's one of the main reasons I volunteered 7 years ago to help and here it is. Glad we can help you, whoever you are

quote:

Originally posted by GLH:
Awww gee thanks Derek!

You might wanna add Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Arkansas to that list!

Tom in NY, buy the CookShack already!!!

LOL!!! I was getting my gun!

Oh let's not forget those southern Indiana folks as well. I've had some good Q up that way. Although the rest of the state loses it's mind the further up you go. LOL!!

short answer,,,YES!!!

Im sorry I forgot to add those other states. Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Arkansas. But if Missouri beats my Red Raiders this weekend. I will edit this post and you won't be included. lol.