SM025 questions

I have had 35 pounds of pork shoulders in mine. 7 racks of Ribs using a rib rack also fit. Not at the same time as the pork shoulders though. For the numbers you gave, I think this unit is right at the max at what could support your needs.

For 2 - 6 people, you'll be fine. For 16, you'll be at the limit as Padrefan said. Not that you can't make it work, you'll just have to be a little creative. The most I've done successfully is a large brisket and two pork butts. Followed by a pan of beans. Plenty for a crowd.

Semi unsuccessful would be 7 racks of ribs, two tri-tips and a half pan of beans. The smoker never got up to temperature. Had to throw the ribs into the oven to finish. Fortunately they got enough smoke in the beginning that the cookout was a success.

Like I said, you might have to be creative for large crowds. I have an 020.

If you're smoking brisket or pork butt, the 025 should handle enough for 16 folks. Chicken or ribs...no. I've done a 7 bone prime rib in mine. Plenty of room for that. Did four 8-9 lb pork butts in the 025 for a large BBQ (roughly 21 lbs finished product). Well, large for me, not for our restauranteurs and caterers.

Which ever CS you decide on it will be like going from a Yugo to a Caddilac. Good Luck.

quote:

Originally posted by tomcat50:
Which ever CS you decide on it will be like going from a Yugo to a Caddilac. Good Luck.

Very well put Tomcat

Given your stated needs, the 025 will do fine. That said, in time you might find extra capacity a handy option. Having owned a number of Cookshack smokers, I suggest going with the most you can afford to spend. Prior to purchasing a FEC100, I owned a CS 009...similar to the 025. Eventually, I purchased an Amerique to handle larger capacities for 4th of July parties and such.

Whatever you decide, know that you're buying a top notch product with the best customer support in the business.

MaxQ - you forgot to tell him how well they hold their value ;-) RT, If you decide to go with the 025 (I have one and love it) for budgetary reasons (I did) and you decide it's not big enough after a while, I'm sure you can find someone to buy it. Perhaps even someone who is on the receiving end of the great BBQ you are gonna make in it. The only reason I would love a taller unit is so I can hang sausage from the top rail and have a lot of clearance withough having to jerri-rig it. If you plan on making your own sausage, the taller unit would be nice.

Vicki. I thought you hung your sausage from the chandelier.

I've done as many as seven racks of ribs at once, with a seven-rib rib rack. I did a 20# brisket once. And I've done two 10# pork butts at once.

I really think I was near the max load each time for the products being cooked. No problem keeping the cooker at the desired temp, but took a while to ramp up to desired temp.

I almost never need that much capacity, but more is better, right? Another time I'd have gone with my first choice which was a SM045, but "she who must be obeyed" said "You'll never need that much capacity". And she has been right so far (as usual).

Was thinking about sealing that room up with some nice glass doors, putting a big V above them in stained glass. Maybe install a refrigeration unit in the corner and a nice smoke unit running up thru the floor from the basement Sound familiar?

Thanks for all the info. Ordered a sm025 from charcoal store today.