The first thing you need to know when learning how to smoke a brisket using an electric smoker is how to choose the perfect type of brisket. Choose a brisket that is untrimmed, weighs ten to twenty pounds, has a thick layer of fat on one side, and a second layer of fat that runs through the middle, thicker end. Remember that a smoke brisket will render half the weight when fully cooked.
Next, you will need to select a good brisket rub. When first discovering how to smoke a brisket using an electric smoker, you may want to try out different types of rubs and possibly create your own versions. Rubs are composed of various spices and herbs and can be suited to any taste. You can adjust the spiciness by adding peppers and chili powder. Other supplies you may need will be a meat injection needle, aluminum foil, and a meat thermometer.
Preparation before cooking brisket
Before cooking your brisket you will first need to trim it. When first learning how to smoke a brisket using an electric smoker, this may be a difficult task. It will take some practice in order to master the art. The idea is to carve off excess fat inside the meat and to get cut the brisket to a more manageable size. The better the brisket is prepared the easier it will be to cook. A smaller brisket will also reduce the amount of required cooking time.
The next thing you will need to learn when learning how to smoke a brisket with an electric smoker is the proper way to apply the rub to the meat. Do not worry with applying the rub to the fat, but focus more on the meat section of the brisket. It is a good idea to place the brisket on a large sheet of aluminum foil before applying the rub. This will simplify the process required to wrap the brisket after you are finished applying the rub. Once the rub has been applied, wrap the brisket in foil and place in the refrigerator overnight.
In order to get better flavor and moisture deep within the meat, you can inject a marinade by using a marinade injector. There are multiple recipes for marinade, but you can also use a variation of the rub that you placed on the brisket. Put the needle into the meaty portions of the brisket and inject the meat just before you are ready to place the brisket in the smoker. You can use the remaining marinade as a baste later if you wish.
Electric smoker preparation
The temperature for your smoker should be around two hundred and twenty five degrees Fahrenheit. The brisket will need to cook one to one and a half hours per pound be prepared for a long cooking time. It is a good idea to flip the brisket every two hours in order to keep even cooking throughout the meat.
With some practice and patience you can easily learn how to smoke a brisket using an electric smoker. There are various flavorings available in which to create your perfect brisket, so take the time to choose the best one for you and you will create a wonderful brisket.
One of the best smoker thermometers on the market is the Maverick ET-733. This thermometer is highly rated on Amazon and gets a ton of praise from both professional and amateur pit masters.
While this smoker thermometer is quite popular, it also has its drawbacks. For example, some BBQ chefs have reported inaccurate temperature readings of the probes failing.
In this Maverick ET 733 review, we look at the features of the unit, its performance and what you should expect if you are looking to buy or upgrade from the older ET-732.
Maverick ET-733 Review
The Maverick ET 733 is a dual probe thermometer that enables you to simultaneously monitor the meat and pit temperature when you are standing up to 300 feet away.
The thermometer works like other dual probe thermometers on the market. The two identical probes placed inside the smoker are connected together by a transmitter.
The Maverick ET 733 comes with a number of improved features, much to the delight of grill or oven users. This 3rd generation thermometer by Maverick allows anyone to cook or grill with precision.
The smoker thermometer is quite compact and easily fits your pocket. Moreover, it works wirelessly. Therefore, you can check your smoker and pit temperature from wherever you are (up to 300 feet) when cooking outside. As the food is cooking, the receiver communicates with the transmitter and updates the temperature reading in real-time. The thermometer will sound an alarm, depending on the minutes you’ve set, when the time has elapsed.
NOTE: The 300 feet receiver range is good. However, I suspect that there is likely to be a loss of signal if there are concrete walls between the receiver and transmitter.
The thermometer has 15 different meat presets (including elk & buffalo) that you can choose from. Setting up the unit is relatively straight forward; just select the probe and then choose the temperature you want. You can also set the temperature alarm to go off at a particular range. For example, if you want the alarm to go off at 300°F, you can set the receiver alarm to sound off when the temperature hits 275°F or 325°F.
At the back, the receiver has a backlight that automatically switches off after five seconds.
Features of the Maverick ET 733
Powered by 4 AAA batteries
Weighs around 0.7 ounces
Has a backlight that provides visibility during the night.
An audio alarm sounds off when the preset temperature is reached
An alert sounds when you go out of range for more than one minute
Probe wires are 3 ft long and are rated for max temperature of 716°F
What’s in the Box?
The thermometer comes with two hybrid probes, two grill clips, a receiver as well as a transmitter. Other items in the box include 4 AAA batteries and two grill clips. The clips are used to stabilize the temperature probe off the grill of the smoker.
Is the Maverick ET 733 Easy to Use?
The Maverick ET 733 sports some nice usability improvements from that its predecessor, the ET 732, lacks. These improvements make the ET 733 quite easy to use. The improvements include:
For BBQ enthusiasts from outside US (those that don’t use the metric system), you can change the temperature setting from Fahrenheit to Celcius.
You can set low and high temperature for your pit. When the pit temperature goes outside this range, the thermometer will sound an alarm to alert you.
You can easily monitor the temperatures for each probe, whether it’s your own custom temperature or one of the presets that come in set in the gadget.
What to Watch Out For
Despite the improvements, there are a number of potential downsides that I saw with this thermometer. For example, changing the battery requires a screwdriver. While I did not have a problem with this, it can be inconvenient for some people. Therefore, you might want to keep a Philips screwdriver in your home repair kit.
You may also find it difficult to set the temperature if you have not used a smoker thermometer before. However, this should not really be a problem when you watch the video below. This video goes through the controls of the thermometer and how to program it:
Speed and Accuracy
When it comes to speed and accuracy, the Maverick ET 733 performs surprisingly well in boiling/freezing water test. The accuracy is even higher when it’s used to measure the pit temperature or cooking meat.
To get accurate temperature of cooking meat, insert the meat probe sideways towards the center of the cut. This should be done before you start the smoke. From there, you can leave the lid closed until it reaches your desired temperature.
The ET 733 is not an instant-read thermometer. This is why you want to use it to measure larger cuts of meat being cooked slow.
The Maverick ET 733 has a tolerance of – or + 3-4ºF. This gadget is most accurate within the typical food doneness range.
Quality of the Thermometer
I’ve been using my Maverick 733 thermometer for 4 years now, and haven’t experienced any problems with its build. However, while lurking at smoker meat forums, I’ve come across discussions of people who’ve had issues with their thermometers.
Most of the issues are related to:
The receiver and transmitter failing to link
Difficulty with the ON/OFF switches
The probes failing occasionally
Fixing the first issue is easy; simply turn on the receiver before the transmitter. This is a sureway of ensuring that the two always link.
About the temperature probes failing, you just have to take good care of them. The probes are quite delicate and this may explain why they are likely to fail. You prevent issues with the probes by ensuring they are not exposed to water at any time.
According to the manufacturer, the Maverick ET-733 is “Rain-proof”. However, I can confidently say that this gadget is definitely not waterproof. While the unit may be able to handle a few drops of rain, I’ll suggest you place the transmitter inside a clear plastic zipper seal bag if you are smoking outside and it’s likely to rain.
You also want to leave the transmitter in a place where water can not drip on the container where the wire is sticking out.
Away from the rain, the transmitter should also not be left in direct sunlight. Otherwise, it can overheat and malfunction.
Finally, you don’t want to put the unit in water. If you want to clean the temperature probes, simply wipe them down with a paper towel.
The Maverick ET-733 is not inferior for not being more water-resistant. Generally, all smoker thermometers struggle at being 100% water-resistant
How to Use the Maverick Et-733 Thermometer
I use the Maverick ET-733 to measure my smoker temperature. This gadget really excels when used to measure the pit temperature and meat temperature during a low and slow cook.
I would, however, caution you against using the Maverick for situations where you need to quickly check the temperature. If you are buying a Maverick for measuring your steak or fish temperature, you will be disappointed. The unit has a slow response time. Therefore, your fish may be overdone by the time the unit make an accurate reading
However, if you are smoking meat or cooking other foods where the temperature changes gradually, the thermometer will shine here.
Is the Maverick Et 733 Worth It?
If you are looking for a dual probe thermometer, or have an older version like the ET-732, then the Et-733 is worth buying.
While you may take some time to learn the interface, the build quality, temperature accuracy, and large screen make the smoker thermometer worth the price.
If you have an instant read thermometer, you know how inconveniences lifting up the smoker lid every 30 minutes to check the temperature can be. In this case, the Maverick will be a lifesaver. The 15 temperature presets as well as the ability to set your own temperature make the thermometer a great buy.
Thermometer Care
The Maverick smoker thermometer is quite easy to maintain. When the thermometer is not in use, keep the batteries open so that the cell doesn’t discharge any liquid, which can spoil the whole circuit.
If you take good care of the probes, the Maverick Et-733 will serve you for multiple years. You can also get replacement probes, just in case the ones you have get spoilt.
Maverick Et-733 Review Overview
The Maverick ET 733 is one of the best grill thermometers on the market. With this gadget, you can easily the grill temperature and timings at your one click. You can choose to get the temperature measured in either Celsius or Fahrenheit.
The thermometer is powered by 4 AAA batteries and records temperature within a range of 300. An inbuilt alarm will sound off when you go out of that range for around 60 seconds.
You can set the alarm and change the temperature settings remotely. When the temperature you have set is reached, the thermometer will sound an alarm.
The Maverick Et-733 comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee. The enhancements of this thermometer make upgrading from the ET-732 a no-brainer.
With tons of TV shows, national competitions and websites available, barbecuing has become a popular new trend. People from all walks in life are looking to get in on the craze. One of the biggest crazes is smoking meat. This is what many consider traditional barbecue, not grilling. With that, custom smokers and large store brand smokers can become quite expensive, so several people are turning to building their own backyard smokers. While not an easy task, building your own will save you money and can lead to a feeling of accomplishment when the final project is complete. In order to build a functional smoker, do plenty of research in order to help you with this process. Included are a few ideas and steps to help assist you in taking on this task. The following should help you with how to build a bbq smoker.
Items needed and steps required to build your own bbq smoker
Find a barrel
Find a good welder
Acquire the necessary hardware
Assemble the smoker
Season the smoker
Step 1: Find a barrel
When looking for a barrel or drum to act as the main component for your smoker, I suggest buying a food grade barrel. This means it was designed to hold food. Try to avoid drums and barrels that held used car oil or any chemicals as it will require much more cleaning to ensure safe smoking.
Step 2: Find a good welder
Unless you have welding skills and the proper tools on hand, creating a good fire basket to fit in the bottom of the drum can be difficult. For a few dollars, find a good welder, draw up a design which you can find online, and let them do it. The fire box should sit on a platform and be easily removable. There should be a solid base to hold the wood and coals, while using a wire mesh encasement to allow the smoke to easily flow out into the drum.
Step 3: Acquire the necessary hardware
You will need to purchase a few items to make sure your build comes out right, and they should be easy enough to find at a chain hardware store. Handles, nuts and bolts and a large enough grill grate to fit in the drum are a good start.
Step 4: Assemble the smoker
Using a 1” drill bit, drill intake holes around the bottom of the drum. These holes should be about every 24” and should be at least 2” to 3” from the bottom. This allows air into the drum and will force the smoke up towards the meat. Next measure your grill grate and drill the appropriate holes 7” from the top of the drum. Attach the grate using nuts and bolts to secure it in place. Finally, drill an exhaust hole in the drums lid, and cover it with a moveable strip magnet. This way you can control the amount of smoke you are venting from the drum.
Step 5: Season the smoker
The last step will burn off any old residue and create a clean tasting environment for your smoker. Rub the entire inner walls of the smoker with some sort of cooking oil, then start a fire in the fire box. Use enough wood to really get a high flame. This high heat will kill any remaining bacteria on the drum walls and burn away any chemicals. Let this process unfold, usually 5 hours or so, then the drum will be ready to use.
Following these simple guidelines, and doing some additional research, should enable you on how to build a bbq smoker. While it may take some effort, it’s not an incredibly difficult task. Many people have done it and the end results are well worth it. Remember to take your time, find the right person for any jobs you can’t do yourself, and in no time you’ll be smoking like the pros.
A lot of us love the fine smoke flavor of our food that is cooked in a smoker. When we finish smoking our favorite foods we are faced with a task that we all really dread too do. We have to clean our smokers. It is really a good idea to clean your smoker after each use.
You want to prevent bacteria from growing on old meat crumbs or even on the grease that is deposited through smoker while it is in use. There are several methods that you can use to accomplish this dreaded task.
One of the favorite smokers people will use is the electric smoker. We will take a look at how to clean a Masterbuilt electric smoker.
How to clean a Masterbuilt electric smoker
Credit cards or wooden shims
Pan of hot water
Air Compressor
Dishwashing liquid
Credit cards or wooden shims
You can use old discarded credit cards and wooden shims to help clean your smoker after each use. Simply take your cards or shims and scrap the insides of your smoker. This will take off any build up you will have in your smoker. If you do this after each use you will prevent a heavy buildup that will be harder to clean from your smoker later.
Pan of hot water
Place a large bowl or pan of hot water in your smoker and turn your smoker on a high setting. The steam from the bowl of water will loosen the buildup and make it easy to remove. Leave your racks inside the smoker while you are steaming your smoker.
After you loosen up the buildup with this steam you can clean the inside of your smoker and run the racks through a dishwasher cycle. This will clean them very effectively. This is one of the best methods to use if you are searching on how to clean a Masterbuilt smoker.
Air Compressor
Using an air compressor to help dry out your smoker after cleaning is also very helpful. You really need to let your smoker dry out fully after you clean it. Drying your smoker out will keep mold and mildew from building up while your smoker is in storage. You can also use the blower attachment on your air hose to help you reach places such as the very corners of your smoker that you cannot get into with a rag or scraper.
Dishwashing liquid
This is a simple and basic method to use but it is effective against buildup in your smoker. Take a bucket of warm water and a cloth and simply wash it down. This method will take a little bit of effort. Remember to let it completely dry before you put your smoker away. As with anything else we have basic maintenance is the key to making your smoker last.
Conclusion
It is very important to clean your smoker after each use. You want to prevent bacteria from forming and if you do not clean all of the residue off you could have rust forming in your smoker. Take a look at these tips and teach yourself how to clean a Masterbuilt electric smoker.
The Brinkmann Smoke’N Grill Smoker is an electric smoker from Brinkmann Corporation. Its dimensions are 17 in. X 19 in. X 29 in. so it is a fairly small smoker. However, it has a big effect on any food you’ll put in there. Because of it’s small size, the smoke is more concentrated on whatever will absorb it (the meat). Brinkmann Corporation has very good customer service in their company, providing lots of extra information for the customer that will help them along the way to getting their smoker started and giving solutions to possible issues.
The Good
This smoker is mostly good! I’d even venture to say it is, in fact, great. It has a lot of good features packed up into its small containment. It’s stylish, compact, a double smoker, and doubles as a grill!
Awesome Features
Stylish
The black finish on the outside of the smoker gives a good finish to the smoker. It will look very good on your patio or in your backyard.
Compact
This Brinkmann smoker doesn’t take up much space, which is good if you’ve got a limited area. However, this can also be a downside.
Double smoker
This smoker comes with two chrome-plated steel grills that fit in its round body.
Easy to use
This Brinkmann is easy to use because it’s designed with a separate base pan (the bottom section) so the insides would be easier to navigate when you are setting it up for a smoke.
Grill feature
This little electric smoker also converts into an electric grill! Big upside.
The Bad
Although this smoker is the near-perfect option for a person who only smoker or grills food from time to time, there are some downsides that should be talked about. It is a very small smoker, and comes disassembled.
Not-so-awesome Features
Small
Although the compactness of this smoker is nice, if you want to smoker anything of a larger size, don’t try to use this Brinkmann. This smoker is designed mostly for smaller pieces of meat and not large pieces (i.e. full birds, large ribs).
Assembly
The assembly has proven to be difficult for some customers. However, this is easily solved as the Brinkmann Corporation has a tutorial on how to do so on YouTube.
In Total…
This smoker was designed with the customer in mind. It’s a good option for a single person or a house with only a few people living there. It will deliver a great taste at a fair price and will definitely pay for itself if you liked smoked foods (and you will).
A lot of us love the 
