Customer Reviews

Bradley Digital 6-Rack Smoker

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I just received this machine. I owned an original Bradley Smoker that gave up the ghost. When I saw the digital one for sale I thought that it would be more precise and a "set and forget" solution to smoking. I have tried it four times now and have discovered that the temperature variation on the unit is as much as 28 degrees over the set point and as much as 16 below the set point for a temp swing of 44 degrees. It turns out that Bradley has a forum for owners and those interested (look at their web site). Quite a number of new owners have been dismayed and disappointed in the temp swing on this unit. When I called Bradley they just said "that's the way it is with this unit" and told me it is similar to my house oven. I doubt that my home ever varies that much. The cycle time for this variation is 15-20 minutes so the food is never at the set point for very long. I don't recall swings like this with my old one.

If you look carefully at what you get for the hefty premium, it is not much. The basic unit has the automatic biscuit feed and when its out of biscuits there is no more smoke so the smoke timer on the new one means nothing. The timer on the cooking side has a time limit according to the Bradley owners so you can't leave it more than ten hours without going out and resetting it. The temperature control is not reliable so what do you get for the extra bucks. Not much to my way of thinking.

By the way, look at the photo carefully. This unit is not aluminum. It has a door that is painted an aluminum color and the body is black. I have to say that the fit and finish is very nice on the unit.

My advice is buy the original model and save yourself the extra bucks.

I have had this unit for a little over 2 years now and I have used it at least 50 or more times. It is very easy to set up. You have three "plugs". One is a chord that runs from the smoker box to the smoker. Then another plug that does the same. Finally you have the plug that powers the unit. Simple. Inside you find the bowl that holds water, obviously 6 racks, drip tray...normal stuff. Some people debate on this or the 4 rack version. Go bigger every time when it comes to bbq. You might say you would never use it but you are wrong. Every time I am invited to a get together I am always asked to smoke something. People buy the meat, I do the prep and the cooking. Just did 2 12lb turkeys on Sunday. By the way, 2 12lb turkeys fit perfectly. I have done 4 8lb pork shoulders as well. No problems.

Another nice thing about this smoker is the ability to cold smoke. Though some mods need to be done before you can do, or you need to live in a cold area, but cold smoking cheese is great. Every winter I smoke enough cheese to put WI to shame.

The instructions are easy to follow for the most part. I did months of research before I bought this so I was well prepared for what I was getting into. If you can't find the answer in the directions go to the bradley forum, those guys over there are the best at helping you out.

The negatives about this smoker, as one reviewer already pointed out, the temp is ungodly wrong. I bought a nice double, wireless, thermometer. Absolutely essential for smoking, no matter what smoker you have. This thing tells me what the temp of the smoker and the meat is, as well as alarms that I can set. So if my smoker drops to a very low temp, say below 100 degrees, an alarm will go off. This is good in case the unit becomes unplugged, or you and your buddies have had a few too many and forgot to reset the cooker timer. (By the way, 10 hours is plenty of time. No, meat is usually not done by then, but within 10 hours you are guaranteed to walk outside and check on your smoker at least once) The other problem I have with the temp is the lack of an extremely high temp. To get a good bark on a Boston butt sometimes requires a temp of over 300. That can be a problem with the bradley. Poultry skin comes out crispy either way, and shoulders are perfect, sometimes I just want a little more. Other than the temp, this thing is perfect.

I love this unit. If you have been using wood smokers, water smokers, vertical smokers, offset smokers, your old bbq as a smoker (which I have used all of these)....whatever, this unit will be a welcomed, headache free, addition.

I had just bought the four rack smoker and came to the realization that I should have bought the six rack. I like the idea of the digital smoker as I can set it and go away or to bed for that matter and not have to worry if I am over heating and burning food. I would say both units are good. but if you are only smoking once or twice a month the manual unit is fine but daily like I do spend the extra money

If you want to go out and make sure the bisquette feeds every 20 mins then it's great! I love the results, but this thing hasn't worked correctly since day one. I've called Bradley 3 times now. Now it's down to: take the bisquette feeding unit apart and wipe it down inside after every 3 uses. Still have had to feed all but 2 bisquettes manually. It tries to do it, but doesn't seem to work. Best ribs I've ever made, but not what I expected for 550.00.

What a sweet product. The "Set it and Forget it" technology it great, no more checking the pan to see how your chips are doing. Perfectly smokes your food, does not over cook (unless you program it to). Have done sausage, salmon and even cheese. Great! Up next, whole turkeys for the holidays, can't wait!

Two minor drawbacks were found, temps. are not maintained at the level you set. This was easily overcome by inserting a digital temp. probe through the vent at top. Burns a little hot. Second problem is seeing the digital readouts in daylight. Next to impossible, but easily overcome as well by making a 3 sided shroud to go around the fire box. Excellent for nite time smoking. I feel every weekend grill master should have one of these.

I use this smoker to do pulled pork, and it usually takes about 15-17 hours. I love the fact that I can place the meat in at night and go to bed.

This is a very nice smoker and the Bradley company backs their products completely. Upon arrival, the front door was damaged during shipment. With one phone call I had a new door delivered to our home in Alaska within a week, directly from the company. I was also assurred that any future problems would be handled with such prompt and curtious responses. I would recommend the smoker to anyone who hasn't the patience or desire to constantly feed wood or chips into a non-digital smoker. This one has a wonderful feeding stack and does a tremendous job. I bought it as a birthday gift for my husband thinking that I wouldn't be inclined to use it. However, that's not the case at all. Due to the obvious user friendly digital display panel, I had no problems cooking with it myself.
I recommend this smoker to anyone! We love it!

No experience needed.... Just set it and forget it....as we speak I'm smoking a 14 lbs packer brisket with oak, this will be a 16-18 hr smoke. Can't wait.....

We purchased this for my husband as a christmas gifta few years ago and he even uses it in the winter, he loves it, so in the summer time it usually going on the daily bases. He even smoked some meat and put it on ice and sent it overnight to our son in Atlanta so he could see how the different meets taste when they are smoked. This is worth the money.