Customer Reviews

Brinkmann 810-5290-4 Smoke'N Grill Electric Smoker and Grill, Black

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have a Brinkmann 810-5290-C electric smoker that is so old that I cannot remember when I bought it. I long ago discarded the center section (the longest cylinder) -- although you might want to keep it if you think you will ever want to smoke two different meats (say a turkey and a pork loin) at the same time---- and here is how we get PERFECT smoked meats.

Rub the meat with your favorite seasonings. We find that all of the seasonings are good, just different. So, don'tbe afraid to use poultry seasoning on pork, etc. Be generous. It will stay on the meat using the system I am describing.

We use a deep flat pan, 15 inches long, and put water in it ... almost full of water if it is a big meat such as a big turkey, less than half full if it is only a 1.5 lb to 2 lb loin. The juices from the meat will fall into the pan and the mixture will make wonderful gravy base. The water will, of course, steam off over time and you want to avoid letting the pan run dry. But you do not want too much water or your gravy base will be too watery.

The water moisturizes the meat during smoking and, very importantly, helps keep the meat temperature down, so that the smoking time is increased. With longer smoking times you get increased smoke/barbeque flavor. A 2 lb loin cooked well done in, say, 35 minutes, is not going to have the flavor of one cooked to the same doneness in 2 hours.

Put a meat rack (a wire grill on legs) in the pan to support the meat out of the water. Wrap the meat loosely in aluminum foil. This will MAGICALLY prevent the meat from getting too black on the outside. The foil gets carbonized coating but your meat just cooks/smokes to a beautiful color.

Use LOTS of wood that has been soaked in water for at least an hour. Any reasonable wood will work fine. You do NOT have to buy mesquite or apple wood chips. Nothing wrong with them but I also use chips and chunks that I cut from a fallen pear tree. We use a cast iron wood box that we place on the lava rocks, but we supplement that with more well-soaked wood chunks or fine pieces wrapped in aluminum foil. The result is the same. After you finish smoking the charcoal from wood in the cast-iron box is identical to the charcoal from the aluminum wrap. There is a temptation to toss in soaked chunks without wrapping them and that is OK until you lift the cover to check the temperature of your meat at which point it probalby will flare up as a fire.

Just put the smoker's wire grill on the base unit, put the pan of water and meat (on the meat rack) on the grill, add the domed cover, plug in the Brinkmann and check the internal temperature of your meat with a meat thermometer. Go by the many published tables of recommended internal temps for meats and seafood. Smoke pork until it is tender (155 - 160 degrees). The water and the aluminum foil will keep it moist. Listen to the cook in your family regarding internal temperatures and cooking times.

This smoker makes food taste great and is so easy to use. This smaller size is perfect if you don't want to have another full sized grill in your collection and it holds almost as much food as the big ones. Electric smoking is the way to go because it doesn't add any charcoal or gas taste to the food. The steam makes everything moist and tender. This is a great smoker for the price.

My smoker, received as a wedding gift in 1992, looks exactly like this, thus my review here even though my smoker model ends with a C. We have been very pleased with this smoker over the years. It has turned out succulent smoked turkey, chicken, fish, and pork roasts. Sadly, this morning, as I proceeded to smoke a brined turkey, the plug kept tripping the breaker. I think that may be salt related as we've been near the ocean the last two years. I cannot complain. We got our use out of it and I would replace it with the same one if Brinkmann cannot sell me a replacement heating element first, as the rest of the smoker is still in good condition. I actually prefer smoking over grilling because my food does not ignite.

I'm very happy with my new Brinkmann Smoke 'N Grill Electric Smoker and Grill. It was easy to put together with a screwdriver and a pair of pliers, and we've now enjoyed two great dinners, one featuring chicken and sausages and the other consisting of sirloin tip roast. The smoker dismantles easily for cleaning, though the parts are a bit large and unwieldy for the kitchen sink. It's exactly what I was expecting, though, and I feel it's a fine product.

We have owned about 4-5 of these. We like the low profile ones the best. My husband says they cook better. Had two going this weekend for BBQ.

We've been using a Brinkmann charcoal smoker for years and have loved the results. But it's rusting and needed to be replaced. We took a chance with this electric one and are glad we did. It's so much easier. It would take quite a while to get the charcoal started. Then, placing the water pan and racks of food over hot charcoals was a chore. Now, we place the water pan, wood chunks and food racks and just plug it in. While the salmon we usually make tasted a little different without the charcoal, the wood helped and it was still delicious. It's also faster, easier to clean up and, of course, no fumes from charcoal starter. When I say Great little smoker, I'm noting the overall size- it's much shorter than the old charcoal smoker. But the cooking area is the same. Overall, I would recommend this smoker.

I bought the Brinkmann 810-5290-4 Smoke'N Grill Electric Smoker because of the size and
knowing I would be making modifications to it.
It's advertised to hold a 250 degree temperature, mine holds at 287 degrees and way too
high of a temperature to smoke meat.
So I replaced the heating element with the Old Smokey 1250W Electric Smoker Heating Element
and the matching Thermostat & Cord. You can get these from Amazon.
I can now regulate the smoker temperature from 100 to 226 degrees by dialing the thermostat,
perfect for smoking and the steam makes everything moist and tender.
I also installed a accurate thermometer in the smoker lid. Both modifications took only 30 minutes to do.
The smoker is well built and does a great job smoking and a perfect size for my needs.
I would recommend this smoker if you are willing to do the modifications, without them this
smoker is useless as far as smoking at low temperatures. The temperatures for smoking is
100 - 225 degrees and these modifications will let you keep these temperatures.
With this electric water smoker you will end up with the best tasting moist and tender meat
without the taste of charcoal or gas in your food, no messing with dirty charcoal and running to
the store for charcoal or gas, just turn on the thermostat and you have clean burning smoker,
just add your favorite wood to flavor your meat, I use mostly use apple or pecan wood.
I give this 5 stars after modifications and 3 stars without modifications.

I love this litte smoker. Forget about the big bulky smokers, this little dude will do the trick. I highly recommend it due to it being electric. You don't have to worry about the temperature not being high enough. Just add some smoking chips, water, and whatever you are going to cook, plug it in and you are smokin'! Great flavor to whatever you like to smoke. I like baby back ribs the best!

We ordered this Brinkman Electric Smoker from Amazon because I could never get it right with briquetts.It arrived promptly and works great. Did chicken for Easter and it was wonderful.

I got this item for my husband for Christmas, and I don't know much about these things, but after many of hours of research this was the most bang for the buck. I was easy for him to assemble (less then an hour). It is compact (fits under our grill for storage). We have gotten it to 325 degrees without water, but it could use a thermoater (we had to go buy one to go in it) and he doesn't like the fact you can not control the temperature it is either on or off. But he used it the other day and was just beaming so overall a good buy.