Hopefully I can help you out a bit since I cook outside at least 3-5 times a week.
Gas grills are for grilling during the work week, IMHO when you are pressed for time. Go turn a knob, press a button and poof you have fire. Makes life easy after you work all day and want to grill something quickly. I have a nice one and that is exactly what I use it for.
I don't recommend trying to do an indirect smoke on them, as you waste too much gas and you don't seem to ever get enough smoke flavor. Keep in mind to properly smoke food, you need to let it go low and slow for hours at the time
Wal Mart and just about everyone sells a barrel type smoker with the fire box on the side. They can be had for around $150 or less depending on size. I have the large because I usually do 20 or more pounds of meat at the time.
Learn to build a nice little fire in the fire box, with a little light smoke, keep the barrel ambient temp at 225-250 and you will wish you had gotten a smoker earlier. I smoke large quantities of meat at tthe time, then vacuum seal it after it is cooled( A food saver is another item every hunter and fisherman should have). SOme folks have the "R2-d2" shaped type smokers. Never used one so I cannot comment on them
Grinders:
Another item every hunter should own. First thing first, you do not want a hand crank grinder. Trust me...They are too much work and you can get an electric for not too much more. I have a higher end food processor, and cannot imagine what meat would look like after going thru that thing.
I have the basic model from Cabela's(the one they sell for like $119). Just last weekend I did 40 pounds of venison burger. I grinded the meat and my mom stuffed the bags, and it took us just under 1.5 hours. For the average hunter who is gonna do 1-3 animals a year, that is all you need.
Most grinders come with a sausage stuffing tube. I can tell you trying to do sausage by yourself is a PIA. First off, you have to buy the casings which have become expensive as of late. Secondly, it is a 2-man job. One person to put the casings on the stuffer, and twist them as they come off the grinder, and another person to feed the grinder. Now I just let my local processor do sausage than try to do it myself
Hope this gives you some ideas. Not sure how much you want to spend, but you can have a nice smoker and a grinder for less than $300. Of course if you want to go all out, you can get a Big Green Egg for around $700 :chef
I recently bought one of R2D2 looking Charbroil units from a guy via Craigslist for $40. It's an electric model, only been used a couple of times. His neighbor got divorced and was leaving town, and gave it to him, but he had no interest in it. I'm looking forward to putting it to use soon.
I bought a cheap electric grinder from Harbor Freight a couple years ago. Took forever to grind about 20 pounds of burger. Kept binding up on just a small amount of sinew or if the chunks weren't cut small enough. Finally smoked the motor and threw it out. Just a piece of she-ite, to be honest. Ended up using a borrowed hand grinder to do the last 15 pounds, and did it in 1/4 of the time it took to do that first 20 pounds. But it also showed me that a manual ain't the way to go, either! So if I ever get to where I want to process my own burger again, I'll be spending the money to get a decent grinder with some power to it!
Good posts guys, thank you.
Yes, I've heard that the grinder with the sausage attachment is tough to master without a second person there. That is why I was considering a manual stuffer from LEM. That way you can slow down or stop the meat going into the casing at your leisure to tend to the links already stuffed. But, you'd have to buy a separate grinder ( or use the food processor...which was mentioned might not be the best idea ).
Good info Iluv2hunt. I see what your saying about the smoker. I've done ribs, chicken and turkey breasts with indirect heat in my gas grill (without wood) but those were 1.5 hour max cook times. Longer cook items like a brisket, etc. would have me filling my tanks all the time. I never thought of that.
Thanks!!
Ok there is my 2cents.
I also use a gas grill for the quick and easy weekdays after a long day of work. I also have a weber charcoal grill I use on the weekends.
Now to the smoker. I have had a few different type. I have had the barrel style with the smoke box on the side and I have also had the stand up style. I now have a propane smoker and I would not trade it for anything. By far it is the best I have used.
:toast and just keep on grilling and trying new things.
