With a Husband obsessed with fire, there is a lot of grilling going on around here, nearly all year long. Grilled Corn on the Cob, Steak Tacos, and Grilled Peaches are favorites in this family, but with the Husband’s newest toy, we’re falling in love with a new gastronomic delight: smoked meat from the Masterbuilt Electric Digital 40″ Smokehouse.
Ok, now I’m sure some could argue I love the smoker simply because it puts a fair amount of cooking responsibilities in the hands of my Husband, giving me some time to put my feet up. But, nope, I just love, love, love the flavor this smoker infuses into ribs and chicken as they cook. It’s flat. out. amazing.
The 40 inch Electric Digital Smoker came with some assembly required, but the humble screwdriver was all the Husband needed to set up everything from the cooking racks to the wheels (which conveniently let the smoker be easily moved when you are ready to cook).
Since that first weekend, we have set out country style pork ribs, chicken thighs and quarters, and even corn on the cob, experimenting with the smoker and with recipes from the “Dadgum, That’s Good Too!” cookbook, written by the Masterbuilt CEO, John McLemore.
Today, the Husband spent 40 minutes on YouTube, watching various methods for smoking cheese. It seems that is his next project!! I do believe he’s hooked.
What the Husband Likes About the Masterbuilt 40″ Smoker
- The tube used for the wood chips can be accessed without opening the main door (and potentially losing heat/smoke buildup within the cooking area).
- It only requires a very small about of chips. Very, very cheap in terms of wood chip usage!
- Since it is electric, it heats and cooks quickly, and you never have to worry about maintaining a specific temp. It handles all of that.
- It’s easy to take apart the racks and other elements for cleaning after cooking.
- The size — it’s big enough for whole briskets, whole chickens and turkeys, even combination cooking such as “Oink and Gobble” (a ham and turkey, cooked simultaneously)
- The food! The smoke flavor is amazing.
- The remote control: it allows one to sit inside and control the cooking temperature, read the meat thermometer, etc. “I never have to go outside till the food is done!”, he says.
His One (and Only) Dislike
- Because it is an electric smoker, he doesn’t feel comfortable leaving it outside with our grill. He wheels it back and forth from our garage to the deck, ensuring it stays protected when not in use.
The 40″ Electric Smokehouse can be purchased for $499.99 from Masterbuilt or from Amazon
The Dadgum, That’s Good Too! Cookbook
As novices in the smoked food world, I have been so grateful we (well, the Husband) have had John McLemore’s newest cookbook, “Dadgum, That’s Good Too!“, to use as reference. It’s become ear-marked with our “We Have Got To Try These” recipes, and the book now naturally opens to the pages that explain the basic and list cooking times for just about every kind of protein.
Now, about those recipes …
Are you a fan of good ol’ Southern cooking? Then this cookbook will fit your palate. It actually is more than just a book of smoked recipes; there is a section for fried foods and grilled.
Here are some of the family-friendly recipes we can’t wait to try:
- Nancy’s Smoked Mac & Cheese
- Smoked Whole Chicken (I have a chicken waiting in my freezer for this one!)
- Smoked Corn Casserole
- Lynne’s Apple Fritters
- Don’s Coconut Shrimp
- J-Mac’s Fried Ravioli
- Grilled Pita with Judge Jeanine’s Hummus
- Grilled Fruit Kabobs
- Grilled Salsa
Wanna Beef Up Your Cookbook Collection? {cookbook giveaway}
I have a copy of John’s cookbook to send to one of my readers! It would be a fantastic addition for anyone who enjoys summertime cooking outdoors (whether with a smoker or a grill), or for a Father’s Day present (yup, that’s around the corner).
How To Enter:
Leave a single comment below, answering the following question:
What’s your favorite meal to prepare on the grill or in a smoker?
Bonus Entries
Any of the following options may be completed for extra entries into the giveaway. These additional entries are completely optional and not required. Please leave a separate comment for any completed extra entry.
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This giveaway will end June 7th at 10 am, CMT. The randomly selected winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours, from the time I send the email, to confirm his/her win by email. Giveaway open to U.S. residents.
I received these products in order to facilitate my review and giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
