Rory O'Connell

If you are looking to buy the best electric smoker, what are the features you need to consider? Well, for starters, you are not going to get a premium quality model. But when you do your home work well, you will surely get a product that is equally as good as the highly expensive ones.

So, what makes an affordable but top quality model?

Heating element

Just as the charcoal smoker has charcoal as their heating element, electric smokers and griddles have watts. Normally, you should be looking at between 1000 and 1200 watts if you want a top quality product that will do a great job for you.

Temperature range

The best electric smokers usually have different temperature ranges. This will help users easily prepare different types of meals at different temperature. Some come with a wide range of settings not just for a particular meal. You should settle for an electric smoker that gives you the ability to prepare pork, beef, poultry, and salmon.

Meat probe

This is the type of thermometer that is normally placed in the meat for temperature reading. With this meat probe, you can effectively monitor the meat’s temperature without opening the smoker. The right electric smoker should have a properly functioning meat probe.

Thermometer

This is also used to monitor temperature, but this time not for the meat. It is important to keep the temperature of your smoker in the right balance when cooking a particular type of meal. A thermometer will help you achieve that.  The best electric smoker under 300 should have a proper functioning thermometer. If the thermometer fluctuates, then you will have fake readings, which will affect food.

Cleaning and maintenance

To help with better maintenance, an electric smoker should have a water pan, grease pan, and drip pan. With woodchip trays and water pan, your cleaning will be a lot less stressful. This will be added benefit if you are worried about making a mess after cooking.

Display

As an electric smoker, there should be some digital display unit that lets you read the temperature correctly. Most top quality electric smokers come with LED light on their digital control system. This is for more convenience when using your electric smoker.

Warranty

For an electric smoker to be considered top quality, there should be some form of warranty from the manufacturer. When you are buying an electric smoker, make sure the model has at least 1 year product warranty. This will be an assurance from the company that their product is consistent and durable.

Overall, if you are looking to buy the best electric smoker under 300, you will have lots of options. But make sure you bear the above things in mind before making your decision.

If you are on a budget and want to buy the best electric smoker under 200, you can make a good choice if you consider your options very well. It is true you will have limited options when it comes to selecting a quality product. But there are ways to go about your decision making that will favor you. Below are some tips for choosing the right electric smoker when you are on a budget.

Consider the portability

Obviously, size plays a very important role in determining the price of the electric smoker. If you don’t have a large family to feed, there is no point choosing a Godzilla size of electric smoker. Keep it portable. As long as the smoker has the essential things you need, you are good to go.

Consider the electronics

For electric smokers, more features usually mean higher price. But there are important features you simply cannot do without. For instance, some electric smokers have Rheostats while others come with thermostats. For more accurate readings, thermostat will be more ideal. This is even more important if you are still new to the world of BBQ smoking. Select a smoker with accurate reading thermostat. It will help you prepare the best BBQ meals.

Does brand matter?

Some electric smoker brands tend to be more expensive than the others, even though they share similar features. When you are selecting the best electric smoker under 200, do not place much emphasis on brands. Instead, look at their individual features and make sure they have the features you need.

Racks and trays

If racks and trays are important to you, check them out as well. Some models have more space for meat cuts. Look at this section if you intend to smoke more than one type of meat at the same time. Some smokers give users this opportunity. They can cut different sizes of meat and smoke in different racks. If you will need this feature at some point, it’s better to buy the electric smoker with such feature.

Finally, carry out a proper research

Since you are looking for the best affordable electric smoker option, you don’t need to make rash decisions. Otherwise, you may end up with something you will regret later. Carry out your own research and look at unbiased reviews of different products. From the information you’ve gathered, you will be able to make an informed decision.

Having spent more than twenty years cooking in the world’s finest kitchens, Rory O’Connell is uniquely equipped to share his expertise and knowledge with others.

Rory trained at Ballymaloe House with Myrtle Allen, the grand-dame of Irish country house cooking. He then left East Cork for Paris, where he worked as part of the team charged with establishing the French outpost of Ballymaloe, La Ferme Irlandaise.

On his return to Ireland, he began working with the Ryan brothers at the acclaimed Arbutus Lodge in Cork City, where he continued to expand his epicurean repertoire.

The urge to educate not just diners in the delights of great food but to share his skills with others lead him to found the Ballymaloe Cookery School with his sister, Darina Allen. The success of the school was widely publicised leading to Rory being called upon to style cookery books, TV shows and contribute to various international food publications. During this period, Rory worked with Nico Ladenis at Chez Nico, London and Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons in Oxford.

His work has not soley been confided to the classroom or kitchen, being asked to act as a food ambassador for Ireland on many occassions. Rory has addressed both the hospitality and tourism industry at home and abroad in countries as diverse as Greece, South Africa, Italy, Denmark and Britain.

In 1994, he returned to Ballymaloe House to begin a ten year tenure as Head Chef of the restaurant, a stay that won him much praise from patrons and peers alike. Including Hilary Rubenstein at The Good Food Guide remarking that Myrtle Allen was the original cook, but Rory O’Connell who wears the torque today is a worthy successor.

An opportunity to work with yet another great saw Rory leaving East Cork for Berkeley, California to join Alice Waters at Chez Panisse, a restaurant with a philosophy based on the strength of ingredients and cooking techniques that Rory both admired and already practised through his continued involvment with Slow Food Ireland.

Today however he can be found teaching at the Ballymaloe Cookery School while consulting for other restaurants throughout the country. His reputation as a food stylist regularly sees him working on photoshoots with other author’s, publishers and magazines. Rory’s passion for refining not just our palletes but how we prepare and cook food is still his priority. This inspired him to provide a wide range of bespoke cookery classes, catering for all levels and both groups and individuals, at his 18th century farmhouse near Shanagarry, in East Cork.

VCheck out my blog:

www.roryoconnell.blogspot.com

A series of one day intensive

class featuring seasonal dishes suitable for family and friends.

Format of 1 day courses;

Arrival 9 00am/ coffee

Class starts at 9 30am

Mid morning coffee break, 1 pm,lunch.

Short break after lunch.

Afternoon class starts at 2 30pm. Mid afternoon tea break.

Tasting served at end of afternoon class.

Here at Snugborough I also provide a bespoke cookery class service for groups of one to twelve people. The classes are based on the use of top quality ingredients. My focus is to teach people how to cook for themselves, families and friends. Classes are suitable for experienced or beginner cooks. You tell me your requirements and I will provide suggested menus and then we can refine them to suit your needs. Classes can follow several formats: a morning class with lunch, an all day class with lunch and supper, a weekend class with lunches and suppers or an afternoon class followed by supper.

I aim to inspire both learners and the jaded longtime cook.

The atmosphere is relaxed and civilized but focused on imparting as much information as possible during the classes.

– Bespoke Cooking Classes

– Food Styling

– Photo shoot Location

– Filming Location

– Special Parties

– Hen(party)Demos!

– Corporate Groups

Cooking Classes with Rory O Connell at Snugborough, 2013

• 1 Day Spring Cooking Class, Friday February 22nd
• 1 Day Summer Cooking Class, Friday May 24th
• 1 Day Cooking Class, “Master it – How to cook today”, Friday June 21st
• 1 Day Cooking Class, “Master it – How to cook today”, Friday September 27th
• 1 Day Festive Winter Cooking Class, Friday November 22nd

Format for 1 Day Cooking classes at Snugborough

The day begins with a welcome and coffee at 9am.

The morning demonstration class commences at 9 30am. The morning is broken with a short break at 11am and a seated lunch is served in the dining room at 12 30pm followed by a break.

The afternoon class commences at 2pm, with an afternoon tea break at 3 30pm and finally an informal tasting of the afternoon dishes at the end of the demonstration at around 5pm.

The classes are intensive and fun and focused on imparting as much knowledge of food and cooking techniques as possible. The aim is to teach dishes that are smart, seasonal, realistic and delicious and that are suitable for serving at home to both family and friends.

Folders with all of the days recipes and information are provided for all guests.

The cost of a 1Day Cooking Class is 250e.