Product Description

For Outdoor Use Only! -Stainless steel hood and body -UL-listed, 1650-watt heating element (Canada: 1500-watt,CUL-listed heating element) plugs into standard household outlet. Requires minimum of 15 amps. -Removable thermostat control with low-medium-high setting -351 square inches of usable cooking surface -Two nickel-plated cooking grids with handles for two-level cooking -Porcelainized, 5-1/2 quart water pan -Sliding access doors for checking and adding to the water levels. This item may take approx. 2-3 weeks to ship.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11305 in Lawn & Patio
• Color: Stainless
• Brand: Meco Grills
• Model: 5029P2-911
• Dimensions: 18.50" h x 18.50" w x 18.50" l,

Features

• Electric Water Smoker
• 1650 Watt Heating Element
• Removable Thermostat
• Heat Resistant Wood side and Hood Handles
• 351 Square Inches of Cooking Surface

From the Manufacturer
Stainless Electric Water Smoker, Two 15.5 Daimeter Grids, Built-in Heat Indicator With Two Acess Doors

Customer Reviews

Assembling the unit was an interesting challenge
First off, I bought my Meco 5029 from another vendor, but because I'm an Amazon Prime customer, I wanted to relay my experience here.

This is my 4th water smoker. The previous three were the painted variety and rusted apart. That was my justification for spending three times as much on this stainless model.

I received the unit yesterday. It arrived in perfect shape - no dents or scratches.

If you like an installation challenge; like drilling-out misplaced rivets, adding screws where rivets should have been, and trying to locate part #23 when they really meant part #18, then you'll love this chore.

Also, the instructions say to install the handles with the Meco logo up, but no logo was found. (Not really a big deal, just humorous.)

Here's an interesting manufacturing technique used.....the sliding front door is held in place by loose rivets - an interesting technique that does not provide a tight seal. I estimate there are 3/16" gaps in four places where the sliding door should be tight. I haven't used the smoker yet, but I'm going to lose a lot of heat and smoke through those gaps. And unfortunately I can't press the metal door into place, it just springs back.

Also, the cooking grates have nice handles on them, but getting the bottom grate in place requires some maneuvering, because the screws provided to attach the grate support brackets extend about 1/2" over the grate. Installing or removing the grate requires some twisting and adjusting. I cannot imagine trying to remove the grate with a pork shoulder on top. (Next time I have the unit apart I'll cut-off those long screw ends.)

Based on the design and manufacturing missteps, I rate this unit 3 stars. (And like I said, I haven't even used it yet.)

Good, but...
This pulls some serious electricity -- it runs off a 1000-plus-watt element -- and in my house, it causes breakers to switch off. I eventually converted this to a charcoal smoker (Meco sells a kit to do this). This really shouldn't be a problem in newer houses.

At this price, though, I'd have to look hard at a Weber Smoky Mountain cooker. It's not stainless but it is enameled steel and it comes with a cover -- it should last for years and years, if not decades and decades. It also has superior heat control (this Meco unit, like many water smokers, has no controllable vents). I've made some very good BBQ with this Meco but it does require a lot more attention than my Smoky Mountain. I use this at big BBQs when I often will fire up this, plus a Weber, plus a big barrel grill.

Leaks like a sieve
Got this smoker as a gift. Looks very attractive but isn't very well-built. Lid is ill-fitting and smoke leaks out easily, which is particularly bad because it's an electric smoker and you need the smoke from the wood chunks to hang around. Also uses so much power that it kicks out my circuit breakers.