Imagine having a smoker on your deck or in the garden cooking moist, delicious meat – and serving juicy pieces to your friends and family during Sunday brunch.
So, you have been suppressing your outdoor grill fantasy because you don’t have enough space. But who said you couldn’t have a smoker in the house if you don’t have an enormous deck or backyard?
The Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain Cooker is a 14.5 smoker that’s designed to grant the wishes of a smoking enthusiast with a small space. But besides the fact that it’s space-saving, is it any good?
After hearing some mixed reviews of the unit, I decided to try it myself to see how much of it is right. Here’s my Weber 14 inch smoker review to help you!
| Product | Weber 14-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker |
| Color | Black |
| Material | Steel |
| Power Source | Charcoal |
An Overview
The Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain Cooker is a range of smoking units, with the smallest of the range being 14.5 inches. What I love about this cooker is that it’s powered by charcoal to give you the perfect smoked meat every time, with the unbeatable flavor of charcoal.
The cooker is designed to be space-effective, as it’s a compact vertical smoker that can fit anywhere. I also love to take it with me on camping trips.
However, don’t judge the smoker by its size. It packs all the cool features you need to get a nice piece of meat smoked to perfection on charcoal.
It’s an excellent device for amateur smokers who don’t have to worry about cooking enormous chunks of flat briskets. It also has a sophisticated look – something that I always expect from Weber.
If you have any idea about grilling and smoking, you don’t need to be introduced to Weber. It is one of the most reliable brands in the world of outdoor cookers.
The company has been around for 50 years now, winning hearts with its cooking devices and accessories. Even the smallest of its cookers comes with its own set of attractive features.
Features that Stood Out:
- Smoker powered by charcoal for a rich taste and aroma
- A versatile smoking device that can be used for grilling
- 14-inch grill better at handling taller meat pieces instead of large, flat briskets
- Dimension of main grilling area: 13.5” x 13.5” (143 sq.in.)
- The package includes a cover for the smoker
Also Read:
Who is this Product for?
The Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain Cooker is designed for every amateur smoker. It’s a no-frills device with straightforward usage to serve delicious food for your family or friends.
- Family
If you’re the family guy with a passion for smoking and grilling, this little Weber guy is your friend. It’s compact, but it’s more than enough to handle the meat needs of your family and friends.
- Hiking Trip
If there’s anything that can make hiking trips better, it’s nicely smoked meat. The Weber smoker has the ideal size to carry with you on trips.
To put it simply, this product is compact, lightweight, and surprisingly accommodative of large quantities of meat. Though it may not be possible to smoke a huge, flat chunk of beef, it’s still more than what you could ask for to perfect your smoking skills and feed the people in your deck on a Sunday afternoon.
Key Features and Benefits of the Product
Let’s take a look at the features of the Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain Cooker.
Product’s Performance
What stands out for me is how this smoker packs several attractive features in the smallest cooker of the range. After all, it’s only 14.5 inches.
a) Compact Smoker for Small Spaces
If you have a small porch or deck and still want to smoke meat for the family, this is an excellent device for you. It’s a small vertical smoker that will fit anywhere, and can even be carried around for trips and competitions.
b) Built-in Thermometer
Monitoring the temperature becomes easy with the help of the thermometer on the lid. However, I have to add here that the thermometer is not going to show you the temperature with complete accuracy, and you need to be careful while grilling.
c) Silicone Grommet
To make the job of monitoring the temperature of the meat easier, the unit is equipped with a grommet. Just reach into the smoker with a probe and check the meat.
d) Water Pan
Like all good smokers, this one, too, comes with a water pan so that there’s sufficient moisture inside while the meat gets smoked. The water pan is porcelain-enameled for durability.
e) Rust-Resistant Door
What I like about the door of the smoker is that it’s rust-resistant, and it not only allows easy loading of fuel but also helps to control airflow during smoking, thanks to the air dampers. What I don’t like is that it’s slightly on the leaky side (all Weber smokers) and could do with a better seal.
Design
The Weber smoker is the smallest of the lot. It’s a compact smoker that you can add to your small patio or deck.
The cooking surface is better suited to handle thick pieces of meat, like pork or chicken, instead of a large slab of brisket. It comes with all the tools and accessories needed for it to become an attractive addition to your house, including a water pan, bowl, and built-in thermometer on the lid.
Material
It has a sturdy body made of steel and is coated with black enamel to create the signature chic look of Weber cookers.
The door is made of aluminum, though it could do with a better seal. The smoker is equipped with a silicone grommet and chrome-coated grates.
Set-Up Process
To begin the set-up process, start by seasoning the smoker. Fill an aluminum foil on the pan with briquettes and let the smoker heat up to 350° F.
Make sure that the pan does not have any water in it when you do this. Once done, remove the ash or any residual debris.
Next, fill one half of the basket with some unlit briquettes and the remaining half with lit briquettes. Then let it all burn at 275° F for around 5 hours.
Here’s a trick to generate grease: add a few pieces of meat scraps that you’ll not eat, along with a few large wood chunks. Repeat this twice – and your Weber smoker is ready to cook for the first time.
Here’s something I like to do: to avoid cleaning the water pan, place aluminum foil above it. But this will only work after seasoning the smoker.
Smoking Set-up
This smoking device is designed to handle charcoal and briquettes with equal efficiency. You can even control the temperature based on the fuel you use.
To bring the temperature down, use soaked wood pellets, and limit the inflow of the air. On the other hand, to raise it to the maximum level, add coal, and allow the maximum air to flow in.
Heating Capacity
The temperature range of the smoker might surprise you. It can go between 180 F and 400 F, if you know how to use it right.
Check out these top smokers for beginners if you’re still deciding what smoker suits you.
How To Clean
If there’s one downside to this cooker, it’s the cleaning part. You have to reach down to scoop out the ash from the bottom of the cooker.
The grates of the smoker, covered in chrome, tend to be sticky. It’s usually not a problem, but be careful not to put in too much elbow grease while cleaning any stubborn marinade.
To maintain the smoker, you can burn off the buildup on the grates and brush them down. Using a barbeque cleaner, clean the enamel and the parts on the outside.
Final Words
The 14.5-inch Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain Cooker is a charcoal-powered smoker, designed for small spaces so you can set it on your deck or patio easily, or carry it around for camping trips.
It is sufficient for an amateur smoker who wants to cook for friends and family.
It’s not exactly for professional use, and I wish it had the capacity to smoke a huge and flat brisket. But it’s still great at cooking all kinds of meat.
Granted, it comes with its flaws. But if you’re looking for a smoker that will let you share the joy of charcoal-smoked food with those you love, the fuss-free cooker from the house of Weber is a stand-up guy.
Related Articles:
