I have found a used commercial refrigerator that looks like it has stainless or aluminum inside. The refrigeration unit on top can be removed. Would this work to build my electric smoker out of or does the inside have to be stainless.
I am getting real close to smoking meat in my newly homade smoker,1st thing I stripped it of all plastic inside like the plastic shelving in the door and the plastic transition between the cold box and the outer skin.It was all replaced with metal I removed from an old junk fridge I found at a local appliance store and pop riveted into place.The old seal was removed with the plastic and replace with a heatproof gasket rope material used in wood burner doors.The door had to be repositioned due to all the plastic and rubber seal removal.The electric heating element was junked out of an indoor BBQ I purchased at a local junk store,I just cut a big enough hole in the bottom back of fridge floor that the electric receiving end would fit out thru,the BBQ element controller would plug into element from rear underside of fridge and set to broil,then wired it to an old oven controllor that was inserted thru a drilled hole to insert the temp indicater probe for the controller.I used a 3" exhaust pipe with weather cap for smoke exit,racks are soon to be installed ,Had temps as high as 280F,Lets hope it works
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Commercial Frig Smoker by: Wallace
We took a double door commercial refrigerator, removed the compressor from the bottom of the unit, replaced plastic door insulation with "stove rope", use bottom of hot water heater for internal charcoal bin, added an air inlet into this fire chamber, and outlet at top. Nice thing is with 25# pounds of charcoal we can cook 100# ribs, 50# chicken, & 20# sausage in one cooking. Time has necessitated some improvements, but this a fun way to cook for a crowd. After this meat is pulled off we still have fire in the hole for another 50# of butts.
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refrigerator smoker by: Anonymous
The refrigerator doesn't have to be stainless inside, but it does have to be metal. The older fridges that have porcelain coated metal liners are good, too.
Newer refrigerators might have styrofoam insulation, which could release fumes when heated to higher smoker temps. The older ones insulated with fiberglass are a better type to use. Also, be sure that no plastic parts are left inside the fridge.
Metal racks in refrigerators might well be galvanized with zinc, or other metals that could also release toxic fumes when heated. Best to rig up a way to use actual grill or smoker racks for safety's sake.
