My New Masterbuilt 560 Gravity Feed

[rexster314]

Today I was sitting nonchalantly at my computer and my wife came in and asked me "do you want that smoker?" I had posted a picture of the new MB on Facebook a day or two ago and said it looked interesting.

Any way, we danced around it a couple of minutes, telling her it was 500 bucks and all. She told me why don't you get it? HOLY CRAP!! I checked on Walmart site and a local store had one in stock! Bought it on the spot and about an hour later I got the email saying it was ready to be picked up at the store.

Drove down, got it loaded in the Expedition and I was homeward bound.

Got it unloaded by myself (carefully) and began unboxing. I would like to meet the guy who computer designed the packing method at MB. Wow!

Got everything separated and all parts laid down on my deck. I started timing the operation when I put the first screw in the hold. Someone mentioned on a forum the assembly manual. It's mostly pictures and fairly easy to follow. With a few 10 minute breaks, I was finished in 2 hours. The worst part is starting the mounting screws for the lid handle. Mostly a blind operation and if you drop a screw in between the walls of the lid, you're pretty much out of luck getting it out. And, I did. It must be jammed somehow, cause it's not rattling. Maybe I'll get a magnet from Harbor Freight and try to get it, but it's ok if I don't.

After dinner, I got back at it to do the initial burn in and pair the cooker with my phone's MB app. Everything went good, haven't got a wi-fi connection yet, but the bluetooth connection is solid. Tomorrow I'll fiddle with the wi-fi again.

I'm probably ordering the cover for it tomorrow. I plan to do a couple racks of ribs and maybe some bbq beans tomorrow for a shakedown cook and have a 18 pound brisket waiting for me to have time to put it on.

A big, huge thanks to my wife for letting me indulge my hobby

[rwalters]

Congrats and what a nice thing for your wife to “twist your arm” on... sounds like she really had to twist hard... lol. Let’s see some pics

[ronman451]

Congrats! Looking forward to some pics and a cook or two!

[RAD]

It's been a few months since you posted. How have you like the smoker? I've been thinking about getting this.

[rexster314]

LOL
I loved the 560 so much, I bought a 1050 to keep it company on the deck

[RAD]

LOL
I loved the 560 so much, I bought a 1050 to keep it company on the deck

Thanks. I was thinking abut getting a pellet smoker until I saw this post. I think I am going to get the MS 560 now.

[pmillen]

Thanks. I was thinking abut getting a pellet smoker until I saw this post. I think I am going to get the MS 560 now.

Rad, for me, the MasterBuilt Gravity line (they have 3 sizes now) is a pellet pit killer.  I had what I consider to be one of the top three pellet pits for seven years.  There were some inherent things about it that annoyed me but I loved to convenience–

• The smoke taste.  It could make plenty of smoke at any temperature but it was a taste different from what I wanted.
• It required a fan blowing into the fire pot to maintain the fire.  The fan blew ashes and pellet dust into the cooking area and on my food.
• Every bag of pellets had copious wood dust.  I grew tired of cleaning my pellets before using them.
• The direct flame area didn't produce the kind of grilled flavor we wanted.  We continued to grill over charcoal.

You can see by my signature line that the pellet pit was replaced by the Masterbuilt Gravity unit.  I have never regretted the change.

[bamabob]

You can see by my signature line that the pellet pit was replaced by the Masterbuilt Gravity unit.  I have never regretted the change.

Looks like you've got a good variety of smokers there plus experience with a few you no longer have.  If you had to pick one as a keeper which one would it be?  I'm talking mainly for brisket, butts and ribs.

[RAD]

I have done a butt, BB Ribs, a reverse sear steak, and chicken breast. Everything came out great with the exception of the breasts (My Fault). This is an amazing cooker.

[Jaxon]

I can really tell a difference in the food I cook now on the MB 560...definitely mo' better.

[pmillen]

If you had to pick one as a keeper which one would it be?  I'm talking mainly for brisket, butts and ribs.

As a smoker—the Karubecue C-60 without a moment's hesitation.  I'd still have my PK for grilling.

If I had to select one of the bunch and forego all of the others, I'd retain the Masterbuilt Gravity unit.  It grills, smokes and bakes.

[pmillen]

I have done a butt, BB Ribs, a reverse sear steak, and chicken breast. Everything came out great with the exception of the breasts (My Fault). This is an amazing cooker.

My apology, Rad.  I didn't know that you had made the purchase.  I was preaching to the choir.