Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

I have so trusted the results for cooking Turkey, that I have prepared Thanksgiving four times including several other large gatherings during the year. Perfect everytime. Caution, alert the other cooks for T-Day what time you will be done. They never believe you and ask for more. Do not overcook, use exactly (7 mins/lb). Cooking longer doesn't effect the taste but the bird falls apart when removing if you add 10 mins for example.
Yes the skin never gets crispy but most crowds are now phobic about fatty parts.
Ribs are equally great and I even did a duck. I gave away the duck fat to a skilled cook who thought and rated it golden.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

I have had my cooker for a little over a year now and I just keep finding things to cook in it...It never ceases to amaze me! It is a great excuse to sit in the back yard drinking a beer and watching it cook itself.
I noticed a lot of comments about the drip pan and I wanted to add my two cents. If you cross the handles in an "X" pattern, it makes picking it up a lot easier...much more stable. You will have to press down the bottom grate because the handles will hit it when they are crossed, but they move out of the way pretty easy.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

This is as simple as it gets! If you can't make great smoked food with the Orion Smoker, you just need to eat out!

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

The Orion Cooker REALLY DOES cook as fast as it says on the information with outstanding (and tasty!) results. It is fantastic!

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

First of all the box arrived with hardly a scratch. Grats to the Ace shipper. The cooker is absolutely beautiful. The fit of every part is perfect with no need for any "field adjustments." Although I have only cooked 2 chickens, which were cooked to perfection ,I can see nothing but great morsels of tenderness coming out of this cooker. My next attempt will be a fresh(never frozen)turkey,which is my specialty. I have smoked as many 4 in one day ,with one family having a permanant order for 2 for Thanksgiving whether I can make dinner or not. Some one from the family has come to pick them up. I will be happy to keep you posted concerning my progress.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

Follow the directions and times and you can't miss.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

The meat I prepared in the cooker was very tender, and took very little time to cook. Clean up is a breeze.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

Very easy to set up and use. Made of stainless steel. Cooks like a convection oven. The food comes out juicy if you follow the time frame included with the cooker. Also has a great web-site with many helpful hints from other Orion cooker owners. No complaints.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

This is the microwave of smokers, and I don't mean that in a negative sense. The product quality to cook time ratio just cannot be beat. As others have noted, trust the cooking time guides and you will not be disappointed. Also as noted the cooker/smoker does not sear or crisp the meat. I like to take my ribs out when finished and throw them on the grill for a few minutes a side, particularly if I'm going to add sauce. Works great for everything I've ever tried. My only complaint is with the design of the drip pan and the skimpy handles. If you're doing an item for which you want the drippings (such as a turkey) it's very challenging to retrieve the drip pan from a still very hot cooker without spilling the contents. My neighbor grills a lot, and has an electric smoker, but when he wants to impress guests he borrows my Orion. I love it!

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

Have used the cooker a few times since I received it and I am looking forward to using it many more times. Best ribs and turkey I have ever had.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

The Orion is the best smoker I've ever encountered. It cooks the meat quickly compared to other smokers and the meat comes out great! Very moist, tender and great smoke flavor. I love my Orion cooker!!!

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

This unit worked as advertized the first time I used it. Be aware that the cooking times are critical.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

I broke in this product with four racks of beef ribs. I applied a dry rub to the ribs, set one on the bottom rack curled up, and attached the other three to the racks supplied in the box. Once I set them in there, I lined the outside ring and lid with charcoal, then lit it off. As stated in the instructions, I just let it be for a couple of hours, then took out my perfectly cooked ribs! Thanks go out to the folks at ACE in Hope Mills, NC for treating me like a person when I go to the store too.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

Easily clean.
You will be tempted to open to check the cook time but trust your cooking guide. You can depend on it.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

i have 5 smokers and bbq's this is the one for quick easy smokin. does use alot of charcoal but i built some steel plates that cut the outer ring in half still the same heat and flavor uses only half of the recomended charcoal

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

add the wood,add the meat,start charcoal and forget until cook time is complete

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

hard to get drip pan out with out spilling.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

This is the best smoker I have ever seen. Do just as it says. Load it, Lite it, leave it. Cook for specified time and then remove for a delicious meal. This smoker is so much faster that my previous smoker, and I think it has better flavor too.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

My first attempt at brisket is still receiving comments from friends after 3 years. IT was wonderful, tender, moist and looked perfect. I just read the instructions about how long to cook it, did it and it turned out perfect. Now I cook just about anything I want on this smoker/cooker and it turns out wonderful. I don't use it as a grill. I have a grill for grilling. A small learning curve for your personal likes is all it takes, along with a little desire.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

SIMPLY ADD SEASONED MEATS,WOOD CHIPS TO THE COOKING CHAMBER,CLOSE LID, ADD CHARCOAL TO THE COOKINGS RINGS OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER , AND LIGHT. PAY ATTENTION TO THE COOKING TIMES IN MANUAL. PREPARE YOUR SIDE DISHES, LIBATIONS, AND RELAX. IT'S DONE ON TIME!

THE COALS WILL REMAIN HOT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. LET STAND 48 HOURS BEFORE CLEANING. NEXT BEST THING TO A $3000 P.D.Q.!

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

My husband asked for this smoker for Christmas...we cooked a 12 pound Turkey is just over 2 hours, and it was GREAT!!!
Completely cooked and unbelieveably moist!! I really hit a home run with this gift....

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

I was amazed. When we pulled the turkey from the oven, the meat fell from the bone it was so tender and juicy.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

I use the cooker at least once per week and have great results every time.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

Put your food in the cooker, fire up the charcoal on the outside, and walk away until it's time to take it off. Couldn't be easier! Some people are put off by the fact that Orion recommends Matchlight charcoal, but the meat is cooked inside the steel barrel and the charcoal is on the outside, so there is no taste transfer. The only taste you get is from the wood chips you use inside the barrel.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

Very Simple and QUICK !Lot's of fun to use.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

This smoker reminds me more of a slow cooker than a smoker.
While it does cook very fast and well. It does not finish the meats to a nice crust. It adds a smokey flavor that for us was almost too smokey. We have done chicken, turkey, ribs and a brisket. All were cooked nice and tender. The chicken was browned from the smoke, but the skin was soft and squishy. Yuck! It was almost like it was steamed. There needs to be a way to release the moisture so the meats can brown up.
Overall, we will keep this unit. We are in the market for another smoker that cooks and smokes in a more traditional manner. We don't mind waiting for perfectly cooked food. Guess you can't hurry perfection.
Also, this unit uses a whole bag of charcoal. This can get pretty expense, if you just want to cook a diner for a couple of people.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

Came across this little gem during a Thanksgiving get together. If I hadn't seen it and tasted it....I would never have beleived it. It cooked a 17lb turkey to perfection, with apple and cherry wood notes, in 90min. flat.
Just cooked with today for the first time for our company Christmas party. The turkey was off the hook delicious! Can't wait to fill it full of ribs!

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

First encountered this cooker at a family gathering for Thanksgiving. My brother-in-law set it up and in 90min. we had a perfectly cooked and off the hook delicious turkey! It is simply an amazing cooker.
I've been grilling and Q'ing for over 20 years and this one is a keeper. When you don't have time for 5 hour ribs or a low & slow smoked turkey, this little cooker gets the job done without sacrificing flavor.
Perfect choice for personal or small gatherings. A true "Set and Forget" style low volume, high efficency cooker. Sweet!

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

First run was a success, could have added 1/2 hour to the cook time (learning curve since it is new, I went by the 7 min per pound) since it was 31 deg F today with a slight breeze, and the legs were not done enough (not many wanted dark meet anyway), but the breast was (had 170 on the meat thermometer in the breast, didn't think to check the legs). Overall, I am very impressed with the 24 lb turkey I cooked in it, it took the same time in the roaster for the 13 lb one that I made as a just in case I botched the big one. Juicy, tender, and a nice smokey flavor, without the time and attention that would have been needed with my other smoker. I like the light it and forget it until it is time of the Orion. Even though it was my maiden run, I am seriously considering buying a backup, since I am thinking that the company no longer produces these, and I think it did a great job.

Comments about Orion® Cooker (853998001012):

I love my Orion! It is so easy to cook our favorite meats and is especially great for tailgating....follow the directions in cooking times because they are absolutely right. We will never go back to deep frying.