DIY Convert an old refrigerator into a meat smoker or smoke cooker
I picked up this old frig and the parts that I used in this video at our local scrap metal yard for nothing. At most scrap yards they will only charge you for the weight of the scrap. Please rate the video and let me know if you have any questions, I’ll do my best to answer them. Thanks for watching.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
(Product) tiny.cc (Store) www.top-as-seen-on-tv-products.com
Video Rating: 3 / 5
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50 Responses
@margosdad yes, they did appear to be adequate. The inside of mine was a baked on enamel…I would not worry about painting the inside once you get the rust off of the panels..for fear of toxic fumes, or at the least tainting the taste of the finished product your going to cook in it. I know it might not look as good but I would just give the bare metal area’s you have from removing the rust a good coat of cooking oil. that will seal the metal. IMO….good luck
@excalibur440 Thanks for the quick reply. On your air vents down on the bottom, do you find that those were adequate or would you add more?
Those are the temps that I want to deal with as well. I’ve got my Fridge gutted out and whatever rust on the exterior removed. Ready for paint, and setting up the inside of the smoker. You’ve really encouraged me to get going. I’ve been wanting to upgrade my little unit for some time. Thanks again!!
@margosdad to be honest I never took it over 230 degrees, which was my target. With the burners set at High under the chip pan and Med on the open burner. My results where: 15 min=150 degrees, 45 min=215 degrees. As stated my target was 230 which it would hold with the pan burner on med and the open burner turned off with a cap(spray can lid) over the top vent pipe. You should be able to maintain and hold any temp below 230 with only 1 burner and playing with the side and top vents.
@excalibur440 to do my smoking and cooking on, so I havn’t used the fridge for sometime now. but, it was still working like a champ when I parked it. For other modifications and issues I ran into see my past replies. Thanks
@Hellitsme66 The inside door skin is made from something like a compressed wood pulp for lack of a better word. it did not melt nor did it catch on fire. However from the steam from my water soaked wood chips, it did warp. I would suggest replacing the inner skin with sheet metal. The trim was weather rotted and only lasted two or three firings. I replaced the seal with a piece of cheap rubber garden hose by screwing it onto the sheet metal. I have since bought a Traeger grill
I have a question for you. What happened to the door? Did it melt and also the trim on the door opening
Hi and thanks a bunch for sharing your project! Looks great. Just wondering now that you’ve had your unit for a while, what temperatures low and high can you maintain with the two burner unit. I believe I’ve the same fridge that I just picked up.
Thanks Al
dude this is cool, got to make one!!
This is so cool! I’m very encouraged to try this now.
Nice video. I want to convert an old stove into a smoker. It won’t hold as much, but its already made for high temps.
Get job but I have to say that for that cool looking old fridg I would have converted her into a beer tapper.
@excalibur440 apple is a very good smoke for meat.. creates a smooth smoke taste not a real thick deep smoke taste. Hickory will give you a real deep smoke taste, i prefer to only use hickory on big cuts of meat like pork butt and brisket because the smoke is so strong. Dont get me wrong you can use apple on your big cuts also, its just that apple is harder to get ahold of then hickory. Cherry is good to use also if you like a sweeter smoke.. Cherry is even more difficult to get ahold of
seems easier to buy sheet metal and make a box.
@ManCaveSmokers That’s a great idea, guess I never thought of that. A guy could use a little stove let what folks use in sheep herders tents… I my just redue mine, I have a bunch of apple and cherry wood. Thanks for the idea.
I made a smoker out of an old fridge just like this one back in high school shop class for my year end project. I didnt use a heating element, i made a real smoker. Custom fabricated a steel box from 1/4 steel sheets and made a 3′ L X 18″ W X 2′ H box with a 3″ steel pipe coming out one end and made a 90 degree elbow where it comes up through the bottom of the fridge. I use stick only for my heat source.
i have a freezer about the same vintage i want to convert also is there anything toxic in those old freezers like asbestos or anything in the fiberglass that could be toxic when heated?
My dad and my granddad did the same thing years ago, except they would put the wood chips in the bottom, let those burn down to hot smoldering coals, and let the drippings fall onto those, which helped keep the smoke going. No burners or drip pans needed. Best tasting smoked fish ever.
Put a water pot on other burner to moisten meat as it cookes can even use beer wine Ect.. . Great job love the Q.
hey guys please keep in mind as i was completly dumb about it but it HAS TO BE AN OLD FRIDGE!!!!! made out of aluminum or any metal… dumb ass me used a newer mini fridge (90% plastic!) and all i got out of it was a cloud of noxious fumes… lol… you can however use a regular cheap bbq grill to smoke. set your coals and soaked wood to one side of grill and place meats on opposite side… indirect heat. while wood dries it smokes
Do you have that online anywhere? I like this idea, but I live in the city and don’t have the space to do this with a full-size fridge. I was thinking mini-fridge, but I was hoping I could see one before I try it myself.
Great smoker. Is the door seal and plastic supporters holding up to the temp?
5*****
D…:)
just made mine from an old mini fridge!!…
Thanks great video very helpful indeed
@richandrene
Thank you.
@sethy2004 Good question, that was not addressed in the video. I used a light weight aluminum foil roasting pan and suspended it from the bottom rack with wire. Not too high tech, but it does a great job.
Kyocera is way better, mario agrees
I’m not going to lie I think it works really good!
MAKE FROM 100% SUPER MARIO BROS YOSHI’S.
It is not a Kyocera (I own a collection of them) but with a proper sharpening and honing it would have a greta chance to go toe-toe with a Kyocera ceramic knife. Im not to fond with the peeler, but for $20 it is a great knife for my kitchen.I do like the life time replacement warranty if dulled or damaged during normal use. If you want a good quality ceramic knife at a cheap price then go out and get one. Oh, my only peeve with this knife is the sleeve case, its too easy to cut yourself!
can it murder idiots?
Works great on rape victims too!
and it conveniently can easily chop off fingers.
its not worlds best ceramic knife, kyocera make better knives
@ResidentEman its sharp-enable you can sharen it and it has bad limitations for like vegetables and stuff.
hmm not bad !
$20+$20+$30 = 100 dollars of value?
SCAM
chainsaw is the best
@SarahRabbit1 not only fingers you can even chop off your dick and balls for hotdogs and balls
@PikachuColouredPichu or master blade? (master sword from legend of zelda)
IIRC Yoshi is an exclamation of excitement, sort of like “Oh yeah!”
btw there are better ceramic knives out there!
to slice like a pro is practice practice practice! i’ve seen people use cheap knives and do amazing artwork. because they know how to keep the knives sharp and know how to use it!
You know what can also cut tomatoes? A PLASTIC KNIFE!
Cutco knives in the junk knife drawer? Is this a joke?
giant scam DO NOT BUY DIRECT!! THEY CHARGED ME $227. use ebay if u really want one. They chip easy though and the fragments end up in your food. This ruined a Christmas dinner for a family i know…
no one would eat anything that the knife touched…
u gotta use a wood cutting board or soft plastic xtremely hard/fragile blade and no chopping. miracle blade 3 is a much better option.
Hell, you give a plastic knife a edge it can cut a tomato too…. I’ll stick to my good ol Japanese blades, may have to sharpen em but it really isn’t that hard to do such. Lazy people.
Otto stay sharp, but it’s probably gonna break at one point or another, and diamond hard? I doubt it. Only carbon in a tetrahedral pattern can be as hard as a diamond, cuz it is one!
you get what you pay, pay 19.99, get 19.99 quality
they’re not even placing their damn fingers correctly
0:32 fake they recorded it and played that backwards