Best Injector?

mwraulst

I've had it with turkey injectors. The smallest of particles seem to clog the needle. I want something that will inject particles the size of red pepper flakes. At one time i saw a bbq duo on pitmasters that had an injector with a hose connected. They never had to draw up juice.

1. What injector do you use?

2. What's the best?

brownbw

I don't know the name brand, but I got one at target with a pretty big needle (2, actually). So far it's been pretty good.

Egghead123SC

Without a doubt, the cadillac of meat injectors is spitjack magnum model--but it is $100 with case, variety of needles, etc.  Will be the last one you buy.

http://spitjack.com/category/MEAT-BRINE-INJECTORS.html

BGEGP

I agree with Egghead123SC.  I have one and love it.

Charlie tuna

I have been through six or seven different brands -- cheapos and expensive units.  I have learnt not to buy any injector with an straight forward open needle, where the meat clogs the needle.  And that it isn't so big that when i have a blowout, the marinate goes all over the kitchen!!  If i inject with anything that has solids in it, i will strain it.  I came across the six dollar unit that does a better job than my $26.00 unit and has lasted two years.  Bought a backup unit because i am used to this cheapy!!  It's needle injects out of the side, it has a very good o-ring and is easy to clean.

Eggcelsior

The spitjack looks great. The tube - fed one is around 200-300 bucks and more.

Check out bbqinjectors.com - the "deluxe" will work for you. Plus it looks like a pesticide sprayer which I find kind of funny.

SmokeyPitt

It looks like the injector with the hose is also available there:

http://spitjack.com/product/MEAT-BRINE-INJECTORS/BRINE-PUMP-MEAT-INJECTOR.html

I recall someone mentioned that Myron Mixon did a demo cook at BGE headquarters a couple and used something like that to inject butts.  They said he pumped them full of liquid in no time.  Not sure I could justify that kind of $$ unless I owned a restaurant or did competitions tho.  

Charlie tuna

Mixon's unit has a 1/2 HP motor and the injector has five needles on the head, hold about a gallon of injection liquid.

Egghead123SC

That 185.00 one makes the $100 one look reasonable!  The magnum model sells well--it is sold out right now.  I bought one a couple of years ago, still working great.  Maybe put one on a Father's day gift list.

SmokeyPitt

Charlie tuna said:

Mixon's unit has a 1/2 HP motor and the injector has five needles on the head, hold about a gallon of injection liquid.

Dayum!  Just how much liquid can a butt hold! 

Little Steven

I think I would make it splode

Eggcelsior

Little Steven said:

I think I would make it splode

Mixon's price for that will make my head 'spolde. That's egg/grill barrow money.

Eggcelsior

That 185.00 one makes the $100 one look reasonable!  The magnum model sells well--it is sold out right now.  I bought one a couple of years ago, still working great.  Maybe put one on a Father's day gift list.

Its probably sold out because of Father's day.I found it here for 55 bucks. It is just the base injector and extra needle.

mwraulst

Thanks for all the advice. I'd love to see the motorized one in action some day. The one i remember seeing on pitmasters looked like the spitjack with the trigger but still had a tube where all you had to do was pull the trigger. As it injected, it would pull more liquid in through the hose. It was a complete one handed operation. The commercial one on spitjack's website looks like it would require 2 hands, which wouldn't work for me bc i would have to touch the meat and back to the pump. There could have been an air pump or motor involved. I didn't see one.  I believe the injector was green and the tubing was clear.

@eggcelsior i like the spraybottle bug sprayer model but i wonder how easy that valve is to operate one handed after you have it stuck in the meat. i like the trigger mechanism bc it seems quicker to stab and shoot.

Charlie tuna

The motorized injector is really designed for whole pigs.  Best i can effectively get into my injected butts is about six ounces of liquid..

Dave in Florida

This is what I have, works pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-5011-Stainless-Steel-Seasoning/dp/B000KDZ1VA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369413031&sr=8-1&keywords=meat+injector

Scott P

Take a look at butcher BBQ. They have a 60cc injector for $2.00. Very easy to clean and if you destroy is they are only $2 to replace.

SmokeyPitt

Scott P said:

Take a look at butcher BBQ. They have a 60cc injector for $2.00. Very easy to clean and if you destroy is they are only $2 to replace.

That's funny- I just happened to be on that site and noticed one that looks like the spitjack for $29.50.  

http://www.butcherbbq.com/#!supplies/productsstackergallery4g2=2

...this is interesting:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/producers-pridereg;-proshot-ii-syringe-50cc-capacity?gclid=CKaDu8Kjr7cCFRJp7Aod_xAANQ#BVRRWidgetID

Looks like this an used for vet supplies.  I guess it is the same thing...injecting animals with fluid.  

mwraulst

i'm definately going with a cheap model but i also found a link to the big guy. Why pay 180 for the other when you can have this for 20 bucks more: http://porkinjector.com/

I bet this thing would be pretty easy to make. I have several old milk pumps i sterilize and use for moving beer around when i brew. looks like i might be able to hook one up to an injector.

CincyTiki

I think this is the pistol one from the show http://mabbqa.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=24&zenid=euv9mfpc64lg4us0c5jtnj7cr3

caliking

Dave in Florida said:

This is what I have, works pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-5011-Stainless-Steel-Seasoning/dp/B000KDZ1VA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369413031&sr=8-1&keywords=meat+injector

I have one almost identical to this one. Have not bothered to use it for over a year. It did work well though when I used it. I would avoid a cheaper injector with plastic barrel or other parts - they are probably cheaper for a reason. If you must, I would go with the stainless steel one, which is not terribly expensive if you are a fan of injecting.

I stopped injecting pork butts, because it was just more work, without that much improvement in the end result. When I'm ready to cook, I pull it out of the fridge, slather with mustard and rub. Light up the egg, and once its up to temp, the butt goes on. It works well for me, but I am no connoisseur, so I may have lower standards. 

mwraulst

@CincyTiki

 

That is exactly the one! Thank you.

CincyTiki

@mwraulst, with all the great information I have taken away from this board, I am glad I could finally give something back

Skiddymarker

Charlie tuna said:

I have been through six or seven different brands -- cheapos and expensive units.  I have learnt not to buy any injector with an straight forward open needle, where the meat clogs the needle.  And that it isn't so big that when i have a blowout, the marinate goes all over the kitchen!!  If i inject with anything that has solids in it, i will strain it.  I came across the six dollar unit that does a better job than my $26.00 unit and has lasted two years.  Bought a backup unit because i am used to this cheapy!!  It's needle injects out of the side, it has a very good o-ring and is easy to clean.

+1. Only for butts, but the plastic syringe with side injector "needle" is great. The marinade infuses for a day or so, strained, then only the flavored liquid is injected. The one I'm currently using is about $8 here in Canuckistan, so assume it is similar to Charlie's $6 unit. 

Mickey

I have spent $3. all the way to $75... THEY ALL SUCK... If doing a ham do spiral (use fingers) and brine all other.

kcd124

 The Spitjack Magnum is in stock again