These are my top three recommendations for saving time and money when choosing the correct BBQ smoker (cooker). There are a few different types of smokers, as well as different ways to generate heat and smoke, to consider. I’ve divided this into three broad categories:
- Physical set-up of the smoker
- Type of fuel
- Cost of a good smoker
Physical set up of a smoker. For preparing authentic barbecue, there are five fundamental types of smokers:
A Smoker with an Offset Position.
At a barbeque tournament, this is most likely what most competitive teams will utilise. The fire in an offset smoker is contained in a firebox that is situated to the side (offset) of the smoker’s chamber. The smoke enters the smoke chamber, passes through the meat, and then leaves through a chimney.
Vertical Smoker
A smoker that is vertical. Vertical smokers are made by a number of companies. A vertical smoker contains a heat source, which is normally at the bottom, and a water pan that sits on top of it. There are two or three tiers of grates above the water pan where the meat is placed for smoking. The top of the unit is covered with vents to allow smoke to pass through. The smoke is formed by tossing water-soaked wood chips on the heat source, which is very simple and convenient to use. Charcoal/wood, gas, or even electricity can be used to power these units.
Kettle Grill
Almost every backyard cook has one of these already. The models created by Weber are the most popular. Building charcoal flames off to the edges of the smoker and positioning the meat in a spot not directly over the fire is a simple way to set them up for barbecue smoking. If set up as a smoker, several types of smoker/grills can make excellent smoked barbecue.
Insulated or Ceramic Smoker
These smokers are constructed of a thick, insulated ceramic material. They maintain heat well and can cook for a long time on a small amount of fuel. The Big Green Egg is the most popular maker, and they are usually egg-shaped. These will provide fantastic barbecue, but they don’t have a lot of cooking surface area. On them, you won’t be able to smoke a lot of food at once.
Propane Grill used as a Smoker.
If a propane grill has numerous heating components, it can be set up for indirect heat. Set one of the elements to low and turn off the others. To provide smoke, throw water-soaked wood chips over the element that is burning, and place the meat on the side of the cooker where the elements are turned off. It’s a barbeque smoker if you close the cover and maintain the heat low and slow.
Type of Fuel.
Smokers can be fueled by various types of fuel. The most common would be charcoal which is really just processed wood. Also, in most offset smokers, the fuel of choice would be wood, and in competition cooking, propane can be use to get the fire going, but after cooking starts, only wood or charcoal can be used. The hobbyist/backyard pit master can use wood, charcoal, propane or even electric to fuel their cookers. The important thing to remember is that you need a smoke source, so you are going to need some types of wood, logs, chunks or chips to provide the smoke for your cooker. Many offset vertical smoker use propane or electric as a heat source and have an area on the heat source where the soaked wood chips are placed to create the smoke.
Cost of a Good Smoker.
There are various price points for a barbecue smoker. Good ones, although simple, can be had for around one hundred dollars. You can get one for free if you use the kettle type grill or your gas grill which you already own. As with most things though, the sky’s the limit when it comes to barbecue smokers. Some of the units used in competition cost tens of thousands of dollars. The best thing to do when shopping for a barbecue cooker is to first determine what type of cooker you’d like to have, offset, vertical, ceramic egg, kettle or gas grill. Then determine how much you are comfortable spending on this item. After you have your budget, there are many choices within your price range. Many of the large home-improvement stores carry all types and styles of barbecue smoker/cookers. Also, there are many choices for shopping online.
Of course these tips are just the beginning of what could be a whole new cooking life for you. I would suggest that you read as much as you can on smoking meat and everything barbecue related. A good place to start is with an e-book that I have reviewed, Competition Barbecue Secrets, by Bill Anderson. He goes into great detail about what it takes to be a success in competitive barbecue. Of course, his secrets can be used by the backyard barbecue chef to produce drop dead delicious barbecue.
Free review shows you a simple, easy, proven way to learn how to smoke perfect barbecue every time – guaranteed.
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