Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

Howdy! So, I'm not new to grilling, but I am very very new to smoking... Any suggestions for smokers? Gas? Electric? Charcoal?

 

Noting that pellet counts as wood..

 

All of the above lol

 

Any smokers you use or would suggest? I used to use my gas grill to make ribs (I'm just now realizing how far away I have strayed from god) and have decided to pick up a smoker but not really sure would be a good one for around a $300 budget or if I should just make one myself.

 

So why something like this opposed to an offset smoker or a vertical pellet one?

 

How do you like it opposed to an offset one?

 

Didn't notice that half raised grid when you first got it, that is a nice touch. I made my own raised grid with some long bolts and a handful of nuts and washers.

 

So no offset?

 

I'm not familiar with vertical pellet smokers, but $300 for a pellet grill will mean a bunch of compromises to hit that pricepoint.

I suggest you first figure out what sort of smoking / cooking you want to do. Stickburner vs. lump charcoal vs pellet. Each have their own pros and cons. Once you figure which fuel, then it's time to start looking at styles/models. Spend a bunch of time on Amazingribs.com and www.smokingmeatforums.com and bbq-brethren.com

Honestly with a $300 budget I'd suggest looking for a decent used unit on Facebook Marketplace or Letgo or similar. It's the time of year people are upgrading, which means you can get some pretty good equipment as a better price.

Forget gas or electric.

 

I personally like using mesquite charcoal when I do steaks or Armenian BBQ on skewers... I'm mostly gonna smoke spare ribs/St. Louise-style of course with sausages as well, I'm assuming the mesquite can be used to get er going then adding my wood of choice to smoke say apple chips or cherry

 

I'm sketched on grilling, smoking on my deck so I always do it in the grass a few feet from the deck. My gasser is on the deck but hasn't been used in 2.5 years.

 

D all the above. If you live where I do and the power goes out at times... and I'm hungry! Charcoal or gas to the rescue. My GMG requires juice. That's why I bought that kettle. And thanks again to however posted the sale link, I have CRS so bad I can't remember what CRS stands for.

 

I have no idea what it stands for, but I can't remember shit these days!

 

$300 will get you a new WSM 18.5... in my opinion one of the best smokers out there for less than $1000. Just so versatile and well designed. As far as offset, takes lots of wood (babysitting) and more money to buy a rig that isn't flimsy and leaky as hell.

 

For $300 your best bet is an 18.5” Weber Smoky Mountain. I had one before I got my Traeger and while I’m a huge fan of the set and forget simplicity of the electric pellet smoker, the WSM is definitely the best option in your price range. Just spend some time learning how to use it before you even take it home and you’ll be fine.

 

I vote 18” WSM or a 26” Kettle. Both $299 each brand new or find them cheaper on Craigslist or FB marketplace

 

Hey, I'm officially in your neck of the woods now. Near 45 and 130. Gonna need to meet up at some point for BBQ and Brew. Once I get the back yard and bar built I'll be cooking it up again on the regular.

 

Another vote for the 18" WSM. Harry Soo of Slap Yo' Daddy BBQ has won 28 Grand Championships using 18" WSM as his smokers. Beating out people that run other smokers that cost tens of thousands of dollars. His review on Amazon, which includes breaking them in and operation, is worth the read IMO.

 

That review hooked me, every bit of it turned out true.

 

That's a great review! Awesome tips