If you’re only planning to do an occasional session of outdoor cooking this summer, you’ll probably only need a simple charcoal barbecue. If you have more ambitious plans, such as grilling every Sunday, or if you prefer less mess and hassle, you can choose a smokeless electric grillor one gas grill.
But perhaps you consider yourself a true chef: someone who makes a point of knowing the difference between grilling and barbecuing, who strives to create smoke rings and barks on every piece of meat. If this is a world you’d like to be a part of, it’s time to consider becoming a smoker.
Smokers listed in this article:
Is a smoker right for you?
Compared to grilling, cooking with a smoker is in another league. This is often done with low-temperature indirect heat, usually between 225°F and 275°F. While there are a few types of smokers, most of them involve the fuel (whether wood chips, wood pellets, charcoal, or a combination) burning at low temperature in the combustion chamber. Smoke fills the cooking chamber, slowly heating the food and imparting a smoky flavor. The smoke passes through the chamber and exits through the chimney or a vent.
Depending on what you’re cooking, smoking can take anywhere from 45 minutes for delicate foods like fish, to over 12 hours for large cuts of meat. Depending on your personality and the type of device you choose, you could carefully monitor the process and adjust dampers to control the temperature, or relax poolside and check your smart smoker’s app to make adjustments. adjustments.
Smokers work for all types of outdoor cooking enthusiasts, which brings me to the benefits of becoming a smoker:
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Flavor. Few grilling methods can match the flavorful bark and smoky aroma of grilled meats. The slow cooking time ensures a full, robust aroma.
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Flexibility. There are a wide range of smokers available, from fully automated, WiFi-enabled pellet smokers to traditional offset barrel smokers. Plus, you can also use many smokers as regular charcoal grills, if you ever feel like doing a quick grilling session.
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An essentially hands-off process. Unlike the rapid cooking of a gas grill or the direct heat of charcoal, smoking requires a lot of time and patience, but allows you to be less glued to your grill. You’ll want to keep the cooking chamber closed as much as possible when smoking, which naturally eliminates some of the desire to spoil the food inside. Along with periodically monitoring the temperature and adjusting dampers and fuel as necessary, you can continue with your day.
Safety first
Any time you have charcoal, fires or embers, think about safety. Always follow the instructions for the device you choose, especially if you are a beginner. Keep the smoker at least 10 feet from buildings, otherwise for the risk of fire, to prevent your living room couch from smelling of hickory and charcoal.
Remember to close the vents to smother the embers of your fuel once you are finished using your smoker. And if I said it once, it’s a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher nearbyIn case.
For added convenience, consider the Traeger Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
This Traeger smoker uses electricity to control how quickly pellets are released into the firebox, so the temperature doesn’t fluctuate without your intervention. It’s also Wi-Fi enabled, so you can check the time and temperature from anywhere. It’s perfect for a wide range of barbecue enthusiasts, from beginners to multitaskers to seasoned experts.
For small spaces, try the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker
Not every pitmaster needs equipment as big as a cow. For a more manageable size, the Smokey Mountain will also be at home on a spacious patio or on the sidewalk outside your building (respecting your local laws, of course). This smoker uses charcoal as fuel and a water pan to help catch grease and maintain gentle heating. While ideal for small batches, this Weber comes in a few sizes, ranging from 14 inches to 22 inches.
If you prefer a commanding offset design, take a look at the Royal Gourmet Offset Smoker
This popular giant has 443 square inches of main cooking surface and offers the multi-barrel design you may be looking for. Since many heavy-duty offset smokers can cost thousands of dollars, the Royal Gourmet Smoker is a surprising affair. The materials may not be as durable as those of more expensive smokers, but this model could be appealing to a beginner on a budget looking to enter the world of barbecue.
