So you are thinking of buying a smoker! Well done! That is the first step towards a world of great food and entertainment. However, picking that first smoker can be a challenge, especially with many to choose from.
Buying a smoker can be an exhilarating but straightforward process, especially if you’re forging into the world of barbecue for the first time.
With a wide range of smokers to choose from, including traditional charcoal smokers, electric smokers, and high-tech pellet smokers, there are so many options that it’s easy to become overwhelmed with decisions when choosing your first smoker.
We’re here to ensure that you don’t let this stress get in the way of your smoking experience. The barbecue smoker comes in numerous forms. Picking the right one can feel like a tricky decision, but it doesn’t have to be.
What Is a Smoker?
Smokers are outdoor cooking devices that keep low temperatures for a long time without fuel and provide space for a large amount of meat.
There are numerous different types of smokers and smokers/grills on the market, including wood smokers, charcoal smokers, gas smokers, electric smokers, and pellet smokers.
No matter what you have access to or how much time and effort you’re willing to put into it, there’s always a way to smoke barbecue low and slow.
Types of Smokers:
Here are some of the types of smokers:
- Propane smokers
- Charcoal smokers
- Offset smokers
- Pellet smokers
- Electric smokers
- Kamado grills
- Kettle grills
Propane Smokers:
Gas smokers, here are some facts you should know: Gas smokers use natural gas or propane to produce heat. Propane is most commonly referred to as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
In order for you to fuel your gas smoker, you will likely need to get a refillable gas bottle from the nearest gas station or outdoor store.
Gas provides consistency and even cooking temperatures; however, propane can only be used when grilling directly over the burner, so wood is necessary to add smoke in the form of chips or chunks.
For long cooking sessions, you need various reservoirs of gas on hand, as a single reservoir might not be enough.
How Do Propane Smokers Work?
Most gas smokers are built “cabinet-style” and utilize a manifold system that gathers the smoke from the burning charcoal before it releases into the air.
The design of these systems varies depending on the brand, but they all work substantially the same way.
However, it is possible to adjust how much smoke becomes part of your cooking experience by manipulating vents, dampers, and other controls.
While just as popular as electric smokers, gas barbecue pits can be more costly than some electric smokers depending on their grill style, size, brand, and origin.
| Pros | Cons |
| Simple to use temperature can be adjusted without limitations better timing in grilling than charcoal smokers | Little tricky to maintain a temperature not perfect start for newbies |
Best Propane Smoker:
We have a suggestion for you if you want to buy a propane smoker. It is a Masterbuilt MB200 propane smoker, and it is pretty beginner friendly and easy to deal with.
Charcoal Smoker:
Charcoal smokers vary a lot in terms of shape and size. They range from the rough little Weber Smokey Mountain to grasping ceramic kamado grills such as the Big Green Egg.
Charcoal is on par with wood pellets when it comes to fuel that provides more flavor to a dish.
The catch to this extra flavor is that if you opt for charcoal smokers, the process may be a bit more labor intensive than with an electric or gas smoker.
Charcoal may require a fermentation period, be hand-mixed during cooking and perhaps even require the use of a smoker box, although there are some models that fit as many as six racks.
A truly fantastic experience. We don’t know how you’ve lived life until now without knowing about these kinds of smokers.
Also See: How to Smoke Cheese in Electric Smoker?
How do Charcoal Smokers Work?
When wood is heated to over a thousand degrees Fahrenheit and a lot of the non-carbon organic material is burnt, the only thing that is left is char.
Charring occurs through a process called pyrolysis (which converts temporary molecular bonds into covalent ones).
The resulting “coals” that burn cleanly lend themselves to grilling or any other culinary process involving applying direct heat in the form of fire. There’s no smoke involved, but it’s what gives grilling its unmistakable flavor or ‘grill marks’.
This charred material is then formed into little briquettes that we call charcoal and use for grilling or BBQ because of its ability to hold temperatures for long periods and create smokey flavors when adding wet wood chips or chunks above the coals during cooking.
| Pros | Cons |
| Gold standard smokers as they provide the best smokey flavour.Broad range of styles and sizes.Makes a good smoke ring. | Needs too much attention. |
Best Charcoal Smoker:
We have a suggestion for you if you want to buy a propane smoker. It is a Weber 721001 charcoal smoker, and it takes time but will provide you with the best smoke ring.
Offset Smokers:
Offset smokers are initially made from a new oil drum, which is pretty clear to see as most of them still bear the original label on the side.
They’re big, huge even in fact, and were created for barbecuing whole animals or roasts. Offset smokers were developed from oil drums, and that heritage is evident in their barrel-like shape.
While not as large as the stockpots often used for state fair competitions, these smokers give you enough to feed an entire city block with beautifully smoked food.
Enough about their design and where they come from; achieving a fulfilling level of deliciousness is what many pitmasters crave when owning one of these monsters.
How Do Offset Smokers Work?
Offset smokers work by utilizing an offset firebox, which means they are mounted in a way that requires the user to offset their burning materials in relation to the cooking chamber.
Typically, this means positioning the material on one side of the burner and the product being cooked on the other side.
The smoke and heat coming from the burning materials then travel through a chimney or ductwork in order to reach areas where it can flavor your meat before moving out of your smoker’s body.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to cook large amount of meatSome brands offer an extra grill plate, that means you will have a two-in-one griller along with a smoker. Without opening the chamber full of smoke cooking meat as its firebox is separated. | Do not buy cheap offset smokers |
Best Charcoal Smoker:
We have a suggestion for you if you want to buy a propane smoker. It is an Oklahoma Joe offset smoker, and it has a removable baffle and reverse-flow smoker that helps in cooking good food.
Pellet Smokers:
Pellet smokers are a combination of an oven and a smoker. One of the best aspects of using a pellet smoker is that it can be used in three different ways: Cooking, smoking, and grilling.
Some key benefits of pellet smokers include being able to cook sufficient amounts of food for larger groups on one little machine.
How Do Pellet Smokers Work?
Pellet smokers use sawdust which is compressed into pellets that resemble the size of a chicken feed. These pellets are placed in a hopper on the side of the smoker, and they get fed through an auger.
An orange-colored rod is heated up inside the firebox, and it makes smoke as well as heat rise above the cooking chamber.
The thermometer uses this to regulate the temperature inside the cooking chamber for more efficiency and consistency in terms of sizing and taste when smoking with these types of smokers.
| Pros | Cons |
| Does not need any babysittingVersatileDoesn’t need much cleanup | Expensive |
Best Pellet Smoker:
We have a suggestion for you if you want to buy a propane smoker. It is a Traeger Grills Pro Series 575 pellet smoker, and it provides accuracy in the PID controller to provide stable temperatures.
Electric Smokers:
Electric smokers are the trusty, ‘set it and forget it’ solution when it comes to smoking your food without having to worry about the tedious nature of preparing a traditional smoker.
Think of them as similar to slow cookers in that you can just set the temperature before you leave for work in the morning, leave them on for a few hours or more, and come home later with some food that’s been smoked overnight.
Instead of being forced to tend to coals all day long or sit next to your charcoal grill.
How Do Electric Smokers Work?
Electric smokers work by heating wood chips instead of an open flame. There is no actual combustion when this specific variety of smokers is in use, which means the smoke comes from essentially a chip tray, suspending the wood above a heating element.
Electric smokers are designed vertically with the heating element at the bottom, then a place to put up to five meat totals in between. The water pan is always directly underneath for precise cooking temperature and time control.
The water pan serves two purposes: firstly, it creates moisture vapor which enhances flavor, and secondly, it helps keep the heat at a moderate level.
So as to further protect your smoked meats from too much direct heat or excessive dryness that can be caused by using too much direct heat.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use for beginnersDoes not need any additional fuel sourceHave a consistent temperature | Due to lack of actual combustion food doesn’t taste like the other smokers |
Best Electric Smoker:
We have a suggestion for you if you want to buy a propane smoker. It is a Masterbuilt MB20071117 electric smoker, and this electric smoker is pretty easy to use and pocket-friendly.
Kamado Grills:
Kamado grills are some of the best cooking appliances for doing “low and slow”. These grills have been around for a little over 3000 years, predating the invention of wood burning furnaces by centuries.
Kamado-type cookers are identified by their “clay oven,” which is a thick ceramic shell with an air vent at the bottom.
It allows oxygen to flow in while they cook – creating incredibly juicy meats without the need for charcoal or fuel.
While the Big Green Egg is probably the most well-known brand of these Kamado grills, there are much more available on today’s market – all of which will create delicious things to eat and drink.
How Do Kamado Grills Work?
Kamado grills are based on Japanese-style clay ovens that have been around for centuries. The distinctive egg shape of the Kamado grill allows for a unique indirect cooking experience.
While there are several different styles, generally, people use the Kamado grill for smoking and roasting protein (e.g., steaks, poultry, ribs) as well as vegetables (e.g., squash, zucchini, tomatoes) and even fruit (bananas).
Depending on your model, you may be able to add wood chips or a water patty to enhance the amount of flavor seeping into your food.
Some models come with a deflector plate which works by reflecting more heat back onto the food you’re cooking.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Your meat will be extra juicy and moistMulti purpose smoker Can be use in cold weathers as well | Not cheap at all |
Best kamado grill:
We have a suggestion for you if you want to buy a propane smoker. It is a Kamado Joe KJ23NRHC kamado grill. This smoker is an all rounder and pretty durable.
Kettle Grills:
While they’re not technically “a smoker”, kettle grills are one of the most likely small cooking appliances to be owned.
They could feasibly be used in conjunction with a smoking insert to quickly cook small amounts of food over a live fire.
They’re cheap, readily available, and make for one of our favorite kinds of combo grill systems out there because of that fact. If you happen to already have this in your garage, it can be an easy way to start smoking some foods.
How do kettle grills work?
Turning a kettle grill into a smoker requires some changes to the arrangement of charcoal inside and the use of wood chips and a water pan.
Using this method is sometimes called the snake method because you set up two parallel rows of unlit charcoal briquettes, which are then lit.
This makes it easier to maintain a consistent temperature inside the grill and takes about 12 hours for meats and veggies to cook.
To start cooking, cut your wood chunks into small pieces and place them in the middle of the charcoal. Then put a piece of aluminum foil with holes punched in it on top as well as your water pan with sides.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Kettle grills are pretty handyIt is quite easy to find wood chips and water pan | Some times tough to handle |
Best kettle grill:
We have a suggestion for you if you want to buy a propane smoker. It is a Weber Original Kettle Premium kettle grill, and it has a one touch cleaning system along with it that can handle up to 13 burgers.
Things To Look:
Here are some of the notable aspects that you might need to consider before buying a smoker:
- Price
- Temperature control
- Capacity
- Versatility
- Drip tray
- Easy to clean
Wrap It Up:
So, which smoker is right for you? I’d suggest zeroing in on the features that will help steer your decision. Obviously, price and material type have a lot to do with it, but consider things like size.
Do you have a large family? Not only will you need to be able to feed them adequately.
If you’re cooking restaurant amounts, then it can go quickly. Remember that five pounds of meat at 225 degrees will yield about one pound of ready-to-serve product.
Also, look for potential online deals or sales during the holiday season; sometimes, you can find smoking vessels significantly lower than their average prices. Just look around and find what works best for you.
Recommended Post: