You want to go beyond home grilling and start smoking your own barbecue ribs and chicken at home. Now you have to determine which particular smoker you would like and what you are able buy on your budget. There are many types of BBQ smokers available on the market with prices which range from under $100 to thousands of dollars or higher. So which kind of smoker should you get? Well, this will depend on how serious you are and how much money you can spend. Here are some types of smokers to help you make up your mind.
Under $200
For under $200, you're probably looking at getting a water vapor smoker or a simple charcoal smoker or an electric smoker. A water vapor smoker is a type of smoker which uses charcoal and wood as the heat source towards the bottom of the smoker. It is upright and cylindrical in shape so that it kind of looks like a bullet. There is a container of water above the heat source between the meat and the heat source to provide a buffer. That way the meat isn't heated directly. The meat is slowly heated with the water steam that also provides moisture for making the meat tender. The water also acts as a catch for the meat grease to avoid flare ups. All water vapor smokers use wood that has been soaked overnight. The wood is placed on the heat source but doesn't actually burn. It's there to provide a nice smoky flavor to the meat.
Another type of water vapor smoker uses electricity as a heat source. The electric BBQ smokers provide a more even heat than charcoal. The electric smokers are much far more convenient and less messy than the charcoal, but you need a source of electricity to operate it. If you are remote, you will want a generator of some kind.When contemplating a smoker look for multiple grill racks so you can put other food in with the meat. You need to get a barbecue smoker which has a side door that will allow you to add wood without moving the meat. Also consider getting a separate temperature gauge since many "built-in" temperature gauges are woefully inaccurate.
Over $200
Over $200, you may be much more serious about BBQ smoking. The barbecue pit or dry smoker is the choice of most professional barbecue smokers. This smoker comes with an offset cylinder from your main cylinder that is the heat source. The main cylinder holds the meat to be smoked and on the other side would be the chimney that draws the heat from the offset fire box through the main chamber and out. This type of barbecuing uses wood to produce the heat and there's no water to supply moisture. You must continually mop the meat throughout the process to ensure the meat stays tender. It is a longer process to smoke in this way, but people swear by it since it leads to more intense flavoring of the meat.This process of barbecue requires a lot more attention since you also need to continually add wood towards the fire pit and monitor the temperature. To be able to control the temperature better, find a barbecue pit smoker having an adjustable vent in the fire pit and the chimney. Barbecue pits come in various different sizes, so you should decide how much meat you need to cook at one time. Consider the typical cook time is about 8 hours.
Buying the right BBQ smoker is all a matter of assessing what your needs are and then checking around to get the best option for your budget. There are lots of web sites you could learn more about barbecue smokers and compare prices.
Under $200
For under $200, you're probably looking at getting a water vapor smoker or a simple charcoal smoker or an electric smoker. A water vapor smoker is a type of smoker which uses charcoal and wood as the heat source towards the bottom of the smoker. It is upright and cylindrical in shape so that it kind of looks like a bullet. There is a container of water above the heat source between the meat and the heat source to provide a buffer. That way the meat isn't heated directly. The meat is slowly heated with the water steam that also provides moisture for making the meat tender. The water also acts as a catch for the meat grease to avoid flare ups. All water vapor smokers use wood that has been soaked overnight. The wood is placed on the heat source but doesn't actually burn. It's there to provide a nice smoky flavor to the meat.
Another type of water vapor smoker uses electricity as a heat source. The electric BBQ smokers provide a more even heat than charcoal. The electric smokers are much far more convenient and less messy than the charcoal, but you need a source of electricity to operate it. If you are remote, you will want a generator of some kind.When contemplating a smoker look for multiple grill racks so you can put other food in with the meat. You need to get a barbecue smoker which has a side door that will allow you to add wood without moving the meat. Also consider getting a separate temperature gauge since many "built-in" temperature gauges are woefully inaccurate.
Over $200
Over $200, you may be much more serious about BBQ smoking. The barbecue pit or dry smoker is the choice of most professional barbecue smokers. This smoker comes with an offset cylinder from your main cylinder that is the heat source. The main cylinder holds the meat to be smoked and on the other side would be the chimney that draws the heat from the offset fire box through the main chamber and out. This type of barbecuing uses wood to produce the heat and there's no water to supply moisture. You must continually mop the meat throughout the process to ensure the meat stays tender. It is a longer process to smoke in this way, but people swear by it since it leads to more intense flavoring of the meat.This process of barbecue requires a lot more attention since you also need to continually add wood towards the fire pit and monitor the temperature. To be able to control the temperature better, find a barbecue pit smoker having an adjustable vent in the fire pit and the chimney. Barbecue pits come in various different sizes, so you should decide how much meat you need to cook at one time. Consider the typical cook time is about 8 hours.
Buying the right BBQ smoker is all a matter of assessing what your needs are and then checking around to get the best option for your budget. There are lots of web sites you could learn more about barbecue smokers and compare prices.
About the Author:
Before you purchase any BBQ Smoker online make sure you check out my buyers guide to Charcoal BBQ Smokers and Electric BBQ Smokers.