BBQ Smoker
I get asked all the time... what's the best BBQ smoker
to buy? My answer usually leads them in the right direction and gives them a few places to start looking.
I usually tell people about one of the following bbq smoke
rs...
- this is an insulated vertical smoker. They start around $600 to $700 for the large model.
- Traeger Pellet Smokers
- This is a nice bbq
smoker that burns wood pellets. The Lil' tex starts around $695. The digital controls and oversize hopper are a little extra though.
- Stumps Smoker
- this is also an insulated vertical BBQ smoker with a gravity fed charcoal system. They start around $1600.
- Lang Smoker
- This
is a traditional offset type BBQ smoker. It is made of good
thick metal but it is not insulated. This offset BBQ smoker is unique in that it has a metal plate that runs the full length of the smoker just below the meat grate. The smoke travels
all the way to the other end of the smoker, over the meat, and out the smoke stack on the same side as the firebox. The Lang Model 60 starts at $2195.
- Fast Eddy's by Cookshack
- This is a very nice pellet BBQ sm
oker with a vertical style. Used by many of the top BBQ competition teams. It is around $3295.
- Southern Yankee
- thes
e are rotisserie BBQ smokers and they have many
models to choose from. They range from small pull behind rotisseries to large concession trailers. They start at $3750 and go up from there.
And... their final decision usually has to do with the following factors...
- the amount of money you have to spend on a BBQ smoker has a lot to do with your decision. I
think the most bang for your buck is the Traeger Lil' Tex BBQ smoker - especially for the back yard BBQer. Although, many BBQ teams use these too. Whatever you do, don't go down to WalMart or
Home Depot and buy one of those small offset smokers for $300 or less. They are made out of very thin metal and the fireboxes do not ventilate well. You'll have trouble producing good BBQ on those things.
Work needed - A traditional offset BBQ smoker requires a lot of work tending the fire. Some people prefer a traditional offset smoker over something that burns charcoal, pellets, or propane. But let me warn
you... you'll be chopping a lot of wood to feed that hungry beast. You'll need to check your fire in most offset smokers every 15-30 minutes. The Southern Yankee are wood or charcoal burning too. That can
get very tiresome on a long overnight smoke. The Big Green Egg and Stumps Smokers will run a very long time on just one bag of charcoal. Of course, the Traeger and Fast Eddy's burn pellets that are fed automatically.
Insulated - The insulated BBQ smoker allows for long burns so you can get a little shut eye on those long overnight brisket smokes. The Big Green Egg and Stumps are insulated and burn charcoal.
Size - Look at how many square inches of cooking space you get for your money. Traeger Lil' Tex's are nice BBQ smokers, but you'll need two or three of them if you intend to compete with them. Of course
Traeger has many larger models to choose from including some commercial BBQ smokers.
Wood, pellets, or charcoal - What kind of smoke flavor do you like? Do you like charcoal or real wood? Or maybe a combination of both... usually, if you use charcoal for heat and throw some wood
chunks on top for flavor, you'll get a good result. Lump charcoal and Duraflame's hardwood briquettes are other options that produce a cleaner and hotter burn. Of course, wood pellets are real wood and the
results are similar to using real wood logs.
Type - You got your vertical smokers, vertical insulated smokers, traditional offset smokers (with the smoke stack opposite from the firebox), Lang offset smokers, pellet smokers, rotisserie smokers, gas
smokers, and all kinds of combinations of all of these. What BBQ smoker is best suited to your needs or wants?
BBQ Smoker Resources...
Big Green Egg - www.biggreenegg.com
Lang - www.pigroast.com
Traeger -
www.traegergrills.com
Stumps Smokers - www.stumpssmokers.com
Fast Eddy - www.cookshack.com
Southern Yankee BBQ - www.sybbq.com
Once you decide on what BBQ smoker to get, you'll need to learn how to use it right. So get a copy of
"Competition BBQ Secrets" and learn how the pro's do it on the competition BBQ circuit...
Barbecue Recipes - Competition BBQ Secrets book. Learn how to slow smoke meats right... mouth watering ribs, chicken, butts, and brisket.
Barbecue Food - Everything you ever wanted to know about barbecuing.
Barbecue Restaurant - All about barbecue restaurants and why the barbecue you cook yourself in your own back yard may be better than your local barbecue restaurant.
Atlanta Barbecue Catering - The best barbecue does not come from BBQ restaurants. It comes from BBQ competition teams. Call Pit Bulls Up in Smoke for your catering needs.
BBQ Recipes - Why slow smoked BBQ is better than grilled BBQ and how you can easily switch.
Barbeque Recipes
- What ingredients go into great barbeque recipes. You would be surprised!
BBQ Smoker - What kind of BBQ smoker is best suited to your needs and budget?
Barbeque Smoker - Learn all about the Lang Model 60 traditional offset barbeque smoker.
Cooking Barbecue - Cooking chart for slow smoked meats.
Barbeque Grill - All about the Traeger Lil' Tex pellet smoker.
BBQ Grill - How to set up your Weber kettle BBQ grill for slow smoked success.
Char-Broil Silver
- Review of the Char-Broil Silver BBQ smoker for $159 at Home Depot.
BBQ Sauce
- a description of all the Regional BBQ Sauce Variations.
Barbecue Sauces
- Different types of barbecue sauces and the top 3 winners in each category in NBBQA BBQ sauce contest.
Barbecue Ribs
- The 3-1-1 method to slow smoke barbecue ribs.
BBQ Rib Types - What is the difference between spareribs, baby back ribs, loin ribs, and St Louis Style ribs?
Smoked Barbeque - How does altitude affect barbeque cooking temperatures?
Barbecue Forum
- Should you use barbecue forums to learn how to cook competition quality brisket, ribs, chicken, & butts?
Smoked Turkey
- How to smoke a turkey.
American Royal BBQ - 2007 results for the biggest BBQ contest in the world.
Cooking Barbecue - All about collagen, protein fibers, and fat.
Barbecue Wood
- All about the different barbecue woods, how to use them, and the flavors that they impart.
Barbecue Smoker
- A review of the Southern Yankee Barbecue Smokers.
Fast Eddy Smokers - Cookshack's FEC100 and some history about Fast Eddy Maurin.
Barbecue Sauces - Ole Ray's Barbecue Sauces.
Smoked Ham
- How to smoke (reheat) a ham on your BBQ smoker.
BBQ Ribs Example Project - How to adjust BBQ ribs cooking in cooler temperatures.
BBQ Baked Beans - two great BBQ baked beans recipes and the Bush's Perfect Pair contest.
The BBQ Guru - a great blower device that digitally controls your pit temperature.
Cookshack FEC100
- The Cookshack Fast Eddy FEC100 and the importance of pit temperature control.
Boone Hall BBQ Contest
- results of the 2008 Boone Hall BBQ Contest.
Smoked Brisket - Here are the rusults of several of my brisket practice runs.
Douglas, GA results - BBQ contest results & Smoked Turkey & Smoked Ham reminders.
Roasted Pig - Videos of roasted pig Filipino style on a bamboo spit - also called Lechon Baboy.
Grind Your Own Spices - Kick your rubs up a notch by grinding your own spices.
Pulled Pork - How to pull a Boston Butt the right way!
BBQ Bark - How to create great BBQ bark.
Wagyu Beef - Report on the 2009 Barnesville, GA BBQ contest and also a newsletter on Wagyu Beef.
Barbecue Turn In Boxes - a sneak peek at our "secret" turn in boxes.
Barbecue Ribs - Know when your ribs are done to perfection.
Barbecue Timeline
- All about a barbecue contest timeline and why it is so important - also our Greenwood, SC pics.
Weber BBQ
- If you are looking to buy a weber BBQ then you need to visit this site. The 22" Weber Smokey Mountain is great!
Stumps Smokers
- BBQ Friends - Wiley's Championship BBQ, Stumps Smokers, Kennesaw Grand Championship, etc.
BBQ Smokers - A great source for BBQ smokers.
BBQ Judge Survey - Results from our BBQ judge survey, report on American Royal trip, and Myron Mixon's BBQ school.
Jack Daniels BBQ Contest - Pictures from the Jack Daniels BBQ Contest & Degaque BBQ Contest 2009.
Weight Loss Shakes - If any of you need to lose weight fast, check out these delicious weight loss shakes.
Barbecue Videos - detailed videos of how we won 4 Grand Championships in 2009 - BarbecueCoach.com
Barbecue Judging - Suggestions on how to improve barbecue judging.
Learning Barbecue - Learn how to barbecue the right way.
BBQ Gremlins - How to prepare for those pesky BBQ gremlins.
BBQ Contest Scores - Why it is important to evaluate your BBQ contest score sheets - also Tryon, NC video.
Daytona BBQ Contest
- Review of the Smoke on the Water Florida State BBQ Championship.
Lang 60 Barbecue Smoker
- Overview of the Lang 60 Barbecue Pit Smoker.
Dillard, GA Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival review
BBQ Glazes and results from Amelia Island, FL and Kennesw, GA pictures.
BBQ Logos & Banners - Thes two guys can get your BBQ logos designed and printed fast.
Lake Oconee BBQ & Blues Festival
review.
BBQ Smokers - a more comprehensive overview of different BBQ smoker types.
When is chicken done? - A review on how to know when your chicken, ribs, pork butts, and brisket is done.
Smoked Meatloaf - A video on how to smoke a meatlof.
Roasted Pig on a Spit - This is the best whole hog I have ever tasted - Cajun style.
Boss Hog Cookoff
- Waynesboro, GA video
Future Legends of BBQ - A great Kids Q BBQ contest.
Berkshire Pork - My search for better pork.
BBQ Injector - A neat BBQ injector and videos from Dillard, GA and Tryon, NC.
Buying Pork - Tips from an insider on how to buy better pork.
Barbecued Oysters - not cold smoked or grilled.
Barbecue Contest Survey - A very informative survey on the future of BBQ Contests.
Barbecue Sausage
- Learn the secrets to hot smoked fresh barbecue sausage (not cured or cold smoked).
Easy BBQ Ribs - How to cook easy BBQ ribs without foiling.
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