BBQ Smokers

Much like grills, there are several types of smokers out there on the market. BBQ smokers are usually either fueld by charcoal, gas or electricity. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes so there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a new smoker.

The Weber Smokey Mountain smoker (pictured on the right) is a popular charcoal smoker. This style is often referred to as a bullet smoker, vertical smoker, or water smoker because it has a water pan below the grates. It is powered by charcoal and wood chunks are added on top of the coals to produce the smoke. The Weber Smokey Mountain is a great smoker because it is a high quality Weber product, yet the price is very reasonable and it has the ability to produce contest results. Another benefit is that it is relatively light and compact when compared to other styles of smokers. The WSM comes in two different sizes, the 18.5 inch and the 22.5 inch, and both are great for beginners and pros alike.

Gas and electric smokers have the benefit of easier temperature control. Using a smoker requires more attention to temperature than a grill. People usually smoke meats in the 225 to 250 degree range and it is important to keep the temperature steady throughout the cooking process. Having a low temperature for even just a short amount of time can add hours of time to the process, depending on what you're cooking and how large it is. You also don't want the temperature to get too hot or the meat will cook too fast and not produce the best results. Gas and electric smokers run at much more constant and steady temps than charcoal smokers so there's less to worry about during the process. Wood chunks or chips can be added to gas and electric smokers but many people think that the flavor just isn't the same as a good old fashioned charcoal smoker.