Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions

Want to start smoking meat? What kind of Smoker should you get.

more_vert
Did you know that smoking meat is one of the fastest growing culinary hobbies? There is good reason, it is easy and it makes great food! Obviously, you need a smoker. The problem is there are several different kinds and all have their strengths and weaknesses. It really depends on what kind of smoking do you want to do and what features do you want. I will walk through the basic types of smokers and give you my humble opinion about their benefits and limitations.
Electric Smokers:
These usually look like a small cabinet. They have an electric heating element and either use wood chips that are smoldered by the element or wood pucks that drop to a smoking element.
Pros:
  • They are reasonably inexpensive.
  • They are inexpensive to run.
  • Some come with thermostats that let you set and forget them.
  • You can operate them at low temperatures.
Cons:
  • They are usually smaller and it may be difficult to fit a large turkey or piece of meat in.
  • If they use wood chips, you have to reload often.
  • They won't heat up to higher temperatures.
  • They usually don't give a smoke ring to meat.
Electric smokers are great for any kind of low and slow cooking like ribs, pulled pork or brisket. They are perfect for cooking homemade sausages at low temperatures. They are not good for cooking chicken or roasts at higher temperatures to get crisp skin or a well browned surface.
Bullet Smokers:
Bullet smokers are tube shaped with a dome top. They usually operate by filling a pan with lit charcoal and another pan with water. Smoke is generated by wood chips in a pan or by chunks of wood on the coals. The temperature in the smoker is controlled by the amount of charcoal that is lit and opening and closing draft plates to control airflow.
Pros:
  • They are relatively inexpensive to purchase.
  • They are relatively inexpensive to operate.
  • They can operate from low to high temperatures.
Cons:
  • A poorly made inexpensive bullet smoker is not well sealed and is very difficult to control temperatures on. This does not apply to higher quality models.
  • It takes practice to get the temperatures right and they unit needs to be monitored to keep the temperatures constant.
  • They aren't very big and it may be difficult to fit items like full racks of ribs in the smoker.
  • You have to work with and light charcoal manually.
Bullet smokers are great for all kinds of smoking but are finicky and must be watched when trying to do very low temperatures which makes smoking temperature sensitive items like home made sausage difficult. They do a great job of typical low and slow items like pulled pork and brisket. You can also get enough heat for crisp skinned chicken and well browned meat.
Pellet Smokers:
Most pellet smokers look like a barrel lying on its side with a box attached at one end. The smoker operates by burning hardwood pellets to generate heat. The pellets are put in a box and an auger pushes them into a fire box. Most modern pellet smokers have automatic igniters and thermostatic control of the auger so you can set a temperature and let the unit run without frequent supervision.
Pros:
  • They are almost as easy to use as your oven. You turn it on and set the temperature. You just have to keep the hopper full of pellets.
  • They will operate at very high temperatures for searing meat.
  • The temperature control is good enough to do some baking in the smoker.
  • They have lots of room for large cuts of meat.
Cons:
  • They are among the most expensive of the units to buy.
  • The pellets are one of the most expensive methods of generating heat.
  • The smoker does not operate at low temperatures making low temperature sausage smoking difficult.
  • As the pellet smoker burns pellets for heat, you get less smoke than you would from smoldering chips or chunks. At lower temperatures, the smoke is adequate, but there is less smoke at higher temperatures.
The good temperature control of pellet smokers makes them a good choice for all kinds of smoking. The one exception is very low temperatures so low temperature smoking of sausages is a problem.
Stick Burners:
Stick burners are usually a barrel shape on its side with a box or smaller barrel on one side. A fire is built in the small box and allowed to burn down. The heat and smoke is drawn through the larger barrel. Heat is controlled by the amount of fuel and using draft plates to control air flow.
Pros:
  • There is a cool factor to using a stick burner. Some consider it to be the only real smoking.
  • Operate from low to high temperatures.
  • They have lots of room for large cuts of meat.
Cons:
  • A decent unit is quite expensive. There are cheaper units but don't buy one. If the unit is not well built, it will not allow proper air control and temperature control. Also, cheaper units have significant hot and cold spots in the chamber.
  • Finding hardwood to burn in the unit can be difficult and expensive.
  • You have to learn how to start the firebox and control it. You need to monitor the smoke.
Stick burners are good for regular low and slow smokes and can be fired up to higher temperatures. They are more difficult to operate at really low temperatures but can do so with practice.

Summary
This is not an exhaustive list, just a general guide. Use it to get an idea of which kind of unit you would like and then go to manufacturer's sites and smoking forums to get details on different units before you commit to a smoker.
The Old Fat Guy
My food blog: http://oldfatguy.ca
Vote
37
remove_red_eye
726

search
close
Huntr12
0
Jun 2, 2019
RecTec pellet smoker. They are costly but well worth it. You can smoke and grill on them due to the wide temperature range.
ChevyChase
9
Dec 1, 2018
I have a MAK pellet smoker and I love it. Done brisket, pulled pork, and lots of ribs. Great for everything except burgers and steaks.
headcooker
3
Jun 4, 2018
cookshack smokers. the best, not cheap, but damn near idiot proof.
TBedeezy
26
Apr 19, 2018
I have a Weber Smokey Mountain better known as a bullet. I definitely want higher quality stick burner. I hear mixed reviews about pellets but i enjoy messing with the vents to get to temp. Trust the process.
w00m
180
Apr 19, 2018
I'm a fan of an electric smoker as the entry point, be sure to get one that keeps temperature and you have an 'easy' way to get amazing food easily, lets you focus on the meat not the smoker. You can always sell/upgrade later if you decide it's worth further investment
ChevyChase
9
Mar 25, 2018
I bought a MAK smoker based on the advice of www.amazingribs.com - my go to web site for bbq advice. First champion of the sear in the rear advice. I love that he's now done some crossover podcasts with serious eats my other go to web site.
Back to smoking, I love my MAK but I'm sure there are plenty of other great options. It was not cheap but I can smoke a brisket for 16 hours with no problems.
steveja
11
Dec 10, 2017
I can't ENTIRELY agree w/ the characterizations of the various smokers from the OP, but he makes some good points.
I started with one of the cheap, 'bullet' type smokers years ago (non-electric) and found it completely inadequate; the temps would vary widely & wildly. Then I added an 'Alton Brown style) electric plate & wood chips at the bottom, and got decent results, but again the temps were not consistent and it requires attention. That's OK for a pork butt, but much more problematic for ribs or esp (hot-smoked) salmon. A couple years ago I got an electric 'box' type smoker from Masterbuilt. Works great, hold a LOT of meat, holds temps very well. The main limitation is that it can't 'cold smoke' well.
I've owned 2 Komado's and these are really technically ceramic ovens [great for 1 constant temp]. They are remarkably fuel efficient, hold temps evenly enough to bake bread loaves(!!!) and can reach high steak-house searing temps. KOMADOs ARE NOT ADEQUATE SMOKERS. They can impart a *little* smokiness by use if a metal box wood-chip holder. I wouldn't think of grilling steaks or lamb w/o the komado, and the summer pizzas w/ a smokey edge are fantastic, BUT I would never consider cooking a slow smoked pork butt or salmon in a komado They just don't hold low temps well, not are they particularly good at generating smoke, and there is too much radiant heat. Komados do OK w/ ribs, but frankly I still prefer the Masterbuilt for everything ribs, except the hot finish. There are temp/air-blower controllers for Komados that likely address some of my temperaure objections but I just don't see komados in the role of convenient smoker. [If you find the BGE & Visions Komado prices off-putting, then look into the Akorn/Char-Griller alternatives for $150-$300. They are IMO 90% of the value for ~25% of the price.].
Now if you could combine a komado, with a temp controller and a cold-smoke generator - that could rule.
TheOldFatGuy
60
Dec 10, 2017
stevejaI have friends who have Komados and say pretty much what you say. Same for the bullet smokers except the high end ones. I have buddies who use a WSM with great results.
steveja
11
Dec 11, 2017
TheOldFatGuySeems a LOT of ppl make a religion (as in all faith and no reliance on evidence, "I posses the one-true-smoker, everything else is junk" theology.) wrt smokers & BBQ. I have no doubt that WSM makes a great smoker, but Masterbuilt can do very well well too. BTW yes, you can get great rings in an electric, tho' it's a pointless exercise IMO . In any case a good smoker needs enough racks to hold a good deal of meat. It's pretty silly to waste all that time & wood on one bird or a couple racks of ribs Unless you have oodles of free time, some sort of electric control system is highly desirable, almost a necessity IMO.
As long a I'm busting statues (iconoclasm), I might as well get my pet peeve in the table. I'm a "modernist cuisine" type. I believe we need more science in cooking. . Anyway the common folklore about "marinades" is 100% wrong. Salt (as in brining or curing) has an impact on meat, and acids have an impact on meat (often undesirable), phosphates for commercial use too - and VERY FEW other things have even the least impact. Slathering on (most) spices, sugar & oil for a long marinade is a total waste of time. Those things simply do not penetrate meat. You can add then 5 minutes before you cook. It's provable in your own backyard/kitchen.
It appears that spiced w/ eugenol (like cloves) actually will penetrate meat a bit, but that's not a direction that interests me.
GunsOfBrixton
911
Nov 30, 2017
I started with a Weber Smokey Mountain, and never looked back. Took me three or four tries to dial it in, but two years on, it's amazing how many neighbors "drop by" when I'm smoking. I have a family of five, so I got the biggest WSM, and am glad I did. A smoker and a freezer make a very economical way to cook a lot of meat, and have quick, high quality meals when things are busy.
TheOldFatGuy
60
Dec 1, 2017
GunsOfBrixtonEvery one I know with a Weber Smokey Mountain speaks highly of it! I'm not surprised neighbours drop by. By the way, what is your address?
GunsOfBrixton
911
Dec 1, 2017
TheOldFatGuyHa! Nicely done! Yeah, if you're willing to put in the effort to learn how to use it, the payoff with a WSM is well worth it.
Flint73
4
Nov 30, 2017
I have a small electric smoker, its stainless steel and looks like a high end dorm refrigerator on wheels. I just plug it in, set the dial and add the wood. I wait 20 minutes or so and it is ready to go. I can leave it plugged in while I am away (outside obviously) or overnight. There is really no maintenance and no messing with it for the most part. It is big enough for a whole turkey or several racks of flatter things like ribs and brisket. I know some Smoking Snobs who turn their nose up a little at this but I have other things today besides tend a fire and monitor temps for 5-8 hours :). The results are not contest winning but as good as or better than the BBQ joints I would go to.
Flint73
4
Nov 30, 2017
Flint73Link to the smoker I decided to get, have had it for 4 years and no maintenance other than the initial 2 hours seasoning . http://www.smokin-it.com/Smoker-p/smkmdl1.htm
TheOldFatGuy
60
Nov 30, 2017
Flint73You get no argument from me. I used an electric cabinet smoker for years and made great food! Tell any snobs you will give their opinion the weight that is due, ignore them and put some more ribs in the smoker!
ernestina
26
Nov 24, 2017
I see that you didn't include the ceramic smokers. We have a Big Green Egg, 5 to be exact and a reverse smoker, the cons of the egg, its expensive,and pros are you can smoke,bake,grill, and even smoke cheese and butter.
ernestina
26
Nov 24, 2017
ernestinaAlso great for cooking pizza, you can get the temperatures really high
Showing 17 of 37
keyboard_arrow_up
Newest
37 OF 37 POSTS
keyboard_arrow_down
Oldest
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in More Community Picks