What are the major considerations when buying a Smoker?
- Budget
- Use
- Capacity
- Style
- Location
- Accessories
- Fuel
If you hadn't considered any one of these topics, then please read on.
Like most things in life you get what you pay for and this is again true for Smokers. Most people understand their budgets, under $500, $500 to $1000 and above $1000. There are good ranges of Smokers at each of the price bands, the main difference is the thickness of metal used in construction.
The next consideration is how you want to use your Smoker, do you think you will use it infrequently, moderately or high usage, it is important to understand how often you intend to use your smoker as this generally correlates to the quality of Smoker required.
Then you should consider how much food you will need to cook at one time, do you usually cook for small numbers of people then on occasion cook for large numbers of people or always cook for large numbers of people? People use a myriad of rubs and sauces to create unbelievable tastes and flavour experiences using tried and true barbeque smoking techniques, think about the flavours you want to impart in your cooking and what you will need to create your culinary masterpiece.
There are plenty of styles of Smokers they include; Offset Smoker, Drum Smoker, Pellet Grill, Komodo Grill and Box Smoker, each has their pros and cons, ultimately it often comes down to personal preference. Consider how much room you require for your smoker. Think about the type of fuel you will need for your smoker, where you will store it and accessible the smoker will be for refuelling it.
Accessories play an important part, think about the must-have ones first, where you will store them and how to care for them.
When it comes to Barbequing and Smoking meat there are two types of people, fire masters and set and forget types, what type are you? If standing by the fire for long periods is what excites you then solid fuel Smokers are probably your best fit. For the rest of us there are plenty of options including, gas, electric and pellet. Consider the running costs and decide what best suits your requirements.
As you can see there is plenty to think about when it comes to buying a smoker. Fortunately, there are a plethora of videos and how to's which is a great place to start. After some research seek out an expert, you will find it extremely beneficial speaking to a kindred soul when it comes to the nuances of smoking meat, fish, poultry or vegetables for that matter. Once you start serving your family and friends these new delicacies you will be reminded of this is your pursuit, the enjoyment of great times shared with those closest to you is one of the best feelings in life. So, what are you waiting for, fire up the Smoker and start cooking. Become the pit master you want to be.