smokers New Smoker - Which style?

Shorerider

Shorerider

Staff Member
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Hey y'all,

I'm looking to buy a smoker for ribs initially, and would like to know what I should be looking for.

Smokers here in Australia aren't that popular, so many brands available in the US aren't available here. Also, I'd rather buy something reasonably decent that will last more than a few years.


Thanks in advance,


SR.
 
Yes, I've seen his toys, ALL of them. I'd like to know what someone would get if you could only have one smoker. An "all rounder" of sorts. There are so many styles out there, I'm trying to get an understanding of the benefits of each.


SR.
 
Just a smoker or smoker/grill combo? I had an offset smoker that I could direct grill - It was an inexpensive Chargriller with an offset firebox. It takes time to get used to the quirks of your smoker before producing consistent material. How much $$$ do you wanna spend is what it breaks down to. There are some fantastic smokers that members have homemade or bought.
 
I think it depends what you want to put in it, primarily - peppers vs hunks/birds vs slabs, and if you require cold smoking too, or not etc ...

I always have had a (black) Weber 22.5" grill - I'm on #2 or #3 now ...

I added an Akorn kamado-type grill last year, which I would say improved my low and slow cooking experience for buffering temp swings for being insulated, but which simultaneously decreased the amount of smoke my food experiences, again, for being insulated ...

I think the kamado-types are out if you want heavily smoked food.

I'd buy a nice offset if I owned my home (I rent) and planned to manage lumber/wood etc, but short of that, I like the barrel one's ...

The Pitbarrel Cooker is on my short list, because it's more set-it-and-forget-it, and I think it would ultimately make a nice tandem grill to a kamado - dare I say relieving me of the need for a Weber kettle (although I'd keep one, always I think) ...

A lot of people like their WSM's, too, but I think I like the PBC for me. No settings or vents or mods, really - just good design that I'd trust overnight because there's nothing you can do, anyways, LOL ...

I think whether or not you plan to cook unattended is a key point of disyinction in smokers ...
 
I'd want to start on ribs, then move on to brisket, chicken, and the like. Being able to smoke peppers would be great too. A smoker/grill combo would be more versatile than a stand alone smoker, so I'd prefer both. I was looking at these two, but they are completely different styles.

I do like the ease of access of the Hark, and it looks roomy inside.
http://www.hark.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=108

Looks like a WSM copy, I don't think extra tiers are available separately.
https://www.barbequesgalore.com.au/products/product-view.aspx?id=20715

I'm probably asking too much for just the one smoker, but I'd like to get one that'll do the most for my money.

Looking to spend aaround $700-$800. I could make one, but don't really have the time.


Thanks for the help so far,


SR.
 
Shorerider said:
I'd want to start on ribs, then move on to brisket, chicken, and the like. Being able to smoke peppers would be great too. A smoker/grill combo would be more versatile than a stand alone smoker, so I'd prefer both. I was looking at these two, but they are completely different styles.

I do like the ease of access of the Hark, and it looks roomy inside.
http://www.hark.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=108

Looks like a WSM copy, I don't think extra tiers are available separately.
https://www.barbequesgalore.com.au/products/product-view.aspx?id=20715

I'm probably asking too much for just the one smoker, but I'd like to get one that'll do the most for my money.

Looking to spend aaround $700-$800. I could make one, but don't really have the time.


Thanks for the help so far,


SR.
Click to expand...
 
You are right in the price range where you can get a very well-made one stateside ... that's pretty much the cost of a nice little Yoder etc ...
 
In that price-range, you can get a well-made offset - and I think I would.
 
Shorerider said:
I'd want to start on ribs, then move on to brisket, chicken, and the like. Being able to smoke peppers would be great too. A smoker/grill combo would be more versatile than a stand alone smoker, so I'd prefer both. I was looking at these two, but they are completely different styles.

I do like the ease of access of the Hark, and it looks roomy inside.
http://www.hark.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=108

Looks like a WSM copy, I don't think extra tiers are available separately.
https://www.barbequesgalore.com.au/products/product-view.aspx?id=20715

I'm probably asking too much for just the one smoker, but I'd like to get one that'll do the most for my money.

Looking to spend aaround $700-$800. I could make one, but don't really have the time.


Thanks for the help so far,


SR.
Click to expand...
Check out the Pro Q's further shorerider, they are nearly half the price of the WSM for the smaller ones, and you can pack it down to a little kettle too.  The aussiebbqforum has some great write ups on them.  
 
http://www.aussiebbq.info/forum/
 
Just found this thread, $700-800 budget, get 5 or 6 old webers like me Hahahaha

ProQ seem great and can cook a lot in them

I've said it a lot, I love my expensive big offset but use my webers a hell of a lot more

If you were going to do a hell of a lot of brisket a the pros or wsm would be perfect not that you can't do briskets in them, but they do take up a lot of space

Also if you just want to get started nice and cheaply get a old weber and you can pump out pulled pork, wings and ribs no problems
 
Thanks Booma,
 
Ha, ha. Funnily enough, it's council hard waste collection around here and I've been scouring the nature strips for a Weber. No luck as yet, but I'll keep looking. 
 
I've decided on getting a ProQ Excel 20 Elite. 
 
https://www.bbqxl.com.au/shop/bbqs-barbecues-barbeques/proq-excel-20-elite-3-in-1-bbq-griller-roaster-smoker/
 
From the research I've done,  thìs style of smoker is a lot easier to get good results from. I do like the "look" of the offset smokers, but from what I have read,  they can be tricky to use.
 
I can get a standard Excel 20 from my local Barbecues Galore, but the "Elite" uses a thicker gauge steel and Stainless steel handles and nuts and bolts.
 
Stock should be available mid-late July, so unfortunately I have to wait until then.
 
Seeing as you're quite the "Q" master around here, what accessories would you recommend? I've been looking at digital temperature gauges and would appreciate your thoughts before I get one.
 
 
SR.
 
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