Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Confused About Which Meat Smoker to Purchase? Here Are the Basics
If you have decided that it is time to purchase a meat smoker but are unsure which one to buy, you are not alone.It can be confusing to say the least.Water smokers, wood smokers, electric smokers, and ceramic smokers are all different types of meat smokers.Some work better than others, some cost more than others, but which type smokes the best?The answer to this question varies depending on who you ask.If you are a beginner, or if you are a busy person and do not have time to check on your meat smoker periodically throughout the day, you may want to start out with an electric smoker due to the set it and forget it option.Using an electric smoker really takes a lot of the guess work out of smoking.You just need to start it up, set the temp, and insert a thermometer probe into the food to tell when it is done.It truly is the easiest meat smoker to use.Water smokers are very popular choices as well.They are called water smokers because they use a pan in between the fire and the food to help maintain the low temperature of the unit.The most used water smoker, due mostly to its' inexpensive price tag, is the Brinkmann Smoke'n Grill.They aren't perfect but with a few adjustments they can be a serviceable meat smoker.Another popular water smoker is the Weber Smokey Mountain.This is far and away one of the best smokers on the market.It runs a little bit more expensive but compared to the high prices of ceramic cookers, it is well worth the investment.Another option may be a smoker with a sidebox.This type of meat smoker is also popular due to the ability to use it as an ordinary charcoal grill as well.There is a wide range of prices with these type of smokers, you can even build one yourself that may cost into the thousands of dollars.Smokers like this are very popular amongst the professionals and dedicated barbecue lovers.The granddaddy of them all may just be the Big Green Egg.If you look past the silly name you will see one of the best ceramic smokers ever made.Easy to use, the Big Green Egg also sports the most efficient fuel model.Due the the nature of ceramic, and the overall design of the Big Green Egg, less charcoal is used compared to any other smoker on the market.Though you will have to pay the price, depending on which size you choose they start at around $700.So this fall when you are looking for a smoker, take a long look at your situation and decide which one is best for you.Do you have time to check on the smoker often during the day? Are you a beginner or a veteran barbecue enthusiast? Any direction you go, you should end up with good barbecue.Just relax and have fun.
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electric smoker
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