So as of Sunday i no longer have a bbq. It decided to catch fire and nearly start my deck on fire and enough that i needed a fire extinguisher to put it out and now its all warped that half the burners cant turn on. Good Sunday night.
I am now looking at new bbqs but was wondering about smokers over bbq's. what is everyones preference and why? Ive always used propane bbq so i have no clue on smokers.
Also looking for recomendations on brands that are rediculously priced. Thanks in advance for the advice.
Here's some good reads that will help break it down:
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/203818
https://www.tastymeat.net/smokers-vs-grills-the-ultimate-guide/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wired.com/2013/07/gas-grilling-is-objectively-scientifically-better-than-charcoal/amp
And if you are interested in the health specs, try this info:
https://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&client=ms-android-att-us&source=android-browser&q=which+is+healthier+gas+or+charcoal+grilling
If money was no issue Big Green Egg would be my choice. You can cook everything on them, smoke, grill, bake...
I have a Webber charcoal with gas ignition built into a cart. It grills like a champ, not sure I could smoke on it, never tried or researched it.
This is what I have https://www.bbqguys.com/weber/performer-deluxe-22-inch-freestanding-charcoal-grill-with-touch-n-go-ignition-green
I have a Primo that is similar to a Big Green Egg. If you want to dip into smoking, I would definitely recommend a ceramic or even pellet grill as you can get them hot enough to grill as well as keep it low and slow. I also have a CharBroil Infared gas grill as well which is nice when I wanna cook quick and not heat up the ceramic. I don't buy the Infared really makes much difference, but it is a good overall grill.
Quoteninfiction - 7/18/2018 12:36 AM If money was no issue Big Green Egg would be my choice. You can cook everything on them, smoke, grill, bake... I have a Webber charcoal with gas ignition built into a cart. It grills like a champ, not sure I could smoke on it, never tried or researched it. This is what I have https://www.bbqguys.com/weber/performer-deluxe-22-inch-freestanding-charcoal-grill-with-touch-n-go-ignition-green
I have a similar Weber to ninfiction's. Have dad it for 16 years, I prefer using charcoal
To me, BBQ grilles are made for hamburgers, steaks, and such. Smokers are for long term cooking to gain the smoke flavor in the meat.
I have a large 5 burner gas grille that I use as mentioned. I also have a large stick smoker that I use regularly also to smoke pork butts, ribs, brisket, whole chickens, and other meats. Smoking is an art to get the right flavor and tenderness in your meats. It's not something you just put on and leave it. Like I said I have a stick smoker( uses logs ) I do not have a built in computer to maintain temperature like pellet or electric smokers do. I don't feel like that is true smoking. I get fire going, set my dampers to maintain my desired temperature, throw on another log as needed, watch my temp, and after a certain period of time I wrap my meat and place back on until done. The eggs are nice and I know a lot of people that have them but they are very expensive and you have a pretty limited amount of space. I almost bought one when I bought my smoker but decided I liked the challenge of a stick smoker. I try new ideas and get a little better every time I smoke. Electric smokers aren't really smoking at all to me.
Anyway, way to long here, but that's my take on smokers and grilles. If you like old school, buy and good stick smoker for long smokes and gas grilles to cook hamburgers on.
Here's my set up. As a certified BBQ judge for the Kansas City Barbecue Society I would tell you that it's going to depend on what you want your smoker,grill to do. If funds and space are limited I would recommend the Weber Performer. You can grill and smoke on it.
(https://preview.ibb.co/hfNLEJ/3_FFB9857_4_FF9_40_E0_9194_B07_EC65740_B9.jpg) (https://ibb.co/f8nnuJ)
Holy crap John,nice set up.Would I ever liked to be invited to one of your barbecues. :-)
You have an open invite my friend.
QuoteChefjohn - 7/18/2018 8:13 AM
You have an open invite my friend.
Be over in 16 hours and 24 minutes - just enough time for some brisket!
The king daddy in my area are the Green Mountain Grills. Serious coin, but could replace a traditional grill without issue.
Quoteshakinghorizons - 7/18/2018 10:58 AM
The king daddy in my area are the Green Mountain Grills. Serious coin, but could replace a traditional grill without issue.
Green Mountains are awesome cookers.
just visit Texas... :biggrin: :bigthumbs: :lmao:
Quotenirab - 7/18/2018 2:42 PM
just visit Texas... :biggrin: :bigthumbs: :lmao:
Not West Texas - no such thing as good BBQ there!
I have a Masterbuilt 40 electric smoker, heavily modified with a PID controller, and their separate smoke generator option. I can smoke-cook anything with very little effort and maintain a 2-degree temperature range. I really recommend it, but it is NOT a grill, so it's not great for burgers, steaks, etc. Last weekend, I did a couple of tri-tips, a whole chicken, and a huge mess of beans for a BBQ party. Everything came out wonderfully smoky and delicious. Of course I smoked a Drew Estate KFC Fat Molly while I waited for the temps to hit. Details of my mods are downloadable as a PDF here: https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/mes40-mods-the-saga.276768/#post-1844857.
A one-size fits all solution would be the Traegers. I believe they can smoke and grill. Costco sometimes carries them, too. Good luck!
Traeger's are garbage IMO. I know many people they own them and everyone once of them is either waiting for replacement parts or has replaced them in the past. I'm not talking 10+ years of ownership, these are within the first year.
Quoteshakinghorizons - 7/18/2018 9:42 PM
Traeger's are garbage IMO. I know many people they own them and everyone once of them is either waiting for replacement parts or has replaced them in the past. I'm not talking 10+ years of ownership, these are within the first year.
I have a buddy that has one and LOVES it. But every time we have steaks I don't think it gets hot enough for my liking to get a good sear. I think they do fine for smoking, but I prefer my charcoal and hardwoods myself. Just my taste though.
I've got a cheap $90 "Expert Grill" charcoal grill from the WalMarts I use for grilling. For smoking, I'm still using a 90's era New Braunfels Black Diamond offset smoker.
Thanks for the input ShakingHorizons... Didn't know that about Traegers.
Quoteshakinghorizons - 7/18/2018 9:42 PM
Traeger's are garbage IMO. I know many people they own them and everyone once of them is either waiting for replacement parts or has replaced them in the past. I'm not talking 10+ years of ownership, these are within the first year.
I agree with Colin. Ive known several people that have had them and had a number of problems with them. If you're interested in a pellet smoker check out Rec Tec.
Thats for all the advice on this. I think i want both now though. most of my cooking is burgers and steaks but i like to do ribs and roasts as well.
Quoteshakinghorizons - 7/18/2018 6:46 PM
Not West Texas - no such thing as good BBQ there!
That's definitely not true.
Quotewescat - 7/19/2018 10:32 PM
Quoteshakinghorizons - 7/18/2018 6:46 PM
Not West Texas - no such thing as good BBQ there!
That's definitely not true.
x2 :biggrin:
Quotenirab - 7/20/2018 3:41 PM
Quotewescat - 7/19/2018 10:32 PM
Quoteshakinghorizons - 7/18/2018 6:46 PM
Not West Texas - no such thing as good BBQ there!
That's definitely not true.
x2 :biggrin:
I miss the fu$k outta West Texas BBQ. If you ever in Lubbock and hungry, get some Q at Bigham's: http://www.bighamsbbq.net/index.html
They had damn fine brisket and ribs back when I lived there.
Quotewescat - 7/20/2018 3:10 PM
Quotenirab - 7/20/2018 3:41 PM
Quotewescat - 7/19/2018 10:32 PM
Quoteshakinghorizons - 7/18/2018 6:46 PM
Not West Texas - no such thing as good BBQ there!
That's definitely not true.
x2 :biggrin:
I miss the fu$k outta West Texas BBQ. If you ever in Lubbock and hungry, get some Q at Bigham's: http://www.bighamsbbq.net/index.html
They had damn fine brisket and ribs back when I lived there.
I judged a couple of contests in the West Texas area and there is definitely some good Q there.
I grew up in the South, or Southeast, where pork and chicken and yellow sauce is King, but I can definitely appreciate some good Texas beef brisket. That said, with my extended family originally from the Birmingham and north Alabama area, I have to admit it wasn't until Bob Cordell got into the BBQ restaurant biz in Tennessee several years ago that I heard about Alabama "White Sauce", which is supposedly a big northern Alabama thing.