Buying a BBQ Smoker

All you need to know about buying a BBQ smoker

Perhaps one downside to using a water type smoker is the fact that the heat regulation can be poor, but don't let that put you off from buying one. These inexpensive barbecue smokers can turn out some very impressive BBQ food! A step up from the water type smokers takes us into the realms of electric powered barbecue smokers. Electric smokers tend to cost a good deal more than water coolers, and the results are of course generally better than food smoked with a water type smoker. That aside, electric smokers do have some advantages and disadvantages. Electric smokers have one benefit (or disadvantage depending on how you look at it!), in that they do not require you to tend a fire.

The only way to barbecue! Smoke it!

Highly Recommended BBQ Smokers While to many people this takes away the fun from barbecuing, it does offer a simple and clean way to smoke food without the hassles of maintaining a fire during the smoking process. After all, some people want to spend more time having fun with their friends than poking around the fire with a stick all day. That said, electric smokers do have a lot to offer, and require less maintenance, and this to some people is more than enough to justify purchase of an electric smoker. The cooking process is very simple, all you need to do is add water-moistened wood chips into the electric smoker and away you go. The chips will then put moisture and smoke into the smoking area and permeate your food effectively. Cost-wise electric smokers range in price from around £200 to £300 or so depending on make and specifications and are readily available from many online retailers. You can take a look at our ever-growing listing of barbecue smoker manufacturers here. By now you are probably wondering what the next step-up from an electric smoker is .. well, for the most adventurous barbecuers of all, there is no substitute for a log or charcoal burning pit smoker. The flavors that are produced from smoking food takes charcoal or gas barbecuing to a completely new level. These strange looking devices appear to be a cross between a cut-down trash can, and a steam engine. They are not only impressive to look at, the food they produce is of professional quality also, and many novice smokers upgrade in time to a log burning smoker when they see what kind of difference smoking makes to the taste of the food. Log and charcoal smokers are generally quite a bit larger than water smokers and electric smokers, and they can weigh a lot more too. Fortunately though most smokers are equipped with wheels and handle-bars, much in the same way as barbecue grills, so you can move them around fairly easily. Barbecue smoking pits have superior thermal control and smoke generation capacity which provides the cook with a lot more options when cooking the barbecue food. An important aspect of these smokers is that it is essential to "cure" the pit before using it. This ensures that the pit is sealed against the heat and smoke during the cooking process, and will prolong the life of your smoker. Perhaps the only downside to the barbecue smoking pit is the fact that they do tend to cost more money, but all things being equal if you want the best, you have to pay a little bit more. You may also like to read our Barbecue Smoker FAQ, where you will find many answers to commonly asked questions that our readers send to us prior to buying a smoker. If on the other hand you need a catering sized pit smoker, or a unit that is built to your own specifications, you make like to read our comprehensive listing of barbecue smoker manufacturers. Barbecue Smoker Maintenance Articles Routine Care - Before you do anything, you will need to know how to take care of your smoker or pit on a day to day basis. Most smokers and pits require little maintenance, but of course the best results will come from a clean barbecue! Here is the low-down on how to provide basic maintenance for your barbecue smoker or pit.   Pit Painting - Is your smoker or pit getting flaky around the edges ? David Klose gives a good insight into what is involved in his tips for pit painting.   Pit Curing - Before you use your smoker for the first time it is essential to ensure that your pit or smoker is cured properly before use. Take a look at these tips for pit curing by David Klose.   Barbecue Smoker Articles Barbecue Hygiene - Read this article to find out how you can improve your barbecue hygiene and what steps you can take to ensure that your meal is safe for both your family and guests.   Barbecue Safety - This interesting article explains how you can improve your barbecue safety which is one of the most important aspects of any barbecue and is well worth reading.