The Low-down on the Best Smoker for Beginners

Ever wanted to try making that tender, juicy, fall off the bone ribs you always have at barbecue joints? How about making those smoked cheese that you love buying from your favorite deli? You can. With the best smoker grills, you can make your very own briskets, chicken wings, and roasts, all at home smoked to your desired taste and perfection.

You’ll want to have the best smoker rather than use an ordinary grill to obtain such flavor. Well, we have the perfect guide if you’re just starting. By the end of this, you’ll be able to tell the difference between each type of smoker grill and which one you want to be able to have that delicious family Sunday barbecue you’ve dreamed of all in the comforts of your backyard.

Smoker Grills 101

A smoker is a piece of cooking machinery responsible for that delicious and juicy smoked meat you love. The process includes smoking these meats at a low temperature and for long hours.

You have to know the basics of smoker grills before deciding on buying one. They must be easy to use, durable, portable, and can fit in your budget. Below are 8 smoker grills to look out for:

1. Vertical Water Smokers

Vertical water smokers are known for using a liquid mixture between your meat and heat. If you’re wondering what liquid this is, this comes in the form of wine, soda, beer, or water with all the seasonings in it (you can also just add plain water).

Why does this type of smoker need such liquid? This is because while you’re in the process of smoking, the liquid evaporates and adds flavor to your meat. The vapor and smoke team up together to give your meat that taste you want it to be whether it’s the sweetness of the soda you used or the zesty and bitter taste of the beer.

The environment inside the smoker is also humid which is responsible for making your meat moist rather than dry. You may also find that the water pan catches meat drippings which also add to that delicious aroma to the vapor.

2. Horizontal Offset Smokers

An offset smoker is one that smokes your meat with indirect heat.

Three parts make up the offset smoker: the firebox, the cooking chamber, and the smokestack. You simply just light up your heat source in the firebox. Your meats go in the cooking chamber where the smoke from the firebox will travel to. The smokestack will then allow some of the smoke to escape creating an equal distribution of temperature throughout your meats.

To better understand the heat distribution in a horizontal offset smoker, check this video out:

3. Box Smokers

Just like the vertical water smoker, a box smoker needs your choice of liquid to help smoke the meat. The only grand difference between the two is its size. A box smoker can fit in more meats or other kinds of food than vertical water smokers.

4. Electric Smokers

From the name itself, you can already tell how this smoker is used. The electric smoker uses a steel hot plate to generate heat. Because of this, the meats have no smoke flavor since there’s no smoke emitting to begin with (although some electric smokers allow for chopped wood to be used). You also won’t be able to achieve that smoke ring, that pink color in the outermost section of the meat that defines they’ve been smoked.

5. Drum Smokers

A drum smoker (also known as an ugly drum smoker) is another cooking apparatus that is built the same way as the vertical smoker. The only major difference is that these smokers have more room for your meats. Drum smokers are offered as a DIY so they can be built from scratch making it cheaper than most smokers.

6. Smoker Ovens

A simple way of describing what smoker ovens are is that they’re high-tech. Smoker ovens have computer controls so it’s easier to use. They also have spacious cooking storage and can smoke meats faster. These are also essentially used by restaurants and other professionals since they can just leave this type of oven unattended while they do their activities.

7. Kamado Grills/Smoker

The Kamado grill is well known in Japan for steaming rice and has made its way to the United States in World War II. Since then, this grill has been used as a smoker grill as well because of the way it can cook meats slow and low.

The smoker grill is designed in the shape of an egg and many find it to be aesthetically pleasing.

8. Pellet Grills

In the olden days, meats were cooked over fired logs giving that delicious taste of smoked meat. It was an authentic way of smoking and barbecuing. The practice is slowly dying though since it’s not as convenient to do so in this day and age.

Enter the pellet grills where you can grill and smoke your food while still using wood as fuel. Wood pellets come in about 0.25-inch pieces that you feed into these grills so you can still have that wood-smoked flavor in your meats.

How is this guide doing so far for you? Do you already have a type of smoker in mind? Now that you’re aware of all these basic smokers, here are 8 smokers we’ve reviewed should you purchase one in the future.

8 Best Smoker Grills On The 2022 Market

Got what you were looking for? We hope you did. Because now, let’s check out some of the guidelines in choosing the best smoker for you.

Guide In Choosing The Best Smoker for Beginners

Barbecue Accessories

We all know you’re excited about getting started on smoking your meats. But before you do so, there are accessories you should be familiar with. To have them would be a major help in your smoking experience as well. Not to mention, these items can ensure your safety while you cook.

1. Heat Resistant Gloves

BBQ gloves or heat resistant gloves are used for your safety. This is to avoid any accidents and burns on your hands that may result from grilling. If you think you don’t need this, you do. Because you’ll be using these gloves from start to finish. You’ll use these to light your charcoal, while you’re handling the smoker grill and even when you’re cleaning the grill afterward.

Heat resistant gloves are durable. Find ones that can protect you up to 900°F. Also look for gloves that come with a silicone grip so you can hold on to your tongs, knives and other BBQ items with care.

2. Charcoal Chimney Fire Starter

If you’re still using lighter fluid to start your charcoal, get rid of it at once! Lighter fluid is not a recommended way of starting your charcoal for smoking your meats or else you’ll get that strange petroleum taste in your food. It will also affect the meat’s texture as well.

Get a charcoal chimney fire starter. They look like oversized cylindrical mugs where you can put all your charcoal in. Just light the space underneath with newspapers and watch the fire and heat spread through the charcoal inside the cylinder. Wait for about 10 to fifteen minutes. When you see it all consumed with fire, you can then pour the coals safely into your firebox.

3. Tongs

Another accessory you most definitely need is tongs. Long sturdy tongs for grilling meats and another one for shifting around your coals. Tongs are very helpful since it helps you get a better grip at what you’re grilling without you coming into contact with them at such a close range. It can be very hot when you’re standing in front of that grill so having the proper tongs around is important.

4. Grill Brush For Cleaning

It’s important to keep your smokers and grillers clean after use. Leaving them dirty would make them susceptible to wear and tear easily and you don’t want to do that after spending so much money on them.

Clean your smokers with a grill brush. Be sure to look for a brush that has a long handle. You don’t want to burn yourself since your grill should still be a little hot while cleaning them to easily get rid of the dirt. Check if the grill brush is also safe to use on porcelain, ceramic, stainless steel, and cast iron.

5. Boning Knife

Knives are very essential when you’re cooking. They’re considered a must-have even when you’re just starting. But a boning knife is more useful when you’re on a smoking grill.

The shape of the blade helps in trimming off fat from your meats and making them look pretty while sitting there getting smoked. You must also take into consideration the handle and how comfortable it should be to hold.

There you have it. With this guide, you’ll be well equipped with the knowledge of what the best smoker for beginners is. You’ll know the right terms used so it’s easy to distinguish one from the other. Just keep on practicing how to get that fire going and let your smokers do the rest. You’ll be able to have those juicy ribs you’ve been craving for in no time.

Get that grill out and smoke those briskets up! Family barbecues are going to be even more delicious and fun with a smoker grill around.

Smoker FAQs

Do you still have some questions in smoking meats? Here are a few FAQs that might help:

Which is better, electric or gas smokers?

If there’s one thing you should know about electric smokers, it’s that they don’t reach high temperatures easily. However, gas smokers can do the trick for you. Gas smokers are also portable which makes it a better option than electric.

Is gas grill better than charcoal?

Gas grilling is better than charcoal grilling since you can control the heat temperature properly. But as for the taste, charcoal would probably win this round since they’ll give your meats that distinct delicious flavor rather than gas which gives off that fried bacon flavor.

Is smoked meat healthy?

It has long been discussed that there are certain health concerns, such as cancer, posed when grilling or smoking meats. The answer to this is that it depends on how you cook them. Admittedly, cooking in high heat can be more harmful.

There is also no right or wrong answer when asked which is healthier, gas grilling or charcoal grilling. Both pose their risks although gas grilling allows you to control the temperature from getting too high.

The rule of thumb in all things being consumed is to eat in moderation. Eating in small quantities is still the right way to consuming smoked or grilled meats.

To learn more about this, you may visit this site for a more detailed explanation.

Are gas grills safe?

All smokers and grills are safe no matter the type and size. What is important is that you know how to use them properly and store them away safely after use. It is also recommended to check your smoker or grill for any defects before using it.

Make sure your barbecue area is clear from shrubs, trees, or any material that can catch fire quickly. Never let your kids or pets play near the smoker grill.

Always turn off the tap before switching cylinders. Double-check if the main control is turned off after you are grilling.

Please also note that having a proper fire extinguisher such as a bucket of sand or water nearby is helpful. Lastly, always remember not to keep your smokers unattended for too long.

What brand of smoker grill is the best?

There are many brands with different strengths when it comes to smokers. But according to the Best Sellers in Outdoor Smokers in Amazon, the best brand of smoker grill is Masterbuilt with their MB20071117 Digital Electric Smoker.

Should I buy a smoker or a grill?

This depends on which one you want or which one you already have. If you have a grill at home, you can just get a smoker. But some smokers can function as a grill too so you can have two functionalities in one cooking apparatus. You should also think about which one you’ll do more frequently. Will it be grilling food or smoking them? Which one will you be more interested in doing?

What is the quickest meat to smoke?

The quickest meat to smoke would be sausages which takes up about 30 minutes to 1 hour. In contrast, the meat that takes the longest to smoke would be a beef brisket, which takes 12 to 20 hours, or a chuck roast, which takes up also 12 to 20 hours.

What temp do you smoke cheese?

Smoking cheese can be quite delicate as there should be a proper temperature for it. Set your smoker up to 90°F only for cheese. You do not want to smoke your cheese way higher than that since it might melt.

Leave it smoking for about 2 to 4 hours. Seal it afterward in a reusable or plastic bag to keep the flavors packed in. Leave it sealed for 2 weeks for a more aged and smoky flavor before eating.

Are electric smokers worth it?

This depends on what type of taste you’re looking for in your smoked meats. Electric smokers may be easy and convenient to use but they won’t give off that smoky flavor in your meats. You’ll have to add other methods to strengthen the smokiness.

It’s also not an outdoor type of smoker since you’ll need a power source hooked up to it.

But if you’re fine without the smoky flavor and the smoke ring, and if you’re looking for just a simple indoor smoker, an electric one will do.

How much electricity does a smoker use?

For most electric smokers, they usually take up about 800 watts per hour.

Should you close the lid when grilling steaks?

This depends on how long you want your steaks to be grilling. Opening the lid will slow down the grilling process since more heat escapes. Closing the lid will get the heat to circulate and therefore grill your steaks a bit faster. The same applies to different types of meat and not just steaks.

What is the 3 2 1 method for ribs?

The 3-2-1 method for ribs is when you want that fall off the bone kind of ribs. It is just simply:

Some add more sauce in between each method. But this is the basics of the 3-2-1 method for ribs should you wish for a juicy, tender, and soft outcome.

How long does it take to smoke ribs at 250°F?

Back ribs would take about 3 to 4 hours while spare ribs take 5 to 6 hours.

If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to drop us a comment.