Smoker Buying Advice

Barbecue smokers are the tool of choice for cooks who are serious about barbecue. Cooking meat with a smoker not only provides us with a primal connection to our past, but is the most effective way to infuse meat with true barbecue flavor. While some smokers offer grilling capabilities, true smokers aren't grills. Shopping for one needn't be a daunting task and there are quality smokers available for every price range.

Smokers Versus Grills
When it comes to backyard cooking, most people start with a grill. Grills use high levels of direct heat to sear meat quickly while smokers use low levels of indirect heat that result in the one-two punch of slow cooking meat while infusing it with the flavor of smoke.

Learning to cook with a smoker takes time and patience and your willingness to experiment will determine how quickly you master this art.  How often you plan to use your smoker and for what kinds of occasions will determine the type of smoker you choose. Some smokers can take up to eight hours to cook and require that you focus more on your cooking than your guests. The effort that goes into smoking won't go unrewarded however: Even the smallest of smokers provide you with a large enough cooking surface to turn out a large-scale dinner.

Types of Smokers
The least expensive and most flexible smoker option is a vertical smoker. Basic vertical smokers look like steel barrels with a firebox at the bottom and a covered cooking surface at the top. You will find water and chip trays in the middle, which helps keep food moist during cooking and holds soaked hardwood that generates the smoke.

Wood-fueled horizontal smokers, sometimes called charcoal smokers, are favored by barbecue purists and look like barrels turned on their side. The firebox is mounted on one side with a chimney opposite the cooking area. Instead of wood chips, these smokers generate smoke from split woods or wood charcoal to add flavor. If you want a quick-cooking option, look for models that feature a grilling area just above the firebox.

The newest type of smoker is the pellet grill. Similar to horizontal smokers, these grills use pre-fabricated hardwood pellets that are fed through a hopper to maintain both smoke and temperature levels. Most hardwoods are available in pellet form and most pellet grills can also function as traditional grills.

Smoker Fuels
For the best flavor and the most authentic barbecue experience, wood-fueled smokers are best. No other heating method can produce the same amount of natural smoke. Pellet smokers compare well to split-wood smokers, offering the next best thing for those who don't want to work with split wood or charcoal.

A wood-fueled smoker is a demanding tool, requiring you to tend to the fire and maintain the right temperature while the smoker is working. If you'd rather focus on food than fire, electric bbq smokers and propane gas bbq smokers are better choices. These smokers let you set a temperature and require only occasional checks for accuracy. Electric smokers are available with standard or infrared heating elements.

Propane smokers offer the same convenience as electric smokers, with two drawbacks. First, propane smoke can flavor the food. Second, the smoker might run out of fuel in the midst of cooking. Propane smokers are a good choice if there's no electricity nearby or you need your smoker to be portable. When buying a propane smoker, make sure that there is good separation between the burners and the cooking surface. Too much direct heat will sear the food, and you won't get that smoker flavor.

Smoker Features
Spending more for a smoker will add convenience features, but your first priority should be performance. At any price point, you want a smoker with a heavy, airtight lid that is well-vented to allow excess heat and smoke to escape. Wood-fired smokers need dampers at the firebox and in the lid. These dampers should be easy to operate and should reliably hold any position that you set.

For gas and electric smokers, dampers in the lid are enough, because you can control the temperature with a thermostat. These smokers benefit from a built-in thermometer or digital controls that give you an accurate read of cooking temperature.

Look for stainless steel or porcelain-coated cooking surfaces that are easy to clean. For vertical smokers, water and chip trays should also be easy to clean and should slide in and out easily.

Access to the firebox is essential for wood-fueled smokers. A horizontal smoker with a removable firebox lid will give you the best access. Vertical smokers can be trickier because you can only reach the fire from the front. For these smokers, look for a large door that allows access to the back and enough height to add more split wood or charcoal.

Some smokers offer insulated interiors that maintain temperature and moisture. This takes some of the effort out of running the smoker and keeps the smoker's exterior cooler, which is a benefit if you have children or hungry pets. If you're just looking for performance, you'll get the same results with a non-insulated smoker and a little extra effort.

Spotting Quality
Materials tell you a bit about the durability of a smoker. Most consumers gravitate toward stainless steel smokers, but there are different grades of stainless out there. A smoker made with 300 grade stainless steel offers the best corrosion resistance.   Solid hinges are a sign of better construction. A smoker's handles should be made of materials that don't conduct heat, such as chrome or wood. A well-designed smoker will have a firebox door handle that keeps your hands away from hot surfaces.

Easy cleaning of interior surfaces is far more essential for smokers than for grills. A buildup of residue or unspent fuel will add an unpleasant flavor to foods. A smoker should have a corrosion-free firebox and interior that can be cleaned after each use without too much effort.

In general, vertical smokers are the hardest to clean and pellet smokers are the easiest, but materials make the difference. If you're shopping for a pellet smoker, check the hopper to make sure its outlet can be cleaned and that it won't clog.