Whether you’re new to the smoker cooker game or not, you want your money’s worth if you’re going to invest in some pricey hardware. It goes without saying that you want to know your options, and when it comes to smokers, there are plenty!
Types of Grills and Smokers
There are quite a few options when it comes to types of grills and smokers, differing in fuel, fancy tech attachments, and versatility. The most common types include propane or gas, charcoal, pellet smokers, and electric.
Propane or Gas: Simple to use, easy to control the temperature, and you can start grilling in about 15 minutes after you ignite. And there’s no shortage of propane, which can easily be found at a supplier near you. These types of smokers are for those who like that extra flavoring that comes with fuel combustion that’s otherwise lost with electric grills.
Charcoal: Usually mixed with pellets, charcoal is the most flavorful fuel to cook your food with.
The downside to this type of grill is prepping, cleaning up, and it can be a challenge getting consistent results in your cooking. Coal takes longer to ash over before you’re ready to start cooking, and ash is messy!
Pellet Smokers: These smokers utilize sawdust pellets for fuel, giving you a nice wood-smoked flavoring – along with your other wood chips – to your cooked meats. They’re also one of the most versatile styles of smokers, allowing you to smoke, grill, and oven-cook your foods.
Electric: Great for beginning smokers as they’re easy to use and don’t require fuel you’d have to purchase and store. Your temperature will be consistent for a reliable cooking experience.
Bear in mind that you’ll need to plug your grill into an outlet somewhere, so you’ll likely be limited to where you can place it.
Also, because your fuel source is electric, you won’t get a nice smoke ring on your meat, nor will you easily get a good crisp out of your chicken skin or ribs with all the moisture from your smoker’s water pan.
Unique Grills and Smokers
Kamado style grills are excellent combination grills, known as the swiss army knife of outdoor cooking. A type of charcoal grill, kamados are almost egg-shaped and made of ceramic material, making them masters of heat retention. They can also be used for the whole range of outdoor cooking styles, including grilling, baking, roasting, and even smoking. It’s simply the best BBQ all in one grill!
Side Searing Attachments
Some smokers offer attachments like a side searing grill, making it easy for you to take your smoked meats and give them a quick sear on a convenient mini grill attachment, giving your meat that outdoor burn typical to your classic grilling experience. But these sorts of options depend on the brand and type of grill you purchase.
