Discover the Magic of BBQ Smoking
Charcoal Smokers
• Weber Smokey Mountain • Orion 101 Cooker • Kamado Kooker • Portable Kitchen |
If you are looking to buy your first bbq smoker, or if you are ready to replace that trusty ol' smoker that have sadly given up the ghost, you could have your brand-new product delivered to your doorstep in the next few days! The following selection of bbq smokers for sale - all of proven quality and all given enthusiastic customer satisfaction feedback - will make your decision a breeze, at a price to make you smile. ☺
You may naturally want to buy a bbq smoker from a reputable manufacturer that has been around for many years and is known for excellent after-sales service. So you may rest assured that brands such as Weber and Smokin' It have produced exceptional smokers and are companies of solid standing. Succulent, "fall-off-the-bone" ribs or delicious baby back, seafood, ham or chicken can all be smoked to perfection, and it is only a matter of preference how you want to achieve it: charcoal, electric, or gas smokers. And of these, choose between vertical or side smokers or kamado-style cookers. And plenty other choices within each type! Chuffed With Your Charcoal SmokerLet's admit, right off the bat, that charcoal smokers are not the easiest things to operate. It is such a chore to light charcoal evenly, get it to level out at the right temperature and then to maintain that temperature for up to 12 hours. And what a mess to clean up afterwards!
So why are charcoal smokers so popular across the US of A? Hundreds of users have rated the Weber Smokey Mountain as excellent (5 out of 5). It is, arguably, the ordinary man's choice as the best smoker on the market over the past years, and showing no signs of relinquishing that coveted position. And at the hands of a master, it can more than hold its own in bbq smoking competitions against state-of-the-art, top-in-its-class smokers! The Orion 101 Convection Cooker has received similar perfect ratings, despite having a voracious appetite for charcoal, and despite it being almost impossible to regulate its cooking temperature. So, one has to agree that their redeeming features are such that the negatives fade into oblivion. To list them all would be a daunting task, since each user has his or her own reason for being thoroughly content with his or her choice of charcoal smoker. But one could imagine that some of these factors are: 1. Results. The saying "the proof of the pudding is in the eating" is most appropriate, when amended to read "the proof of the perfectly smoked baby back ribs is in the succulent, lip-smacking, finger-licking deliciousness" one gets from these cookers. 2. Ease of use is always a key consideration with a bbq smoker. Clearly, users are having no trouble with the stability of the temperature over extended periods. Nor with any other aspect of the operation of the smoker. 3. Price. There are cheaper smokers out there, just as there are units costing an arm and a leg, and which boast all the latest bells and whistles. But the charcoal smokers featured here (see below) are giving the perfect balance of quality and value-for-money. US AND THEM It is a given that propane, electric and pellet smokers have the great advantage of being "set-and-forget" to a large extent. While owners of charcoal smoker take quite a few cookouts to learn the finer arts of controlling temperature levels, owners of other smokers simply dial a knob or press a few entries into a digital keypad, then they can sit back and relax for the most part. It is also easier to control the smoke levels than with a charcoal smoker. PLUS, charcoal is not the cheapest commodity nowadays. So how are charcoal smokers preferable over these other smokers? Authentic flavor. Traditionalists are still ruling the bbq smoking competition scene and what they say goes. So, if they say that other smokers are not allowed, no further argument is brooked! ☺ Even though it is darn hard to prove, they will swear that only charcoal or wood can produce that authentic smoke ring and taste so craved by the fanatical adherents of the "low and slow" method. PROPANE SMOKERS Propane smokers are thought to impart an undesirable palate to meat due to the artificial additive ethyl mercaptan. It is a legal requirement that this substance be added to propane, which is essentially odorless, in order to make it detectable in case of a leak. But then again, hundreds of users of propane smokers have no problem with it. ☺ Propane has the unwelcome distinction of being the most dangerous fuel source in use, if great care is not taken to ensure that all pipes and connectors are sound and leakage-free. It is also very important to wait at least 5 minutes after a propane-fueled flame dies out, or after an unsuccessful attempt to ignite a flame, before attempting to start or restart it, for fear that there might have been a dangerous build-up of gas inside the cabinet. However, following the safety precautions laid down by the manufacturer should give you many years of good use of your propane smoker. ELECTRIC SMOKERS Charcoal smokers are generally capable of being transported much more easily than electric smokers, simply because of the unavailability of electric power in the great outdoors. Electrical appliances need special care during inclement weather. Since most bbq smokers are not recommended for indoor use, it becomes quite a problem to use your electric smoker should the weather close in. The solution would involve some sort of shelter against the elements, possibly a veranda. On the other hand, electric smokers have thermostats that can maintain cooking temperatures even in freezing conditions, while charcoal smokers demand considerably more coaxing, nursing and loving attention in winter. Top Choices in Charcoal BBQ Smokers:
Why should you consider purchasing an electric bbq smoker?
The answer is not that hard: it depends on what you need it for; or more accurately, which features would suit your situation best:
Maybe you simply don't fancy the mess of working with charcoal: buying, loading, stoking, tending, cleaning, disposing of ashes... ugh! Electric smoker: plug in, switch on, set temperature, cook meal, switch off, yes please! Many factors will affect your choice: the reputation of the manufacturer, digital or analog, thermostat or rheostat, size, power consumption, and so on. You would do well to carefully consider whether your domestic power supply can support the requirement of the smoker, else you may need to upgrade your supply to cope with the increased demand. A thermostat is more energy-efficient than a rheostat because it adjusts more smoothly to fluctuations in the heat in the cooking chamber, whereas a rheostat is somewhat more simpler and rugged, switching off the current completely when the upper temperature threshold is reached and switching back on at the lower limit. Another important consideration is the price of the appliance. Higher priced models come with the assurance of top-quality materials, workmanship and performance. Due diligence on your part is vital. The Masterbuilt 30-inch Digital Smokehouse has for quite a while been the #1 best-seller in electric smokers, and with good reason; previous buyers are very pleased with all aspects of this top-quality product. Top Choices in Electric BBQ Smokers:
Each energy source for bbq smokers has advantages to recommend it to consumers. These sources include wood, charcoal, wood pellets, and electricity.
Wood is a fair source of heat, but is more suitable to large backyard pits and rather fickle to control to an exact temperature. Charcoal is handy to use, but not everyone is keen on the mess of cleaning up afterwards. It is also hard to gain and maintain an exact temperature in the smoker, especially in foul weather. Charcoal is also not that cheap. Wood pellet smokers tend to be pricey owing to their many moving parts and complexity. Electricity has the drawback of relying on a stable, high-wattage power supply and thus it can really only be used close to home, unless you wish to cart around a cumbersome - and expensive - power generator. Gas is an inexpensive and clean option, should you have piped natural gas already installed. However, this would have the same drawback as electricity, namely to restrict bbq smoking close to the source. Which is, of course, just fine for most folks. Propane gas is more expensive than natural gas, but with a smaller tank it would make traveling easy, should you wish to do so. Safety in using propane gas is a concern to some, and rightly so, considering its volatility. But if you take the necessary precautions in maintaining and using the appliance there is no reason why you should not enjoy smoked viands for many years to come. Also, remember to refill your propane tank instead of exchanging it, otherwise you may well end up with a tank with a faulty faucet or even one that is not completely filled. Top Choices in Propane BBQ Smokers:
|
This site is a member of
The Smoke Ring
Next BBQ Site - Next 5 BBQ Sites - Prev BBQ Site - Random BBQ Site Join the BBQ ring or browse a complete list of The Smoke Ring BBQ member sites The Smoke Ring - All you need to know about Barbecue A service of netRelief Consulting |
BBQ Smoker Select is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program
designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com