With summer coming up, it is time to consider all those barbecue opportunities. Summer is the perfect opportunity to get together with friends and family in order to grill some great food and have some fun. Smoking is one popular way to grill. Smoking is a method of using indirect heat to bring added flavor and depth to food. Oftentimes smoking is used in conjunction with wood chips that bring about the favor. Mesquite, apple wood, hickory and pecan are favored types of wood to use with smokers. There are many types of food that can be smoked. Brisket, ribs, vegetables, fish, sausage and peppers are the most commonly smoked foods. But before you go buy a smoker, you may want to consider what the best smokers are for outdoor cooking.
Big Drum Smokers Mini 1427 is the ideal smoker for beginners. If you are new to grilling, outdoor cooking or smoking, this is the item for you. It retails for about $200 so it is budget friendly. The benefits are that it is very easy to use and will easily cook a meal including an entire brisket, chicken or roast. However, if you plan on smoking large portions or for multiple people, you may want to look for a larger unit.
Weber Smokey Mountain Smoker Cooker is another lower priced smoker good for beginner to intermediate skilled outdoor cooking. This smoker has a built in thermometer to easily monitor heat distribution for evenly cooked food. It is large enough to prepare food for several people so is perfect for entertaining and will suit the budget at $300.
For those who are on a budget but still want to have an easy to use smoker for outdoor cooking, the Old Smokey Electric Smoker is great. This is a great starter smoker for those who don’t have a lot of experience using coal or wood for grilling. It is electric and can be used anywhere you have an outlet outside. It features all you need to start smoking and is perfect for grilling for a family. It retails for only about $150 so will not tax the budget too much either.
The Traeger Lil’ Tex is a wonderful multi use grill and smoker. You can use the grill for vegetables and sides and the smoker for your meats. This is a grill that is better suited for experienced cooks who know the nuances of outdoor grilling. It is an investment at approximately $800 but for the serious outdoor chef, this model is ideal.
For the serious smoker who likes to entertain, cook for the family and even enter contests, there is no better smoker for grilling than the Pitts and Spitts C1830. This is one of the more expensive personal smokers available for just under $2,000 but it is well worth the investment. It also has the added advantage of being easy to use so is great for all levels of outdoor cooking experience. The design is such that smoke is evenly distributed without having to monitor it too closely.
Smoking is a great way to add flavor to meat while keeping it moist and delicious. There is nothing better than a good old fashioned barbecue on a hot day. So, gather the friends and family and enjoy one of the best smokers available on the market today. For more information on how to smoke meats, go to the Smoking Meat website.
