new to smoke

[knightracersi]

My dad always cooked with gas grills. I am now getting my first house (dont want to spend alot) and I know I will have a gas grill but I want to know more. I hear so much about smoking meats but there is no one to teach me.

What are the different kinds of smokers? I know there is Gas/charcoal/electric but what is the difference what do I want? i thought you were supposed to burn wood.

How do you change the temp? ex. raise the temp lower the temp

I feel bad being the new guy here but can anyone give me a step by step play or anything it would be much appreciated.

 

[werdwolf]

Welcome to a new favorite pastime. Start by taking Jeff's 5 day e-course. As far as different type of smokers there are many here who can give better opinions than I. I have a MES, and it works for me. Less time because I don't have the fire, and everything goes in the dishwasher for clean up.

 

[chef_boy812]

welcome, to smf.
Alot of knowledge will be coming your way. Your questions are big ones and will take a while and with many opinons from all of our outstanding memebers, will be answered fully and somewhat clearly. sometimes things get hazy, all the smoke you know.

I am a charcoal/ stick(wood) guy,
I have a bbq grillware. Kind of a grill and smoker hybred. I can raise my coal bed up and grill my keister off, or I can build a small fire, and hold 235 f. all day.

it cost about 150 bucks, and I can fit 4 spares ribs, or 2 big butts on it.
a nice start, but some folks have some amazing contraptions, some home built, some competition size, and beyond. all are turning out super que.

1 more thing, take pictures of your fun and post lots of q-view.
welocome!!!

 

[douglaslizard]

congrats you now have a teacher just take the ecourse and read some older post and dont be afraid to ask the only dumb question is the one that doesnt get asked.by the way i have the same bbq grillware as chefboy and i loved it from my first cook on it a couple of years ago .i also have the brinkman smoke and grill and i cook on my brothers sfb quite alot and all turn out some pretty good q.

 

[longshot]

Welcome Knightracer,
You have come to the right place for everything you had no clue to ask about smoking and smokers (meats of course, gave up the other 8+ years ago) I kinda lean toward gass for convenience, but char/stick is the purist way to go. I will eventually have a stick burner but for now I love the gasser.

 

[richoso1]

Welcome to the SMF, you're in good company here. We have members who use all types of smokers, grills, and homebuilt jobs too. Start reading around the different forums, soon you'll have an idea as to which direction you'll take. Be sure and sign up for Jeff's 5-day eCourse, good reading material.

 

[ronp]

Welcome. What everybody said about the ecourse.
I also have a MEs and love it. It is so easy and cheap to operate you'll use it a lot.