Beginner stepping into this world

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ewc88

Newbie
Original poster
May 29, 2017
7
10
So long story short I love BBQ food and always been a fan. When I lived at home we BBQ a lot but that was with a natural gas grill. Now that I bought a house I need to get a grill and I am open to my options. Major aspect of this purchase is budget, just bought a house so I need to watch my funds because oh yea I have a baby on the way lol.

Now I love BBQ and love smoked food so I figured a charcoal or pellet is the option to go. I really don't know much about pellet so I would need to do more research on those. No clue on if this matters but the grill will be used from burgers to ribs/steaks/brisket and such.

I do not want to start a thread war on what is better because I know we ALL hate those threads. What I am asking for is, if YOU were a beginner right now but had the knowledge as well, what would you go with if you were on a budget?

I was thinking of getting the char broil Akron to get the hang of everything because smoking is still new to me, thought I can learn on something cheaper while saving money for a top of line or deal. But I like opinions WITHOUT a war.
 
Welcome to the forum. Lots of good people here and a fountainhead of knowledge here. Seems a good first choice.
 
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We are probably the least combative forum you'll ever find EWC88.  We may have strong opinions, but we always respect each other. 

For the money and value, my recommendation would be to start with a 22.5" Weber Kettle grill.  You can use it to grill, smoke, make pizzas, you name it.  The life of the Kettle is measured in decades.  I still have an 18.5" that I could use in a pinch that must be at least 35-40 years old.  My 22.5" early Performer model (side table attached), is probably two decades old, and I still use it 3-4 times a week, if not more. 

I tried smoking meat on a gas grill.  Mediocre results at best.  In 2009 I started smoking on my Kettle.  The flavors of Texas that we remembered from LONG ago reappeared in our mouths.  The Kettle is not a set and forget smoker, but you can certainly do everything on it from ribs to 18 lb turkeys and briskets. 

Fuel is cheap, especially in the summer around Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.  That's when we charcoal'ers stock up.  For the money, value, and flexibility, you can't beat a Weber Kettle

Later, when you are ready, you can move up to the WSM if you want a set and forget.  Lasts just as long and is amazing. 

Whatever you choose, will be perfect for you.

Have fun shopping!  And congrats on the kidlet and new house!

Ray 
 
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I shall assume that I can't have a "AIO" where I can BBQ and have option of grilling too? If not then I would pick BBQ for my first worry because I can always buy something on sale for a grill. Far as budget since I know I have a lot to learn because I am starting off as a rookie I think jumping in the big cash systems shall hold off. I'd like to stay in the $600 or less dollar range if possible. I'm sure after awhile I will want to upgrade when my BBQ-inf becomes more official but as of now I think that budget should be fine?

I will also need input on thermometers and such!
 
Noboundaries: I'm glad that's how this forum is, I'm apart of various different forums and topics can get hostile and it's really annoying. I will have to look into that grill, I like to have a versatile system but if anything if I have to pick I would love a smoker slow and low style and I love that style food.
 
For a $600 budget pick up a 22" Weber smokey mountain cooker and never look back. $500 and you will be able to everything but a whole hog. I had an 18.5" wsm for years. Smoked on it, grilled on it, you can do pizza, what ever.... plenty of room for just about any cook other than maybe catering....

Ray, I declare war!!

Lance
 
I am sorry, still new to grilling and this forum, what does wsm mean?
 
Disregard my dumbness you abbreviated the Weber you recommended lol
 
Weber Smokey mountain is the way to go. Or...Napoleon Apollo if you can find it. It's basically a carbon copy of the WSM but with a few differences that appealed to me. It's as close as you can get to set it and forget it with charcoal and the learning curve is pretty quick. Get the 22.5" if you can. Whatever you get, make sure you make the most of it! Nothing worse than spending money on something like this and never using it!

Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk
 
On a $600 budget, get a 22.5 WSM and a 22.5 Kettle!  I saw a 22.5 Kettle at Wally World for $68 bucks today!  Happy Smoking!

Mike
 
We have a 22.5 kettle and love it. 2 Other family members have pellet grills one has a traeger and another has a Louisiana. They both put out good food.
 
I think it kind of depends on how you plan on using it?  Do you want to be the guy that tends the fire and tries to perfect technique,  or do you want hands off, set it and forget it kind of cooking?  I tell everybody that if they can only have 1... its a Weber 22.5" kettle.  its a great time tested grill that can be set up to do indirect cooking/smoking with as well.... under $100 and you will own it for a long long time.  hands down there is no better outdoor cooker on the market for price/versatility/performance and durability.
 
I'd also reccomend the wsm, but being totally new to smoking, for around $100 you can get an electric, which takes temperature aspects out of it, at least till you get completely submerged. At which point you will crave steppng up to something with more control. My first was a charcoal, and I failed alot, but I also didnt have this great site! Trial and error was my main teacher till I got the electric, then things just went right. Dummy me never thought of doin an online search, at which point this site graced my world.

Wealth of info here, but my 2 bits on bein completely new is buy a electric, get the hang of recipes, how much smoke, how long, meat temperatures etc etc. Won't take long and you'll be in the swing, and you can move forward. Worst case, u wasted $100 on something you will still probably use, I still use mine for birds every year, and I own 6 different smokers plus my project, each has a time and a use.

Anyways welcome! have fun! couple years from now the neighbors gonna be comin in like geese when they smell ya fire it up!
 
I am new to smoking, bought a cheap vertical smoker, and a few mods it is doing OK. I have been bitten and my wife loves the chicken and ribs I have done so far. Next up is a pork butt. With that said I plan to buy a WSM. Not sure of the size yet, the 18.5 or the 22 inch. I have used the recipes on this forum and am thankful for the knowledge here.
 
I am new to smoking, bought a cheap vertical smoker, and a few mods it is doing OK. I have been bitten and my wife loves the chicken and ribs I have done so far. Next up is a pork butt. With that said I plan to buy a WSM. Not sure of the size yet, the 18.5 or the 22 inch. I have used the recipes on this forum and am thankful for the knowledge here.

22.5". It's just me and my wife, but I never have "will it fit" worries.
 
22.5". It's just me and my wife, but I never have "will it fit" worries.

Exactly! I had an 18.5" and cooked everything on it. That said, I always wished I had a little more room. I've seen the 22.5" and it's huge. So unless someone really wants to tend a fire and burn logs, I say get the 22.5" wsm and never look back. I'm convinced it's the only cooler you will ever need.
 
I just bought my 1st smoker the WSM 18.5 used it all weekend , made a brisket for sat and 2 whole chickens and baby backs for memorial day. It couldnt of went any better. i got great advice from this site and felt confident going in with my first smoke.. i used the minion method with stubbs lump coal,the temps were exactly where i needed them after a few adjustments with the vents. I was blown away how easy and acurate the WSM is . I paid less then $300 . Iam a newbie and have spent hours on the internet and this was the smoker the experienced bbq dudes were recommending and using... girls can smoke too :)
 
I just bought my 1st smoker the WSM 18.5 used it all weekend , made a brisket for sat and 2 whole chickens and baby backs for memorial day. It couldnt of went any better. i got great advice from this site and felt confident going in with my first smoke.. i used the minion method with stubbs lump coal,the temps were exactly where i needed them after a few adjustments with the vents. I was blown away how easy and acurate the WSM is . I paid less then $300 . Iam a newbie and have spent hours on the internet and this was the smoker the experienced bbq dudes were recommending and using... girls can smoke too :)
Endorsements like Inly's above are something I wish every person looking to buy a first charcoal smoker would read.  For entry level smokers, nothing is easier to use right out of the box than a WSM

I've watched a LOT of BBQ competition shows.  Sure, a lot of the pros use massively big and expensive smokers, but what do you see over and over around their camps?  Weber Kettles, Weber Smokey Mountains (aka WSMs), and Kamado types.  For the money, value, and the results, you can't beat a Weber. 
 
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