First Time: Buy Offset Wood Smoker or Pellet Grill Smoker?

[SmilinNSmokin]

Check out the KBQ. It is a top feed stick burner that will not take as much babysitting as an offset. It ships UPS which will not be a killer. I have both a stick burner and a pellet grill. If I am really busy or my wife wants grilled checken, I will use the pellet grill. I prefer the stick burner however you pretty much have to sit with it for 4 hours for ribs, 8 to 10 for pork butts, and 10 + for a whole packer. To me, the finished product from the offset can't be beat. Plus where else can I sit and consume adult beverages and actually be doing something worthwhile? A stick burner does have a learning curve but you can still pretty much consume all your mistakes. Once the art of fire management is learned you will have it made in the shade. If you go the stick route, read Aaron Franklin's book. The chapters on wood, smoke, and fire management are excellent.
ps - I will also use the pellet grill to finish a long cook after the meat is wrapped.

I did a quick Google search on his book, but he has a few of them. Which one are you referring to?

 

[Smokin Okie]

I did a quick Google search on his book, but he has a few of them. Which one are you referring to?

Its his first book, published in 2015. Called a smoking manifesto, or something like that

 

[coltranem]

Lots of good discussion here. There are ways to avoid the over night cook with an offset or a pellet. For long cooks like brisket I do the cook the day before I want to serve it. Once done I do a hot hold (160 F ish) overnight in my oven. I will probably get a warmer to have a bit more control. This was a game changer. It eliminates any stress on being done on time and you get to sleep.

 

[Heart of Dixie]

I did a quick Google search on his book, but he has a few of them. Which one are you referring to?

Sorry it took so long to answer. Aaron Franklin "A Meat Smoking Manifesto."

 

[realdocBBQ]

I’m up in Idaho. Not really known for BBQ or Pitmasters unfortunately.

Actually.... there is a guy up there who does fabulous work. LV Smokers - he used to be in Las Vegas, hence the name. Might be worth looking him up, but he really does make great stuff.

You've gotten some great advice here. I have lots of cookers, I use them all the time for various different purposes. I've got an old (OLD) Traeger pellet, as well as a newer Yoder pellet. I have 2 propane cabinet smokers for light smoking, holding ovens, and doing bacon and sausage low low and slow (like your smoke house). I also have... umm... 3 offsets, from an 80 gallon backyard put to a 320 gallon on a giant trailer. Drum smoker, Weber kettle, etc.

I've always been intrigued by the KBQ mentioned above - it is nice, from what I've seen works quite well, but you really have to process your wood properly and have to use very specifically-sized splits. Maybe not such a big deal. Great pit, though, I'd love to try one someday.

I build my own these days, I've taught myself and have learned a lot in the process.

The gravity feed I think intrigues me a lot, and I really think this might be a great option for you. Can be run on charcoal and/or can add small wood splits. With a proper setup, you can keep things rock solid temps for many many hours with pretty minimal maintenance.

I will say this... it doesn't SOUND like you're going to be doing really large amounts of cooking, so there may be some other options. Let me ask a question - do you like temp monitoring? Like, are you a techie kinda guy? I personally love temp monitoring even on my pellet, and I use several electronic thermometers - the ones I love the most are my Fireboards. I use both an original Fireboard, the DX11, and the newer Fireboard 2 Drive unit, which can control a fan - something that can be incorporated into a gravity feed or a cabinet or something.

Anyways - yes, there is a reason I ask. Let's just say, if you don't need massive quantities of food, may be trying to stay under the radar for space and cost, there is something that is coming that may make a difference for you, and I personally think is going to make a real splash in the backyard cooking world, especially for Fireboard and Weber kettle owners. It's not a secret that there is a beta test going on on Amazing Ribs' Pitmaster Club forum with Fireboard and everyone who was selected had to own a Weber kettle. That's about all I can say about that for now, but when the time comes (and I am pretty sure it will be quite soon), I will definitely be posting my experiences here.

If you can hold out a little while, this might be something that could suit your 'use case'. I dunno. But a Weber kettle can do a full packer, or a pair of pork butts or 3 racks or so of trimmed ribs. That's honestly a fair amount of food for an average family or backyard cook.

I can't wait to be allowed to... discuss more, publicly. lol

 

[appaws]

I hope you are exaggerating but, if a purchase might upset your significant other, surprising them with it, after the fact, WILL make things worse. Spouses should support one another in their hobbies but that support must be earned. I haven't seen or heard of a smoker set-up yet that is worth domestic strife.

Don't burn down the house, literally or metaphorically!

It's easier to get forgiveness than permission.

 

[realdocBBQ]

It's easier to get forgiveness than permission.

I agree - as long as it's not a YUGE purchase.

Buying a new boat or vehicle without discussion (or a large smoker in some cases) could lead to some serious fireworks. lol Small ones, like a used Weber kettle I found on Marketplace, or something like that, usually not a huge deal.

It's the taking up room on the patio that's more the issue!