In the market for a new smoker. Any recommendations?

[schlotz]

It will come down to personal preference. Yes stick burners provide more smoke flavor over pellet smokers but IMO there comes a point where too much smoke can completely mask the natural flavor of the protein being cooked. This is why I settled with a pellet smoker. I still get great smoke that adds to the flavor of the meat while not hiding it. At the end there is no right or wrong regarding how much smoke, only what you want to enjoy at the dinner table.

If I were in the market today, I'd mostly likely lean towards Recteq but the latest Weber Searwood might also be worth looking at. Like others have mentioned, I too would steer well clear of Traeger. Do your home work, prioritize what features are most important to you then bounce those against what ever unit you are considering. If there is an ACE Hardware near you, many of them carry a range of products you can go see and touch.

Good luck with your choice. Let us know what you finally decide on.

 

[jcam222]

I've had my Weber Smokefire Ex6 2nd Gen in action for 3 cooks now. Very impressed with the quality and quantity of smoke. I did ribs this weekend at 225 that had smoke rings all the way to the bone. Nice good smelling blue smoke running Lumberjack cherry pellets. The guy I bought it from said it out out more Smoke than the new Searwood he bought but wife made him pick one lol. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Smokefire if you can find a nice used one.

 

[sandyut]

I love my Rec Teq. Good smoke, easy easy easy. They have great CS and mine has lasted a decade with zero issues.

 

[forktender]

That is important to me. For the past 5 years I have been using charcoal and wood chunks. Would hate to lose that flavor.

I just bought a new R.T Beast 1000, I love it for what it is, a pellet "grill".
I've never been happy with the smoke flavor of pellet grills, I use them for convenience, and ease of use. When I want really smoke house flavor, I either use my offset or drum smoker. I will sometimes use my drum for one basket of wood coals, then transfer over to the pellet grill on long smokes, kinda a pain in the ass, but it works great.

I wonder if you can add a mailbox mod to a pellet grill????? And use chips and chunks for flavor/fuel???

 

[zwiller]

You sound like a candidate for a charcoal gravity. Don't think I ever read a charcoal guy being happy with pellet grill. Charcoal is pretty heavy handed to me but I do like some things grilled on it. Right now craving some fresh sweet corn on some.

I am confident when I get the opportunity to try someone's stick burner food I will not be running out to grab one and replace my Smokefire. Weber got a few things right on it. I routinely see them post on FB Marketplace sometimes CHEAP.

 

[Elf@shore]

Hello! I am in the market for a new smoker. I started about 10 yrs ago using a Masterbuilt Vertical Propane smoker and then moved to a Chargriller Akorn. Yesterday was the last smoke on the Akorn. Are pellets the way to go now?

View attachment 737102

Grilla Pellet grill sale!
They are very close to Rectec , with a few upgrades.
SS racks, Double walled for COLD cooks, Wifi,
Smoke Mode, can also add a smoker tube ?
They are shipped for free , no sales tax.
There is a Silverback model on sale for $899.
But only for a few hrs, sale ends?
Sorry if this a late call ?
I have the smaller Chimp model, very happy with it!
BBQ LABS has a You Tube video I beleive?
Hope this helps?

 

[SMOKEOCD]

I just bought a new R.T Beast 1000, I love it for what it is, a pellet "grill".
I've never been happy with the smoke flavor of pellet grills, I use them for convenience, and ease of use. When I want really smoke house flavor, I either use my offset or drum smoker. I will sometimes use my drum for one basket of wood coals, then transfer over to the pellet grill on long smokes, kinda a pain in the ass, but it works great.

I wonder if you can add a mailbox mod to a pellet grill????? And use chips and chunks for flavor/fuel???

There’s videos of people mixing pellets and small chips right into the hopper. Recteq has a pretty good auger motor, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. I personally haven’t tried it, just like I haven’t bought the charcoal pellets either. I have a kettle, I have an offset, they have their own flavors and I cook on the grill that has their flavor I’m looking for.

 

[Up_In_Smoke]

Hello! I am in the market for a new smoker. I started about 10 yrs ago using a Masterbuilt Vertical Propane smoker and then moved to a Chargriller Akorn. Yesterday was the last smoke on the Akorn. Are pellets the way to go now?

Too bad we didn't live a little closer to each other.

I would make you a heluva deal on a Weber 22" kettle with a vertical extender ring and a BBQGuys rib rotisserie.

 

[akjeff]

Not sure what size you are after. This is real fire, long and slow cooks, screaming hot sears and everything in-between. Big enough for a turkey. Special edition "Aaron Franklin" smoker grill.

I own the PKGo, but I can attest to the quality. All cast aluminium, Great seal and air control. No tariffs Made in the USA, Arkansas. Highest quality! free ship and 4th of July special.

RG

The All New Original PK300AF Grill & Smoker - Coal

Elevate outdoor cooking with the PK300AF Coal grill and smoker. Features include upgraded radial vents, a sleek graphite finish, and a rustproof cast body.

pkgrills.com

Thanks for pointing out this new USA made model! I've wanted a PK for some time, but was turned off when they moved the major manufacturing overseas. Great to see at least this one model made in the USA! Would love to see a USA made PK 360.

Edit to add: Just contacted PK, and unfortunately, the PK300AF( as well as the PKGO and PK360 ) are made in China and assembled in the USA. Only the Original PK and the PKTX are made of a cast in the USA capsule. Bummer, that's a show stopper for me. No way in hell I'm forking out $800 for a Chinese grill.