Newbie wants to learn TX-style smoked BBQ

[mrsbeefy]

I lived in Austin, Texas for 11 years and fell in love with the BBQ.  Now back in Lexington, KY, where I grew up, I can't get TX-style smoked BBQ beef ribs in any restaurant.  I've never grilled or smoked before and I'm not really sure where to get started.  What equipment/supplies will get me the best results, while not have to baby it all day?  Electric?  My goal is to make smoked beef ribs with a nice smoke ring and bark, as tasty as The County Line BBQ.

 

[gary s]

[h3]

Hello and welcome from East Texas. This is a great site, lots of information and great people that are willing to throw in their two cents worth on about anything.   [/h3][h1]  [/h1][h1]Gary[/h1]

 

[smokering90]

welcome to the site, if your wanting to get started i must warn you, smoking is an addiction and you will find yourself wanting to learn as much as you can, your eyes will be glued to this website, but its a good thing because you get really good food out of it

 

[smokering90]

as far as where to start though. honestly it all depends on what your willing to put into it, how much do you want to spend, what size do you want? it all depends on what you re willing to put into it

 

[smokering90]

then i recommend using the search bar on here and just doing research, any questions you can think to ask you will more than likely be able to get an answer. if you go to the "smokers & more" tab at the top you can do research on a ton of smokers and see which one can best fit what you are looking for

 

[noboundaries]

Welcome MrsBeefy!  Like Gary said there are plenty of folks willing to offer their opinions.  We all love our BBQ, our equipment, our techniques, and yet we're always willing to learn.

Although opinions differ greatly, getting started with electric or charcoal would easily satisfy your requirements, yet each requires different techniques. To get the kind of BBQ you want takes a learning curve.  If there's one thing we all learn as we start our smoking journey is the process if more than half the fun.  My journey started exactly the same way as yours.  My Texas wife missed her Texas BBQ.  Not any longer!

Read up on the equipment section and you'll get an idea of what direction best fits your needs. Have a ball figuring it out.  And ask questions.  We're full of answers!  Well, opinions anyway.

Welcome, welcome, welcome!   

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

First, welcome to the forum ! As for your question, we have a lot of folks on here from TX and I'am sure they will be happy to chime in here. As far as smokers ya don't have to "babysit" ya have electric (MES, pellet) two that come to mind right off.... I personally don't have an MES, but a lot of folks on here do ! I have a pellet smoker and have not ever for a second regretted the purchase. Ya just need to find the right one for you ! Ya get a nice smoke ring with most smokers IMO, also sounds like ya need to get a good rub recipe as that's where your bark comes into play for the most part. Good luck and we'll help ya what we can! Justin

 

[eman]

I bet that the Tx. BBQ you are searching for is pit BBQ cooked over an open pit / flame.  It is real different than smoking . 

 

[GaryHibbert]

Hey

Welcome to the Smoking  forum.   You’ll find great , friendly people here, all more than willing to answer any question you may have.  Just ask and you’ll get about 10 different answers—all right.  LOL.   Don’t forget to post qviews.

Gary