Smoker decision

[BB-que]

So after smoking with a WSM for years and then a Rec Tec, as the kids are getting a bit more independent, I’m thinking of graduating to a more traditional smoker for better smoke flavor. I’ll never get rid of my RT, I don’t care what anyone says, in has its place on my patio. Anyway, I’m between a stumps vertical feed and a stick burner. I’m aware of the convenience, mgmt difference and if hat a VF is gonna be a lot more hands off. I’m looking for some flavor experience. I’ve read multiple reviews saying the VF just can’t give anywhere close to the same flavor as a stick burner. Anybody with experience with the 2, please chime in. Thanks

 

[thirdeye]

I got rid of my stick burner about 25 years ago, but have cooked on several cabinet styles similar to the Stumps line. I do like the convenience and roominess of a cabinet smoker. Since you specifically mentioned flavor have you ever cooked on an upright drum? They burn charcoal with flavor wood so the flavor is not as smooth as a stick burner.... but fats drip into the charcoal basket which makes the flavor as close to open pit BBQ as you can get at home. Do you know anyone that has one?

 

[BB-que]

So I’ve cooked on a WSM before I’went to pellet for convenience and the RT can fit a lot of meat and easy to get to. I don’t anyone with a stick burner or GF unfortunately. I see slot of GF in the comps it seems, but if I’m gonna spend 2G on a smoker I want to make sure I’m not just getting my “next” smoker just to trade up to a stick burner in a few years for better flavor. If that’s the case I’ll get e stick burner now and use the RT when I need a set it and forget it option. That’s which way I’m leaning

 

[JC in GB]

I have a Stump's Baby and I love the smoke flavor I get from it. One thing I like about the Stump's is that I can tailor the smoke much easier than I could with an offset. I have finished my plans for a reverse flow offset smoker and plan to build it early next year. Why do I want both? The answer comes down to capacity. With my Stump's Baby, I use the minimum amount of fuel for any given cook. I would imagine fuel use will be significantly higher in an offset.

The offset smoker will have party size area for cooking. My baby is just right for a small to medium family.

I must agree with you on your Rec Tec. Those are solid units and if I had one, I would keep it too.

Stump's smokers as well as barrel cookers are commonly used right along side offsets in competitions and all get calls.

If I was planning on doing a lot of large cooks, I would go with the offset. I usually cook for less than 10 people so the Baby is the perfect size. I have gotten numerous compliments on the food that rig produces.

Lastly, quality is more about the pit master than the pit. My $0.02

JC

 

[BB-que]

I have a Stump's Baby and I love the smoke flavor I get from it. One thing I like about the Stump's is that I can tailor the smoke much easier than I could with an offset. I have finished my plans for a reverse flow offset smoker and plan to build it early next year. Why do I want both? The answer comes down to capacity. With my Stump's Baby, I use the minimum amount of fuel for any given cook. I would imagine fuel use will be significantly higher in an offset.

The offset smoker will have party size area for cooking. My baby is just right for a small to medium family.

I must agree with you on your Rec Tec. Those are solid units and if I had one, I would keep it too.

Stump's smokers as well as barrel cookers are commonly used right along side offsets in competitions and all get calls.

If I was planning on doing a lot of large cooks, I would go with the offset. I usually cook for less than 10 people so the Baby is the perfect size. I have gotten numerous compliments on the food that rig produces.

Lastly, quality is more about the pit master than the pit. My $0.02

JC

Thanks, agree with all you say. Being that you have to add wood chucks every hour or so to try VF smoker is it really that much more set it and forget it than a stick burner? I have no doubt from a temp perspective it is much easier, but from a smoke perspective you can exactly take a nap on it either. Or am I missing something?

 

[JC in GB]

Thanks, agree with all you say. Being that you have to add wood chucks every hour or so to try VF smoker is it really that much more set it and forget it than a stick burner? I have no doubt from a temp perspective it is much easier, but from a smoke perspective you can exactly take a nap on it either. Or am I missing something?

The biggest advantage the VF has over a large offset is the VF can be easily adapted to using a pit controller. That kind of peace of mind in your cook temp is worth a lot to me.

I actually have taken naps while my VF smoker was going. I have found that once it is all set up, I have 2 - 2.5 hours where I don't have to do anything. I have temperature alarms set in case of some anomaly.

From a smoke perspective, you could add wood or pellets to the charcoal chute interspersed with the charcoal and not have to worry about adding any unless you are adding fuel.

That said the VF has the advantage of being able to tailor your smoke profile. I can toss a pellet tube inside the cook chamber or in the ash pan. I can put pellets or chunks in the ash pan or in the charcoal chute. I am not sure how one would replicate this in an offset design.

I guess the bottom line is I feel you would be happy with the food quality either type of unit produces. The VF smoker is really just a modernized and compacted version of an offset. There really is no wrong choice here.

Looking forward to seeing your final choice.

JC

 

[SmokinAl]

I didn’t really read all the other comments, but an offset RF stick burner is going to produce the best flavor, cause your using wood splits for heat & smoke, the next best option IMHO, is a WSM, they really can produce some incredible Q, and if you get a pit controller like a BBQ GURU, it is set & forget. And the whole setup will be less than half the price of a quality stick burner. Another option is a UDS. They are not hard to build & will give you the flavor of an offset, maybe even better, since the grease drips into the fire & burns & adds to the flavor. However on a RF smoker the grease drips on the RF plate & gives the same flavor. I know tough choice, but that is why a lot of us have more than one smoker!
Al

 

[1MoreFord]

I didn’t really read all the other comments, but an offset RF stick burner is going to produce the best flavor, cause your using wood splits for heat & smoke, the next best option IMHO, is a WSM, they really can produce some incredible Q, and if you get a pit controller like a BBQ GURU, it is set & forget. And the whole setup will be less than half the price of a quality stick burner. Another option is a UDS. They are not hard to build & will give you the flavor of an offset, maybe even better, since the grease drips into the fire & burns & adds to the flavor. However on a RF smoker the grease drips on the RF plate & gives the same flavor. I know tough choice, but that is why a lot of us have more than one smoker!
Al

Traditional offsets with tuning plates also get the grease on the metal flavor. Don't forget them.?