Two Brothers New to Smoking

[Terry Turner]

If I had to do it over again, I would start out simple with an electric. This will give you a chance to learn to cook before you jump into the stick burners. Spend time learning the different methods (like 3,2,1 ribs etc.) and then get a stick burner. Everyone needs a stick burner at some time in their life.

Agreed. No matter which smoker I start off with, I definitely want to eventually try both!

 

[DustyJoe84]

I just started smoking about a month ago. I bought a cheap offset because I enjoy a good challenge and in the few cooks I've done I've had lots of fun building and maintaining the fire. There is a great deal of pride for me when I see that thin, blue smoke rolling knowing I did that. But that's just me.

 

[Tex1911]

The best thing is........................there's no wrong answer. Any one of them will have a learning curve but thats the fun of it.

 

[SonnyE]

The best thing is........................there's no wrong answer. Any one of them will have a learning curve but thats the fun of it.

Well, there is one wrong answer....
To not smoke.
Now that is just wrong!

 

[Tex1911]

Blasphemy I tell ya, blasphemy. Not to smoke, not an option. LOL.

 

[Terry Turner]

Hello Terry!
Welcome to

Love your enthusiasm!
Tough call, but I would encourage you toward a stick burner you could use charcoal in.
Charcoal can be a few brickettes, or lumps, and you add some chunks for your smoke. (You can get a bag of hardwood chunks for the purpose.) Or you could build a up a hot fire in it.
That way you will learn from the ground up, and have complete control of the smoke profile.
It's not the easiest way, but it's a great way. Later on, you can try electric, or add something like an AMNPS to do more smoke at lower temperatures, with cheap easy to buy pellets.

Tons of meat... well to me that means Costco or Sam's Club, here. But if I could, I'd likely choose the Amish, because I believe they would be selling the purest meat. (No hormones or such) Short of raising your own.

Since your Dad is getting a grill, and you want to smoke meat, there are many ways to begin. try and compliment what your Dad gets so you are a bit different. If he gets a Pellet grill, you do charcoal. If he gets a stick burner/charcoal, you get an AMNPS and a box or an old porcelain fridge (NOT plastic inside).

My first smoker cabinet was a big old electric motor controller cabinet stripped out to just the box, and an electric hot plate with a #10 can for wood chips. Wa-La! An electric smoker! That was over 50 years ago....
Nowdays, an AMNPS, and somewhere to hang meat where the smoke will linger.
I've even seem a guy using an old filing cabinet he made into a smoker.

Good idea on complementing my Dad's choice of grill! I also agree on the quality of Amish meat - it's awesome!

 

[Terry Turner]

Well, there is one wrong answer....
To not smoke.
Now that is just wrong!

Absolutely! I'm thoroughly convinced there's no going back. I've just got to try smoking some meat.

 

[Terry Turner]

Just got off a 35-minute video chat with my Uncle. He's an 8-year meat smoker and has tried six different smokers throughout his "career." He had a TON of really awesome tips and has offered to walk me through it and keep me updated.

Oooh boy, I'm so excited.

Finally, a dream come true . . .

It's Christmas in January!

 

[pineywoods]

I started on a cheap ass analog MES I bought from Aldi’s without knowing the first thing about smoking and worked my way up from there. Taught me how much I really enjoyed smoking and from there I was hooked. Love the MES still use them today but wasn’t enough I wanted to learn more and have added other smokers and cooking devices since then.

I would say to go with the MES or the WSM. If budget is tight buy a cheap offset from Walmart or hit up Craigslist. You can produce great smoked food off about anything if you put the time into it.

Good luck convincing the parents!

There is your answer in blue. There are many different types and brands of smokers most have good points and bad points but you can produce good food with most of them. Buy what you can afford and don't be afraid to look in the paper or craigslist to find one

 

[Terry Turner]

There is your answer in blue. There are many different types and brands of smokers most have good points and bad points but you can produce good food with most of them. Buy what you can afford and don't be afraid to look in the paper or craigslist to find one

Thanks, pineywoods! I appreciate the pointer.
(And it's great advice too)

 

[gmc2003]

I would go with the WSM over the cheap stick burner. No sense in wasting good money. I started off with a cheapo side fire box unit and learned a whole lot from using it, but in the end I got tired of baby sitting it on long smokes. I like the flavor of the charcoal and wood mixed so I opted for the WSM. It's pretty much set-it-n-forget it once you have it dialed in, and it's still fairly inexpensive and will last a very long time.

Chris

 

[SmokinAl]

Welcome to SMF!
I would definitely go with the Weber Smokey Mountain 22.5.
It will last a lifetime & is very easy to learn to operate.
The best part is you get that charcoal/wood flavor that you won't get with a pellet grill.
Al

 

[tx smoker]

If I had to start over, I'd go with a WSM first out of the gate. They are outstanding cookers, excellent quality, and very versatile. Once you get past the learning curve, which is relatively short, you can turn out amazing food consistently. If I didn't already have 8 cookers, one of them being an XL BGE, I'd get a WSM in a second!!

Adding to the confusion,
Robert

 

[motocrash]

 

[Terry Turner]

Thanks for the tips and pointers gmc2003, SmokinAl, and tx smoker!

Also, Lol to motocrash.

 

[Terry Turner]

SmokinAl
I've been checking out some of the links in your footer, and oh my goodness, they look sooooo good. So far I've seen your Hot Sauce Ribs and Smoked Beans and I'm going to bookmark 'em in my Smoking Spreadsheet, Lol.

Thanks for providing those!

 

[tx smoker]

There are a number of people here, as you'll soon learn, that if info comes from them you can take it to the bank. Al is one of those great people that make this forum such a fantastic place to hang out and learn pretty much anything you want to learn about. There is a wealth of information here beyond anything you'll find anywhere else on the 'Net and the friendliest people who will share their knowledge. Welcome home :-)

Robert

 

[Terry Turner]

There are a number of people here, as you'll soon learn, that if info comes from them you can take it to the bank. Al is one of those great people that make this forum such a fantastic place to hang out and learn pretty much anything you want to learn about. There is a wealth of information here beyond anything you'll find anywhere else on the 'Net and the friendliest people who will share their knowledge. Welcome home :-)

Robert

Thanks so much, tx smoker ! I wholeheartedly agree, and can't wait to get smokin' and learning from the best.

 

[motocrash]

Also, Lol to motocrash.

Hey,it jump started the votes...

 

[Terry Turner]

Hey,it jump started the votes...

Thanks for helping out!