Want to get a smoker. What is good for a beginner?

[melvineris]

Weber kettle. It works well, It's cheap and it'll grill like a champ too. That's how I started, and I've always had it in the back of my mind that sooner or later, I will add a WSN or a good offset smoker for dedicated smoking. 5 years later, I'm still using the kettle. I smoke at least twice a month.

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

Really depends on what you are looking to do. There are so many different factors such as if you want to learn to offset smoke and manage a fire, go more set and forget, or do something that maybe gives you a dual purpose such as grilling as well.

I would check out a MES with an AMNPS. Very newbie friendly and will get your feet wet in smoking meats. There's always the kettle as mentioned above and also the WSM that guys seem to love. The pit boss pellet rigs seem to be pretty popular these days as well but have no experience in the.

I suppose it really comes down to how much babysitting you want to do with the smoker, if you are wanting to just try out smoking to see if you will like it, or you want to spend a little more upfront and go all in with it.

 

[Spodie Odie]

I used a Weber kettle for a long time. Then I wanted a set and forget so I found me a MES for a good deal around black Friday for $125. I recommend getting the cold smoke attachment or go with a AMNPS. Otherwise, you might as well go with a pit with a fire you will have to manage. I recently got me a pellet grill and it has made cooking easy. I like the experience so it depends on how much time you want to spend on cooking. I smoke almost every weekend so I enjoy it!

 

[JCAP]

I agree that it all depends on what you want to do while you smoke. My MPS is pretty much set and forget until the probes start going off. My cheapo charcoal smoker is a ton of fun but does require more babysitting. I actually prefer smoking on the cheap charcoal one just because it's more fun tending to the coals. But I'm itching to get a pellet smoker in the next few months because I think having another but different set and forget for a bit will be nice.

 

[smokerjim]

I started with a offset smoker, used that for about 2 years , but as the others said you sort of have to baby sit those but if you have the time they work great, then I bought the mes 30 set it up with amnps and mailbox mod, these are just about a set and forget(but as with all smokers don't forget to long, anything can happen) I have no complaints about the mes, still use it till this day, the wife just bought me a pitboss pellet grill/smoker can't commit on that one yet I just put it together yesterday hopefully i'll fire it up later. good luck with your decision. also as you found out you don't need to spend a ton of money to make great food.

 

[PorkBones]

I have an inexpensive offset smoker. I love it. I've had great results with it so far. I knew I wanted a traditional setup. I think it's great to learn on. I love the process and ritual of smoking meat. The offset gives me that experience.

I reserve use for weekends, when I am afforded time to be outside with the smoker most of the day, checking and adjusting the temp, adding a particular species of wood if I so desire, etc. My son (5 yr) loves to be on the back patio with me learning about how to use it.

 

[Sola123]

I started with a cheap barrel smoker...$35.... but moved up to a cheap offset smoker a friend gave me...have used it since and love it...I too like to be out there all day and play and experiment with the fire, wood and different meats....I especially like cooking only with wood which we harvest off the farm and cure ourselves,,,,no more propane or charcoal when it comes to bbq....