Looking for a good Bbq - smoker.

[00Stinger]

So it seems there has been a craze for american bbq smoked meats and im hooked.

So ive decided im going to buy myself one and start bbqing at home.

Has anyone got one themselves? Or know someone who has one? Or even know any good ones to look for?

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[thejockey]

I just use my Webber . Initially it was a bit of trial and error but once you get the knack of it I found it pretty easy

Have done everything from ribs, brisket to large chunks of rump. Sometimes I just smoke the meat , other times ill use a dry rub

Its quite addictive , in summer ill do one almost every weekend .

 

[Timmytime]

I have a Hark Texas Pro Pit, it was expensive but definitely worth it if you're committed.

 

[passionate81]

So it seems there has been a craze for american bbq smoked meats and im hooked.

So ive decided im going to buy myself one and start bbqing at home.

Has anyone got one themselves? Or know someone who has one? Or even know any good ones to look for?

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Have a look at www.bbqspitrotisseries.com.au, they have a shop in Seaford. I purchased the Flaming Coals Offset Smoker which I found to be great value I was only looking for an entry level smoker, and ones sold at places like BBQ's galore etc seemed to be cheap and nasty, and still come in at around $800. The guys that own the shop have a few videos up on YouTube and do some competition cooking.

 

[00Stinger]

Have a look at www.bbqspitrotisseries.com.au, they have a shop in Seaford. I purchased the Flaming Coals Offset Smoker which I found to be great value I was only looking for an entry level smoker, and ones sold at places like BBQ's galore etc seemed to be cheap and nasty, and still come in at around $800. The guys that own the shop have a few videos up on YouTube and do some competition cooking.

Cheers for that.

I was looking at spending around $1k-$1.5k and getting a pretty good one with a temperature gauge. Possibly the hark texas pro

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[00Stinger]

I have a Hark Texas Pro Pit, it was expensive but definitely worth it if you're committed.

That is the one i was thinking of getting.
Is it hard to get the hang of it when you first start bbqing?

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[Schauermann]

I like this one:

 

[00Stinger]

I like this one:

too small

 

[Timmytime]

That is the one i was thinking of getting.
Is it hard to get the hang of it when you first start bbqing?

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Not really too bad, just make sure you have all the necessary equipment ie good wood, long matches or a long gas lighter, fire gloves, good source of smoke fuel (I use heatbeads briquettes).

Also, before I cooked or even seasoned the pit I must have read about smoking in general for half a year? It's best to know what you want to smoke and have a rough idea of how before you pull the pin, because it's certainly easy to quit during if something doesn't work the way you think it should i.e. The fire or heat control.

All in all the Pro Pit makes it a lot easier, you're buying quality metal which really is worth it. Just read up on how to make an effective fire and you're on your way.

 

[Timmytime]

And a charcoal chimney! It's a life saver when trying to get the coals hot.

 

[00Stinger]

Not really too bad, just make sure you have all the necessary equipment ie good wood, long matches or a long gas lighter, fire gloves, good source of smoke fuel (I use heatbeads briquettes).

Also, before I cooked or even seasoned the pit I must have read about smoking in general for half a year? It's best to know what you want to smoke and have a rough idea of how before you pull the pin, because it's certainly easy to quit during if something doesn't work the way you think it should i.e. The fire or heat control.

All in all the Pro Pit makes it a lot easier, you're buying quality metal which really is worth it. Just read up on how to make an effective fire and you're on your way.

Yeah i have started up reading about smoking. What woods to use, recipes, tips ext.
Im planning on buying the smoker in a few months so i know what to do.
Do you find a smoker with temp gauges are a big help? Or not really?

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[Timmytime]

Yeah i have started up reading about smoking. What woods to use, recipes, tips ext.
Im planning on buying the smoker in a few months so i know what to do.
Do you find a smoker with temp gauges are a big help? Or not really?

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To be honest I don't even look at my temp gauge anymore. When I first started I did, with the help of a crappy $20 stick thermometer to tell the temp but generally speaking the actual temp gauges aren't that accurate, and they miss the different heat spots created by the tuning plates. I now use this:
Maverick ET-733 Long Range Wireless Dual Probe BBQ Meat Thermometer Set

I'ts really handy, and very accurate. You get the actual meat internal temp that's the most important, but also the hotspots and cold spots inside the grill. Also being able to tell the temp while sitting away doing other things is fantastic.

Here's a link for other good thermometers http://www.smokedbbqsource.com/best-smoker-thermometers/

End of the day I used the temp gauge and stick therm combo for the first 3 months and it was fine, you'll find quickly though that you'll want to know the actual temp of different spots in the grill for different meats, and that's where more accurate thermometers come into their own.

 

[00Stinger]

To be honest I don't even look at my temp gauge anymore. When I first started I did, with the help of a crappy $20 stick thermometer to tell the temp but generally speaking the actual temp gauges aren't that accurate, and they miss the different heat spots created by the tuning plates. I now use this:
Maverick ET-733 Long Range Wireless Dual Probe BBQ Meat Thermometer Set

I'ts really handy, and very accurate. You get the actual meat internal temp that's the most important, but also the hotspots and cold spots inside the grill. Also being able to tell the temp while sitting away doing other things is fantastic.

Here's a link for other good thermometers http://www.smokedbbqsource.com/best-smoker-thermometers/

End of the day I used the temp gauge and stick therm combo for the first 3 months and it was fine, you'll find quickly though that you'll want to know the actual temp of different spots in the grill for different meats, and that's where more accurate thermometers come into their own.

Cool. So there is no need to get a specific smoker with temp gauges then.
Cheers that info will help me alot

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[Timmytime]

Cool. So there is no need to get a specific smoker with temp gauges then.
Cheers that info will help me alot

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No I don't think so, but they are a good reference point for the temp. Knowing the internal temp is actually quite hard so the more gauges and thermometers the better I say. The Hark TPP is a great pit and I can safely say if you're keen enough, you'll love it. Just don't be seduced by the cheap offsets because I can guarantee you'll buy a better one inside of a year and spend double (I did that exact thing). You really do get what you pay for in this industry.

 

[The Dice Man]

We just got one of these... If you're really serious you cant go past it...

 

[Hawk Dork]

If you just want smoke you can put a banksia nut in your gasser

cant go past Kamado for versatility and controlled low and slow , but webers will do nearly all that for a lot less money

 

[00Stinger]

We just got one of these... If you're really serious you cant go past it...

Da * is that?

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[Hawk Dork]

Da **** is that?

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Big green egg on a supplement program

 

[JohnW]

Love my cheap as chips pro q. Easy to use and so far have done around 7 hour cooks with no complaints.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

I like this one:

Perfect if you're planning to do a leg of Elephant!

 

[Giddy Up]

I love American BBQ and cooking but know very little about the process of cooking all the different meats, woods temps etc.

Anyone have any recommendations on what sites to read up on and YouTube links to learn more about it?

 

[Demosthenes]

Honestly, I think you'd be mad to buy a fancy specialist smoker from the get-go. Smoked BBQ is the new home-brew - so many people start out enthusiastic, but the drop-out rate is significant.

A charcoal Weber will do everything a beginner needs, and more. I have a mate from Alabama who's been smoking for 30 years, and most of the time it's all he uses.

By the time you get to the point where you need something heavy-duty, you'll be confident it's a good investment.

 

[Lord of the Pies]

Honestly, I think you'd be mad to buy a fancy specialist smoker from the get-go. Smoked BBQ is the new home-brew - so many people start out enthusiastic, but the drop-out rate is significant.

A charcoal Weber will do everything a beginner needs, and more. I have a mate from Alabama who's been smoking for 30 years, and most of the time it's all he uses.

By the time you get to the point where you need something heavy-duty, you'll be confident it's a good investment.

I agree. This is what I use, purchased it about a year ago, under $400 at bunnings. I have joined a few bbq groups on fb that help with times, temps and recipes. I have a couple of mates with offset smokers which are great for long cooks or feeding an army. But they both also use kettle type bbq's for their everyday cookups.

 

[The Dice Man]

Anyone ever used sheep or goat s**t to fire their BBQ? It gives amazing flavours believe it or not.

 

[dracochapel]

Honestly, I think you'd be mad to buy a fancy specialist smoker from the get-go. Smoked BBQ is the new home-brew - so many people start out enthusiastic, but the drop-out rate is significant.

A charcoal Weber will do everything a beginner needs, and more. I have a mate from Alabama who's been smoking for 30 years, and most of the time it's all he uses.

By the time you get to the point where you need something heavy-duty, you'll be confident it's a good investment.

Agreed. A charcoal Weber gets nearly as good a result as a specialist smoker. But it's more versatile. Can do steaks over charcoal; or a roast and potatoes/pumpkin indirect; or some ribs low and slow (just examples). I have a smokey mountain too and i get a great result - but it only smokes. And i didnt get it until months after i'd had the kettle and had lots of practice.

Like my home brew kit - lots of cooper bog standard pale ales and dark ales and stouts. Now that i've been getting a reliable good result i'm going to start getting more adventurous.