What is the Best Smoker for a Beginner? A Must Read Comparison

By: The BBQ Store

Are you a rookie in the world of BBQ and wondering what is the best smoker for a beginner?

Aussies we love our barbecues and all things associated with them. We can talk you through smoker grill types and even give you our own opinion on what is the best smoker grill. Here at The BBQ Store we always receive a wealth of emails and comments about our take on the best smoker for a beginner, so we decided to put pen to paper and give you our expert opinion once and for all.

We’ll start by answering one of the most common questions…

How many types of smoking are there?

There are four major types of smokers:
i. Charcoal Smoker
ii. Electric Smoker
iii. Pellet Smoker
iv. Propane (Gas) Smoker

1. Charcoal Smoker

These smokers use charcoal as the fuel source and they are the most traditional type. There are different sizes and shapes of charcoal smokers. Beginners might struggle to get the charcoal lit. It takes time, effort, and experience to learn how to properly operate a charcoal smoker. However, if you’d like to try your hand at barbecuing the original way, the Hark Offset Smoker will simplify things for you.

Pros
- Authentic BBQ taste
- Less expensive and versatile
- Automatic temperature controller makes the cooking experience even better
Cons
- Requires more effort to get the right cooking temperatures
- Cleaning can be cumbersome

Hark "The Chubby" Offset Smoker

The Hark Chubby Offset Smoker is a replacement to the much loved Hark Tri-Fire and is a little brother to the Hark Texas Pro-Pit.

2. Electric Smoker

This is the modern version of smokers, quick and convenient. We recommend this smoker for beginners because of its general ease of use. One of our all-time favorites is the sleek Bradley Original 4 Rack Black 240 Volt Smoker.

Pros
- Easy to control the heat
- Setting up is super convenient
- Permitted by law in all areas so there is no need to worry about local regulations

Cons
- Food doesn’t have that traditional smoky-barbecue-flavor
- Smoker needs a power supply

Bradley Original 4 Rack Black Smoker 240 Volt

The Bradley Smoker is a unique smoke house, sold complete with its accompanying smoke generator, in which flavor bisquettes are burned for 20 minutes each so that the temperature does not fluctuate, thus eliminating the high-temperature gases, acids, and resins that can distort the flavor of smoked food. It is light enough to carry and is about the size of a small fridge.

3. Pellet Smoker

These smokers use wood pellets as their fuel source. These days, pellet smokers come with a built-in digital controller that monitors the temperature. The sophisticated Green Mountain Grill is one of our favorites. Pellets come in various flavors. It is somewhat easier to use pellets than charcoal.

Pros
- Sufficient temperature range (generally from 175oF to 500oF)
- Pre-heating is fast (takes no more than 15 minutes)
- Consistent flavor (thanks to the temperature control)

- Variety of flavors i.e. Apple, Hickory, Cherry, Pecan, Maple, Bourbon etc.
Cons
- Requires access to electricity supply
- Good quality pellet smokers are expensive
- The grilling experience with inexpensive pellet smokers is generally disappointing

Green Mountain Grill Ledge Prime Plus WiFi Black Grill

The Ledge Prime model comes with a redesigned digital controller that allows you to control and monitor your grill through our iOS or Android mobile application, dual meat probes, and a USB port. With the new grill and pellet view windows, you can keep an eye on your food without letting smoke/heat escape and see your pellet supply. Our 13.5-in. peaked lid provides enough space for a stand-up chicken to a dozen racks of ribs. Keep all of your grilling tools handy by hanging them on the utensils hooks of your side convenience tray.

4. Propane (Gas) Smoker

They are user-friendly and a good choice for beginners. Their price is economical. The design is simple and the cleaning process isn’t as hectic as that of a charcoal smoker. Consider the sturdy Masterbuilt ThermoTemp Propane Smoker.
Pros
- Price is generally affordable
- Gas smoker can be small so they don’t require large spaces
- Automatic temperature controller makes the cooking experience even better
- Maintaining the temperature is also easy
- Push button ignition
Cons
- Lack of traditional smokey taste
- The cooking chamber is thin and it makes it tough for some meat cuts to fit in

MASTERBUILT ThermoTemp Propane Smoker Pellet/Wood Smoker American Style BBQ.

The ThermoTemp Masterbuilt innovation will turn off the propane if the flame ever blows out, giving you peace of mind and a safe smoking experience. The wood chip tray is built into a second door, so you can try out different flavours without losing heat