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Does the good taste of smoked meat make you salivate?
Would you like to open up new culinary horizons and are thinking about purchasing a smokehouse?
Excellent idea!
On the other hand, if you go in search of the best smoker, you will find that there are enough to quickly lose the north: there are many different models and a whole range of options.
Because there’s smoking and smoking going on, and not everyone has the same expectations when it comes to determining what a good smoker is.
So which smoker to choose?
To find out, we recommend examining four general criteria to consider when looking to buy a smoker.
At the end of this article, you will have all the elements in hand to choose the right device that suits you.
in summary
Here are four criteria to consider when choosing your smoker:
- The type of smoking you are considering, hot or cold
- The type of power supply to the device: electric, gas or coal
- The size and layout of the device depends in particular on the food you want to smoke
- How you want to use a smoker.
The way of smoking
This is the first thing to consider when choosing a smokehouse.
There are actually two methods of smoking food: hot or cold.
These two processes are not intended for the same purposes.
hot smoking
With hot smoking, the food cooks thanks to the heat generated in the smoker and the smoke that gives it its inimitable flavor.
When properly prepared, hot smoking can result in a very high quality of cooking that would otherwise not be possible.
cold smoking
The principle here is completely different from hot smoking.
With cold smoking, food (often fish) is smoked at low temperatures, usually between 20 and 25 °C.
This gives them the smoked flavor without the need to cook them and allows them to be preserved.
Fewer devices are designed for cold smoking: if they do, it will clearly indicate so.
If you are interested in this process, then this could be the criterion that makes the difference.
Also note that it is often possible to adapt your device for this process, particularly via a cold smoking accessory.
Eat
There are mainly three types of power supplies for smokers on the market, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages.
charcoal
Charcoal smokers offer the most authentic and rich flavor.
Wood chips are placed on the embers, which can complicate the desired smoke aroma.
Charcoal smokers, on the other hand, require a lot of time to start up and are also maintenance-intensive.
After all, their operation requires a certain level of expertise.
All this is the price of achieving a top result!
On the other hand, this is often an advantage of these models in terms of price: They are usually cheaper than electric or gas models.
electric
Electric smokers are becoming increasingly popular.
The great advantage of an electric smoker is that you just have to plug it in: there is no significant fuel to start the device.
Instead, an electrical element heats the wood chips placed above, creating smoke.
Electric incense burners are often available in “cabinet” format and are among the easiest models to use, especially for beginners.
They are also good for cold smoking.
The special case of pellet smokers
This hybrid device is a subclass of electric smokers.
It is an electric device, but pellets in the form of sawdust are used as fuel.
These very practical devices are usually neither the largest nor the cheapest.
gas
In these smokers, burners are operated to heat wood chips that impart the smoky flavor.
A gas smokehouse can be connected to the natural gas network.
One benefit of propane smokers is that you can place them anywhere without the need for an electrical outlet.
You still need a propane tank.
Another advantage of the propane smoker is the excellent temperature control as the burners are very easy to open or close and the change is instantaneous.
In terms of taste, the result can be less convincing depending on the model.
Plus, prolonged smoking may require you to juggle multiple propane bottles.
The size and layout
Here’s a point not to be overlooked!
In fact, the smokehouses do not have the same capacity.
But the size is not the only criterion to consider here: in fact, the layout of the device will not be suitable for the same uses.
The size
Smokers are generally fairly large devices, but they can vary in size.
No wonder: if you want to smoke a lot of food for many guests, you need a larger smoker.
A smoker with a large capacity is also suitable for smoking several foods at the same time, which can be interesting since the smoking time is several hours.
Finally, think big when you want to smoke large foods: remember that the foods must not touch the walls.
On the other hand, if your smoking ambitions are more modest and you don’t want to work large spaces, opting for a smaller sized smoker can be a sensible choice.
Yes, “bigger is better” doesn’t apply here: size doesn’t affect smoking quality.
The vertical layout
In smokehouses of this type, the smoke rises in the device and affects all the food placed in it.
This arrangement is better for smoking many smaller pieces at once, which are then placed on stacked grates.
It’s also a format that lends itself well to foods that prefer to be exposed when smoking (eels, yard goods, etc.).
On the other hand, the largest foods, such as large cuts of meat, do not always fit in a vertical smoker whole: they then have to be cut.
The horizontal layout
If we think of the “simple” smoker, which consists of a container converted into a smoker, it is a horizontal smoker.
This format is good for hot smoking and can handle larger foods.
Staggered smoking rooms
Among the horizontal smokehouses there is quite a popular type, the “staggered” smokehouses.
The principle is quite original, since the chimney is placed on the side (hence the name “staggered” or “shifted”).
The chimney is generally on the other side of the smoker. Therefore, the smoke emitted by the source from the other side has meanwhile done its smoking work inside the smoker.
There is a variant with a chimney above the hearth: in this case the system inside is adjusted so that the smoke flows under the food, then over it and finally out through the chimney.
This is a type of smokehouse that is very popular among demanding amateurs.
Your benefit
On this last point, we would like to give you some advice right away: regardless of your intended use, it is advisable to opt for a model that is made of a solid and easy-care material.
For example, stainless steel is a good choice.
After that, your expectations for how you want to use your smoker will determine what budget you should expect to spend on.
Two questions need to be asked here:
– What features do you expect from a smokehouse?
– Do you want a versatile device?
Additional functions
Technology has evolved over time!
While some models are little more elaborate than a homemade smoker from an empty barrel, you can now opt for super tech smokers with a variety of features and everything in between those two extremes.
We might have the reflex to go for an entry-level smoker, but on the one hand the reliability of the device might be in question, on the other hand the result might not be what you expected. Expectations, especially when you’re just starting out.
In addition to the size, the higher price of a smoker can also be justified by additional features.
And that really depends on your expertise.
If you’re comfortable with this, a higher-end model might suit you as it offers more expert features to refine the quality of cooking.
On the other hand, if you’re just starting out, it might be worth spending a few bucks more for a model that has features that will make your life easier and get you smoking without the hassle.
versatility
Purchasing a smoker represents a certain investment, so it may be worth thinking about equipment that performs other basic functions, but can also be used as a smoker.
This is particularly the case with certain grills, especially most kamado grills or even certain “ball” grills.
Yes, if you have such a grill, congratulations, you can use it as a smoker too!
In that case, you need to figure out how to properly adapt your grill to a smoker (mainly adjusting charcoal placement and adding a container of water).
And that includes the pellet smoker we talked about above, which can also be used as an oven and grill.
But it can be worth it: a versatile device often saves a lot of space… and money!
You now have what it takes to make a good comparison and know how to choose a smoker based on your needs.
You can find more information in our buying guide Best Smokers in Canada!
Here you will find the most interesting devices of the moment and certainly also the smokehouse that you need.