What would you do differently if you had to buy your first barbecue smoker set up again? – One Question Interview
(Please leave a comment below!)
When I started this blog about a year or so ago, I spent a lot of time looking up and following the writings of bloggers and competition BBQ folks who really knew their way around a BBQ Smoker. I have spent a good amount of time at Barbecue Competitions and have come to respect the time, effort, and experience brought to bear by folks who can coax what Larry over at The BBQ Grail calls the “sweet blue smoke” into chicken, beef, pork, and fish.
One question that always comes to mind – for me at least is how these folks might change their first BBQ Smoker selections or modify them in some way if they could gain access to their very own “Hot Tub Time Machine.” Always eager to put a question to the Pros out there, I proceeded to fire off emails to some of the more experienced and practiced BBQ Smokers out there. I told them that they could send a quick reply back, with no need for elaborate responses, but gave them leeway to answer in as lengthy a format as they wished.
The answers to my question have streamed in over the past week. Some folks didn’t have the time to respond, while others were kind enough to take time and write down their thoughts for me to include here. What you’ll see here on The BBQ Smoker Site over the next couple of weeks will be the responses of those fold who replied back.
UPDATE: See responses we received from those interviewed here.
Some of the people I emailed really liked the question, so much so that they sent pretty informative replies. Others sent very short responses, which was great, too! What I hope, is that when pulled together as a group these emails will be helpful to anyone who is researching BBQ Smokers or who is considering making a change to their current barbecue smoker setup. It’s always nice to learn from the mistakes or good fortunes of those BBQ pros who have gone before us!
Now, there’s a chance you did not get an email from me – as I sent them out to a fairly random group of folks. Please don’t take this as a I sign that I’m not interested in your take on the question! In fact, that’s quite the opposite. I’d love to hear from you, and I hope that you consider this post as your formal invitation to respond!
What would you do differently if you had to buy your first barbecue smoker set up again?
Give us your take on the question in the comments below, or write your own post and provide us with a link to the URL below.
I’m looking forward to reading your answers! Meanwhile, you’ll see the responses of those who have responded to my question over the weeks to follow – I hope you enjoy them.
UPDATE: See responses we received from those interviewed here.
A special thanks to Darren over at Problogger.net for the inspiration of setting up this interview series. Check out his website for great information about connecting with readers.
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Comments on What would you do differently if you had to buy your first barbecue smoker set up again? – One Question Interview
That’s a very good question. Quite frankly, I would do nothing different. I started out with an El Cheapo Brinkman, and using that smoker taught me the value of temperature control.
Hey Wayner! You make an excellent point here, and one that a few of those I emailed brought up as well. Do you think there are multiple schools of BBQ Smoker fanatics? For instance, I’m not sure I have the time right now to go as far as competition, nor am I sure I’ll ever have “the stuff” to compete. However, I would like to become adept at managing the fire in a good ol’ stick burner one day. Just to hang that shingle up. That said, I do think there are folks who are very happy to plug in an electric smoker and let it be with that.
Living in the condo, I’m limited to a pellet or an electric at the moment.
Hey everyone, great question. Sometime we humans overthink things and try to always improve on what has worked for us. I started with an electric smoker, and it did a fantastic job, very easy to learn on, control heat, and sample the goodness at the end. Now I have a Smoke Hollow propane smoker and again, its done me right, very easy to work with. I guess unless you are competing for big money and are making mass quantities, a small 4 rack smoker is all you need. I’ve cooked for as many as 100 people with just that little smoker with Stellar results.
But I would say if I had more money and room, I would probably make or buy some kind of rotissarie type smoker, more even heating, juices dripping on the meat as it rotates, and probably some kind of wood burning system that surrounds the smoker so I could add different types of wood at the same time, but separately. Keep up the good work, keep smokin, and share the love ! Peace …
Jack, my man! Thank you for commenting on this thread. I agree with you on the over-thinking part for sure. Maybe it’s a boys with toys thing – for both men and women, when it comes to BBQ and BBQ Smokers. Lord knows the knowledge behind how to make good BBQ isn’t relegated to the camp of men – see DivaQ and Lee Ann Whippen for evidence of that. I guess I just mean that as our knowledge about making good BBQ grows, as individuals I think we’re sometimes drawn into a sort of quest for fire. I am pretty sure there’s no limit to the types of BBQ smokers I’d try if given ample time, space, and money! Thanks again for commenting. I hope you visit the site again!
For sure I’ll be back, you guys are on my Facebook page, take care my friends!
I started with a kettle over 30 years ago and still smoke on a kettle. I have always wanted a offset and I think an El Cheapo Brinkman would be fine for me. But, I have never been disappointed with that first cooker. Maybe I would wish I took better care of that first kettle.
Hey Bob – I know a ton of folks who still smoke ribs etc on their kettle grills. Sam’s Smoker Pro is a good tool to help with this. So far, the Weber Smokey Mountain cookers have been making a great showing among the “my first smoker” crowd.