A smoker is used by many people for smoking their favorite kind of meat. However, there are also many people that do not use smokers because they do not understand the workings of the smoker and think that it can be difficult for the process and they might not be able to do it. Well, let us tell you that you can very well use a smoker if you know how to use a grill. It take a bit more patience but it is still along the same lines. Let's take a look at the workings of a smoker.
Methods Of Working
Smoker uses smoke to flavor and cook the food. There are water smokers that use water to add moisture to the smoking technique. They are generally less expensive than the pit smokers. Most of these smokers have a cylindrical barrel of 18 inches in diameter. It can be charcoal, gas, or electric depending on the preference of the user. Wood chips or chunks are used to create the flavorful smoke of the smokers. At times we can also add aromatics like fresh herbs and citrus peels so that the food can be cooked with much more flavor. The grill rack is where you put the food. Our most favorite food to smoke is salmon, ribs, or brisket.
There are dry smokers that cook the food by indirect grilling method. These chambers come with two chambers. There is a large chamber where the food is placed and there is a smaller offset fire chamber where we put the fuel. Once again it can be charcoal, gas, or electric depending on the preference of the user. You can cook more food in this smoker than in the wet smoker because they generally have more space.
All the smokers have dampers or vents that allow you to control the amount of air that is entering into the smoker. The smoker's temperature is controlled in this manner. When the bottom damper is open, it can get more air in the smoker and you will get more temperature from the growing fire. However, make sure that you are not opening the lid too much to check on the food because it will cause the loss of heat and smoke each time you do it. Buy a remote temperature probe so that you can monitor the temperature of the food without opening the smoker again and again.
The Different Types of Smokers
Now that you know how the smoker works, you need to know how many different kinds of smokers are there in the market. If you are someone who has never bought a smoker before then you might need to do a bit more research on the subject before you buy a smoker. We do not want you to regret your purchase after you have already spent your money on it. Here we have the different kinds of smokers that you can choose from. Take a look.
Gas Smokers :
These smokers run on propane or natural gas. They are perfect for beginners because they are pretty much easy to use. They are vertical smokers and appear to be a bit of a heavy-duty safe with a temperature gauge included in the model. You can choose any gas that you want. If you already have a natural gas line at your home then all you need to do is connect it with the line or you can buy propane gas cannisters or tanks from the shop.
Charcoal Smokers :
There are actually many kinds of charcoal smokers that you can find in the market including cabinet-style, firebox, barrel and drum, and bullet. Depending on the model of the smoker it can live vertical or horizontal. Vertical charcoal smokers have a lot of different shapes like large drums, heavy-duty safes, and large eggs. The basic point is that you get a lot of options when it comes to charcoal smokers. However, they are not that easy to use and you need some expertise to cook on them. This is not a smoker for the beginners to the craft.
Pellet Smokers :
These are rather perfect for the beginners because you don't need to do any work on the pellet smokers. They look like a grill with a chimney. Many people confuses the pellet smoker and pellet grill but they are basically the same thing. Many people call the pellet smokers outdoors oven too. They use small wood pellets to create smoke and all pellet smokers are electric in nature. They are also very expensive so only go for them if you have the budget to buy and maintain them.
Ceramic Smokers :
They are also very expensive smokers. These smokers are also known by the name of kamado grill and they have a unique egg shape. I am sure that you might have seen them at a certain point of time.
Electric Smokers :
They are vertical smokers that look like a small fridge. They also tend to be easy to use so that the beginners can use them without any hassle. They come in various shapes and sizes depending on the brand and model. They are pretty affordable.
Conclusion
That's all that we have to say in this article. It is not a mystery that smokers take a long time to cook the food. However, it is also pretty well known that smoked food is one of the tastiest food that you can put in your mouth. If done properly then they can just melt in your mouth. We love good smoked ribs or brisket and it becomes even more satisfying when you know how to cook it yourself. We do hope that we have been successful in helping you with the information. Have a good day. Take care of yourself. Make sure you pick the right smoker and then go ahead to cook multiple dishes on the smoker. Have fun!