Brand new to this looking to buy a big smoker entertain and have a lot of company on our ranch, would like to know what everyone started with?
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Welcome! Weber kettle. -
Howdy from Kansas Territory, Welcome to Th Pit!
Sure am glad to have ya join us, here...
In answer to yer question, an open fire'd be my response...Comment
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Welcome from Colorado! What do you plan to typically cook? Do you plan to grill or smoke (or both). How many folks are you likely to be cooking for? As far as what I started with ... you wouldn't want that (a tiny cast iron hibachi as I recall).
Oh ... and it would help to know a bit about what kind of budget constraints you might have.Comment
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MBMorgan has the right questions for you to get the best advice. Let’s hear from you withe the answers. I would add how much time do you want to spend tending a fire?Comment
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Welcome from IndianaComment
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Started with charcoal/wood, But now at home a pellet smoker. use for everything, Welcome new Smoker, We Use a meadow creek in competition's.Comment
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Welcome. Get the hermungously biggest, gargantuan cooker you can get yer fists on. There will probably be more advice, even technical musings. But remember one thing & you’ll be alright man, biggest baddest is bestest! Eat good & have fun.
er. Ma’am or Ms. or what the heck, you are a PIT dudette now!Last edited by FireMan; July 7, 2018, 04:29 PM.Comment
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Welcome to The Pit from NC! A good place to start looking for cooker would be at "Ratings and Reviews" on the amazingribs.com Home page. What fuel do you want to use? Charcoal, wood, wood pellets. Each source has its pluses and minuses. Do you want to set it and sort of forget it, or do you want to be a little more hands on with minding the temp of the cook? Much to consider, but you will get a lot of great info here.
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Steve, I think I would like charcoal and wood. Do you know if there is a place in NC, SC that custom builds? Would love to pick your brain this will be my first time with all of this... I am a great cook outside of smoking so I would like to do this successfully! Do not mind tending, but not constant -
I don't know of a place that does custom builds, but there must be one. There isn't a lot to go wrong with most cookers. I have a pellet grill which I really enjoy. Sleeping through the night without worrying about the cook in progress is awesome.
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Just in "Kase" you didn’t hear, you are now a member of the finest bbq society on plant earth. Welcome from Texas !!!
I began grilling with a shoe box size hibachi grill on my college dorm’s patio. Since then I’ve acquired thousand more in cookers and accessories. After all that, it’s hard to beat a well grilled hibachi steak !!Comment
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Please, forgive my previous oversight, an brevity:
In answer to yer original question,
I started round pits in th ground, an outdoor campfires, so I'm still learnin, everyday!...would like to know what everyone started with?
I'm not even nowhere close to closin in on it, or catchin up, but I'm still tryin to run th Good Race, til these ol legs won't carry me no farther.
Last edited by Mr. Bones; July 7, 2018, 04:16 PM.Comment
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We Good, Brother! I knowed ya was, but want yall to unnerstand me.
Some days, I git lucky, can cook summat good.
I'm at peace with that.
Mebbe, next time, I'll do better, especial with all yall to guide me!
It's why I LOVE this place!
Last edited by Mr. Bones; July 7, 2018, 06:01 PM.
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Welcome to the pit!
Cheers from NorwayComment
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Welcome to the Pit from Huntsville, Alabama! Sounds like you want to feed a crowd! For parties of 40 or more I would looking at an offset or a large pelllet smoker. Where you go from there depends on your budget and preferred fuel. Something else to consider as a starting smoker might be the Pit Barrel Cooker (PBC).Last edited by jfmorris; July 7, 2018, 04:18 PM.Comment
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Kase My budget has not allowed for a pellet smoker just yet - I’m using wood and charcoal. When I get two weddings and college tuition behind me I am looking at a Rectec 700 or Yoder 640. Maybe just a Gorilla Silverbac if I want to save money. Lots here use and like their pellet smokers, and it’s more hands off than wood or charcoal.
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"40 people love butts, ribs, chicken and fish to smoke!!"
Wow, if you're cooking for that many people and offering most, or all of those proteins in one meal, you might want to consider multiple cookers. I'd look into maybe two Pit Barrel Cookers (PBC's, each costing $299 delivered to your door, and a kettle (22" minimum; 26" ideal size (and can be found for $299, too)). That would put your total cost outlay for everything except accessories and gadgets (we all need accessories and gadgets) at nearly $1000. That's not far off from what you'd pay for a large pellet smoker should you decide to go that way.
You have lots of fun decisions to make ...
BTW, I suggested 2 PBC's so you could have them running at temps most suitable for what you're cooking ... 350-375 for poultry and 275-300 for butts and ribs. The kettle would be perfect for anything else imaginable (including those fish) ... and somebody's always going to want burgers and dogs.Comment
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What is everyone's favorite brand of pellet smoker?Comment
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Very pleased with my Rec Tec. Amazing customer service! We had seen another brand on display at a local mall, but it looked kinda spindly. Found Rec Tec through research and discovered they are in Augusta. For what I was going to spend, it was necessary to take a drive and see it, feel it, etc. It might be worth an excursion to check it out.
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