Smoker / Grill v. Grill & Smoker

[surfdog]

Rick Triviski Most pellet cookers don’t seem to do anything quick... They’re really more like a wood fired oven rather than a grill.

There are exceptions, some have additional sear boxes available like the Woodwind, which is essentially a small gas grill. Others have sliding panels and what not to expose the fire pot...with varying degrees of success. As one might imagine, the price creeps up with added capabilities. The Woodwind for instance hovers right around $1000. The Weber has more of a grill design from the start...but that one appears to be hit & miss. People either love it or hate it.

My father has a Traeger...a "grill" it is not. Burgers, while they could be tasty would just take far too long. And forget starting with frozen patties on a weeknight cook. Really no different than sticking patties in an oven, save for the added smoke.

When I wrapped my head around his cooker being more akin to an oven than a grill, I started to appreciate it more. I don’t want one, but I understand the appeal much more than I did after first trying it out.

[tenphases]

You have to have a fire with kids! Get some sort of weber kettle for the dogs and burgers. As far as a smoker, I have a bunch and some of them are really expensive. The truth is that all the money and all the fancy is great but there is nothing that I cant do with a stock weber kettle. Here is a bonus. After your done grilling throw a couple of wood chunk on the fire, leave the lid off and toast marshmallows.

[Rick Triviski]

so you can make quick hotdogs or burgers on a pellet grill? Are there other reputable brands of pellet grills?

[Richard Chrz]

Dadof3Illinois I have no experience with pit barrel, but, have only heard super positive reviews on it. But I agree, this can be done on the cheap if wanted, but a temp system, it is best to purchase the best you can afford in a temp system, more then the cooker. You can learn to run anything if you know how it behaves.

[Dadof3Illinois]

IMO a Weber Kettle and Pit Barrel Cooker are really one of the best combinations you can have and not break the bank. Throw in a leave in thermometer system and your golden. Heck if you shop around you can get all these and the cost will still be in the 3 figures.

[Dadof3Illinois]

This is the same set up I have and it can cook just about everything a person needs.

[ColonialDawg]

I have a Weber 26 inch kettle, SNS, Fireboard, and Guru PitViper fan. Add a Vortex knockoff on the cheap from Amazon and you can cook just about anything.

[LA Pork Butt]

+ 1

[LA Pork Butt]

+ 1

[Murdy]

Is your Weber a kettle or a gas grill? I smoke a lot on my kettle. And it comes out great. Add a fan controller for ease, but honestly, I don't really have to fuss with mine that much in most conditions. As I understand, a weber kettle will produce a heavier smoke flavor than a pellet grill and will sear better.

[surfdog]

A kettle would be a fine choice. Incredibly versatile without breaking the bank.

Accessories like the Vortex, and SNS, can be added later as "needed." (Read: wanted) No accessories are strictly necessary for it to preform well...they just make things more convenient or simplify getting the desired results. And the Weber kettle has countless accessories available for it.

Personally, I would probably opt for the performer series as I like the added table. Though there never seems to be enough table space for my liking...thus my current search for a decent table. Those grills are available just about everywhere so you could have one at home this afternoon.

I wouldn't discount a gasser either. While most are not great for smoking, they’re great for quick items like burgers & dogs. I smoked for years on my Summit gasser before I purchased my first true smoker. It requires a little finesse but it was, and is, still capable.

A good instant read thermometer is a must IMO...with a leave in added if it’s in the budget.

And welcome aboard from sunny SoCal.

[Richard Chrz]

Personally for me, cost all considered, It is hard to beat a Weber Kettle, I run my 22 as a daily driver, and have smoked some really good food on it as well, without a slow and sear, just with snake method and a water pan. I think the 26 is less efficient then the 22 for basic cooks, but the 26 offers larger smoking space in comparrison, With the 26 I may suggest a vortex, as is a bit bigger and takes a bit more fuel (coal) then I would like to use for small cooks, it may help reduce the extra fuel needs, I also have a 22 wsm, and I am sure the bottom section of it could be used as a grill, so if you preferred every weekend long smokes, I would go with an 18 wsm or a 22wsm. With a kettle, I do think a table, whether from Weber, or custom built, is a must for outdoor cooking With a 22 you can buy a table built on. 26 you would need to have one made. As important as grilling, I would get a good temp probe system, that helps you set your grill / smoker more then anything. You will learn to set and forget a weber as well, and they build beautiful bark once you learn to harness there abilities. I can't speak to efficiencies and cost of other styles.

[troymeister]

Welcome from the Chicago area.. The Weber Kettle for me is one of the most versatile grills out there. Even more versatile with the SnS and the Vortex. I have to agree with many of the above posters. The Weber Kettle for starters. Everything else after is an enhancement.

[ofelles]

Welcome from the California Delta. Plenty of good advise above.

[RichardCullip]

You can start small and relatively cheap with a 22" Weber Kettle and add stuff to it later on. When I first started low&slow smoking I used the fuse technique (sometimes called the snake) to lay out the charcoal in a ring around the outside edge of the charcoal grate and lit a couple of coals on one end. Put the meat (pork butt is my favorite) in the middle of the cooking grate and fiddle with the vents to get a nice 225F temperature going. You can get a nice long burn (perhaps up to 8 hours) this way.

I have since added a Slow&Sear which made life easier. Finally I added a FireBoard controller with a Pit Viper fan this year and upped my smoking game. Still just using my old 22" Weber Kettle and haven't felt the need to acquire anymore cookers yet.