I have been an amateur smoker for Long time. Never had a decent smoker, but I made it work. My last one was a char griller pro offset. I smoked everything with sticks and love the way everything taste, but I’m trying to be open minded since I’m seeing more pellet smokers out there. In the market for a new smoker this one was on sale. It has a ridiculous amount of room, gonna be the flavor I want out of this smoker? Did I just waste my money? The idea sounds wonderful to not have to sit and babysit for hours and hours on end.
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Welcome to The Pit from Texas. Remember, it's the skills of the Pitmaster and not the pit that matters most. I'm sure great smokes continue to be in your future. Please post pics of your cooks on your new smoker. Enjoy and have fun.Last edited by Purc; July 2, 2024, 06:30 AM. -
I’ve finally learned that smokers and grills are tools. In the hands of someone who has put in the time to learn to use them well they can do great things. Running your stick burner you had to be observant to keep it humming along. Those same skills will serve you well in learning to get great things from your pellet rig. Welcome from central Texas!Comment
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Hi Evie and welcome! I think this comes down to personal choice and you'll ultimately have to determine whether you will be happy with a pellet smoker.
I do not have a pellet smoker, but I still hang out with people who do. I enjoy the food that comes off of their smokers just fine.
The conventional wisdom around here seems to be that meats develop a better smoke profile when the pellet grill is at a lower temp. So a lot of people will smoke very low and slow for a couple of hours and then crank up the heat to finish the cook.
You are correct in being attracted to the convenience of a pellet smoker. One of my friends has essentially stopped using the stove in his kitchen and cooks almost everything from his back patio on a Traeger, pretty much seven days a week.
I'd have a hard time pulling off daily use of an offset smoker. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
BrianComment
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“I do not have a pellet smoker, but I still hang out with people who do.”
Gee Brian, thanks for gracing us serfdom pellet pooper owners with your royal stick burner owner presence. If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were trying to foment another pellet pooper vs stick burner competition. And we all know how that turned out.
Seriously, Evie, Brian is as good a Pitmaster and culinary ambassador as anyone on here. Plus, you’re invited to his July 4th bash tomorrow. 🍻💥
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Welcome to The Pit.
If you can get good results from your last cooker, you will have no problems with the new cooker. That said, each type of cooker/fuel has a different flavor profile, and it's up to you to decide if you like it. Pellet smokers generally have a less pronounced smoke flavor, but as mentioned about there are ways to up the amount.
Happy cookin', and we love photos of cooks.
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Welcome from the Land of Enchantment.
your last question - to not have to sit and baby sit…gives you time to do other things while still getting some good food. Yes, you have to monitor, but not like the off-set. You can always use that when you want to, but having options is always good!
enjoy that new cooker!Comment
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You’ll do fine and enjoy the freedom a pellet smoker can give you. Main complaint I hear from people, especially coming from an offset, is the reduced smoke profile. I personally prefer thinking of smoke as only one of the ingredients of great bbq, not the defining thing. If after trying it out and wanting more smoke flavor there are a lot of little things that can be done on a pellet to enhance it. Put the meat on very cold, smoke at a lower temperature for the first part of the cook, or add something to generate more smoke like a smoke tube. You got a deal, now enjoy that fact, and enjoy conquering your new cooker.Comment
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Welcome from the California Delta.
You've received some good advise so far. Pellet smokers produce a liter smoke profile. I have both a pellet and a charcoal/wood cabinet. Both put out a great result with the Cabinet being much stronger. It's a matter of personal taste hang in there..Comment
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Welcome to the Pit!
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Welcome from Virginia! Hard to say any cooker is a mistake. Sure you will like some more than others but that’s ok too.
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Welcome to the Pit from the Florida Suncoast. I’d just echo what everyone else has been saying. You can get good food from a pellet cooker. It took me a bit of time and experimenting to adjust to cooking on one, but now I love the ease and convenience.Comment
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Howdy from Houston.
I've never run that myself but other folks get a lot of mileage out of Pit Boss smokers.
One of the finest pit masters I had the pleasure of knowing here used to make amazing things on a collection of Jumbo Joe grills. So I don't think what smoker you use is that important. Probably more important to have a couple / few reliable thermo-meters.
(Joking aside, use a thermometer to check that your smoker is actually running the temp you set. It's not uncommon for those to be off 20 degrees, which isn't a problem, as long as you know).
I think this will be a step up from what you've been using.
Worst case is that to the learn some new recipes. Hone in your technique, and when you figure out specifically, where this is lacking, then you'll know what to look for...
And that next smoker will probably be a Pit Barrel Cooker.
Be sure to post pics of those tasty ribs!!
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Welcome to the Pit from Dallas, Texas! There is no perfect smoker. You get to know the pluses and minuses by cooking on them, and it is a matter of which pluses you really like and which minuses you are willing to live with. I get not wanting to tend a fire. That’s why I got a Big Green Egg with a controller so I could do 12-14 hour overnight cooks while I slept.Comment
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A poor worker blames his tools, you can cook great food if you think you can! Cook on and welcome!Comment
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If you like it, that is all that really matters. Congrats on the purchase!Comment
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