Smoker BBQ

[RobHawk]

Looking at getting into smoking some meats and getting my first smoker BBQ. 

 

Just wondered if anybody out there is into smoking and can provide some top tips on what to look for when looking for my first budget friendly smoker. 

[Amin]

I've been using a Ninja Woodfire Pro XL Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker for the past 2 weekends. I've never used a smoker before so didn't really know how much it would change the flavour but I've been very impressed. It's given burgers and chicken that classic BBQ flavour but what has impressed me most is how it transforms veg such as peppers and aubergines, they just soak up the smoke. Since it's electric it feels like cheating but it's very convenient and can be used as an outdoor air-fryer and roaster as well. I've not scratched the surface with it really, I'm hoping to get a lot of use out of it through the summer and I really want to try a brisket in it.

[FoxesDeb]

@Milo @Bordersfox

[Bordersfox]

1 hour ago, RobHawk said:

Looking at getting into smoking some meats and getting my first smoker BBQ. 

 

Just wondered if anybody out there is into smoking and can provide some top tips on what to look for when looking for my first budget friendly smoker. 

Depends what your budget is as decent smokers aren't particularly cheap. 

 

I've got two different smokers, one is a big poppa ugly drum. This is charcoal fired, direct heat. Easy to use and you can either add wood chunks for smoke or, if you are going more down a Carolina type hog smoking route you just smoke the meat via the fat dripping onto the coals which creates smoke.  Think it cost maybe £299. It's pretty versatile and you can move the coal basket up and down which is a nice feature say if you're smoking a tomahawk and then want to reverse sear over flames.  It will do low and slow but it does tend to prefer running a little hottet at around 275-400F.  It produces some delicious smoked foods.  It's also fun playing with fire.  

 

The second smoker is a pellet grill which is basically a pellet style off set smoker, I've got the cheapest you can buy called a big horn, was about £700ish I think.  This is much more capable for texas style low and slow and super easy to use and to control the temp. With a bit of practice and a smoke tube this produces some amazing BBQ and means you can smoke a brisket for 18 hours without having to feed a fire all that time.  The down side is it does feel a little bit like cheating but fvck it, the food is great.  Edit - like @Amin said.  I also echo what he said about veg.  Smoke some onions, tomatoes, peppers and chilli's and you will create a transformative salsa.  

 

Both smokers produce very different smoke flavours although with a bit of practice it is possible to recreate a more offset style smoke profile on the drum smoker.  

 

Honestly unless you have a huge budget and lots of free time forget a stick burning offset. A decent one is thousands.  That's a hobby for the idle rich, the retired or the truly dedicated.  I had one but just didn't have the time to use.  The pellet and the drum smoker I use all year round. 

 

There are a million instructional videos online as well. I'd say if you want live fire and are wiling to put in a bit of effort to get a handle on it you should look at a big poppa or a pit barrel drum smoker.  Or go down Amins route and the ninja. I've never used it personally but there stuff is usually decent.

[Kopic]

 

 

[RobHawk]

2 hours ago, Bordersfox said:

Depends what your budget is as decent smokers aren't particularly cheap. 

 

I've got two different smokers, one is a big poppa ugly drum. This is charcoal fired, direct heat. Easy to use and you can either add wood chunks for smoke or, if you are going more down a Carolina type hog smoking route you just smoke the meat via the fat dripping onto the coals which creates smoke.  Think it cost maybe £299. It's pretty versatile and you can move the coal basket up and down which is a nice feature say if you're smoking a tomahawk and then want to reverse sear over flames.  It will do low and slow but it does tend to prefer running a little hottet at around 275-400F.  It produces some delicious smoked foods.  It's also fun playing with fire.  

 

The second smoker is a pellet grill which is basically a pellet style off set smoker, I've got the cheapest you can buy called a big horn, was about £700ish I think.  This is much more capable for texas style low and slow and super easy to use and to control the temp. With a bit of practice and a smoke tube this produces some amazing BBQ and means you can smoke a brisket for 18 hours without having to feed a fire all that time.  The down side is it does feel a little bit like cheating but fvck it, the food is great.  Edit - like @Amin said.  I also echo what he said about veg.  Smoke some onions, tomatoes, peppers and chilli's and you will create a transformative salsa.  

 

Both smokers produce very different smoke flavours although with a bit of practice it is possible to recreate a more offset style smoke profile on the drum smoker.  

 

Honestly unless you have a huge budget and lots of free time forget a stick burning offset. A decent one is thousands.  That's a hobby for the idle rich, the retired or the truly dedicated.  I had one but just didn't have the time to use.  The pellet and the drum smoker I use all year round. 

 

There are a million instructional videos online as well. I'd say if you want live fire and are wiling to put in a bit of effort to get a handle on it you should look at a big poppa or a pit barrel drum smoker.  Or go down Amins route and the ninja. I've never used it personally but there stuff is usually decent.

I'm defo looking at the cheaper end of the price spectrum to begin with. I'm not massive into cooking but I am eating 🤣 so I'm defo looking for a starter to see how I get on with it. 

 

Defo looking at charcoal and I like the look of a drum but I'm still trying to work it out. Any recommendations for channels on YouTube worth following? 

[Bordersfox]

1 hour ago, RobHawk said:

I'm defo looking at the cheaper end of the price spectrum to begin with. I'm not massive into cooking but I am eating 🤣 so I'm defo looking for a starter to see how I get on with it. 

 

Defo looking at charcoal and I like the look of a drum but I'm still trying to work it out. Any recommendations for channels on YouTube worth following? 

I also am very much into eating.  

 

For the pit barrel Ballstic BBQ has quite a few vids on it.  Good channel generally. 

 

Chuds BBQ has a series on smoking with the Weber Kettle so a good budget option.  He's also about the best BBQ channel there is.  Does a lot of direct heat cooking.  

 

A good one to follow in the UK is Wilsons BBQ.  Because some of the cuts American cooks use are really hard to get, imported and outrageously expensive.  He uses stuff you can get easily at the butcher or even supermarket. Check out John Davidsons butcher for some of the specialist briskets etc, you can easily pay £100.  You can easily pay £400. 

 

Personally I think pork offers the best value for smoking in the UK and is truly delicious smoked.  I'd start with a deboned pork belly, skin off my butcher does this for me.  Very forgiving.  Check out Meatchurch 'bacon brisket' for a great and easy cook on youtube.  Will work on any smoker following the time and temp method they use.  Also, you will need a meat thermometer.  I use a meater probe but they aren't cheap. 

Edited 10 April by Bordersfox

[RobHawk]

On 10/04/2025 at 22:15, Bordersfox said:

I also am very much into eating.  

 

For the pit barrel Ballstic BBQ has quite a few vids on it.  Good channel generally. 

 

Chuds BBQ has a series on smoking with the Weber Kettle so a good budget option.  He's also about the best BBQ channel there is.  Does a lot of direct heat cooking.  

 

A good one to follow in the UK is Wilsons BBQ.  Because some of the cuts American cooks use are really hard to get, imported and outrageously expensive.  He uses stuff you can get easily at the butcher or even supermarket. Check out John Davidsons butcher for some of the specialist briskets etc, you can easily pay £100.  You can easily pay £400. 

 

Personally I think pork offers the best value for smoking in the UK and is truly delicious smoked.  I'd start with a deboned pork belly, skin off my butcher does this for me.  Very forgiving.  Check out Meatchurch 'bacon brisket' for a great and easy cook on youtube.  Will work on any smoker following the time and temp method they use.  Also, you will need a meat thermometer.  I use a meater probe but they aren't cheap. 

I've been loving chuds BBQ, thank you for the recommendation, so much so it's got me leaning towards a Weber kettle, I like the look of the Weber smokey mountain too. 

 

I feel like I've learnt so much already, looking forward to getting stuck in and actually cooking something now. 

 

Gonna keep an eye and see if anything comes up on Facebook marketplace local to me. 

[Bordersfox]

19 minutes ago, RobHawk said:

I've been loving chuds BBQ, thank you for the recommendation, so much so it's got me leaning towards a Weber kettle, I like the look of the Weber smokey mountain too. 

 

I feel like I've learnt so much already, looking forward to getting stuck in and actually cooking something now. 

 

Gonna keep an eye and see if anything comes up on Facebook marketplace local to me. 

Great channel.  Does the basics in detail but has some very advanced new school bbq stuff as well. If you follow his instructions you'll be grand.  

 

I think a couple of things to be aware of that tripped me up initially.

 

Firstly, he's cooking with high quality, well butchered meat that's perfect for bbq (you'll probably gave realised by now that's what the yanks call smoking and when in Rome...).  He then also trims the meat further.  He's a chef.  If you are trying to smoke up some scraggly ass pork ribs from Tesco you aren't getting his results.  They will still be delicious. 

 

Also, trimming is quite a skill.  For home bbq I just wouldn't bother unless you've got huge chunks of obvious fat.  When I started I ended up ruining some expensive cuts of meat by trying to excessively trim. Obviously at bbq restaurants the trimmings are useful. At home, not so much. 

 

On which note, I picked up a load of ribs from my butcher for a fiver yesterday.  They were left over, they aren't perfectly shaped or cut but they'll be great I'll try and take a couple of pictures later. You can do this hobby on a budget for sure. 

 

Finally, if you are smoking over charcoal briquettes buy decent ones not supermarket.  That's the only area not to scrimp.  The supermarket stuff burns too quickly I've found and isn't consistent.  My local garden centre sells Weber briquettes they last forever, great for a longer smoke! 

 

Dm me if you need any help.  Start with chicken thighs or fatty pork!