Best smoker for beginners; a complete guide

Last Updated on: 25th July 2023, 12:12 pm

Smoking is a fine art that requires practice to master, but it’s necessary to have the right smoker to enjoy the process of learning it if you are a beginner.

for your convenience, we have gathered all the information that you need to choose the best smokers for beginners.

our top choice is Weber smokey mountain due to its versatility and affordability. we will go into more detail in a moment.

So let’s get started

Best smoker for beginners: our choices

Keeping in mind the different aspects of weber smokey mountain, it’s our top pick for beginners.

As a beginner, you want to learn to smoke with ease but also want to enjoy the smoky flavor of charcoal. then it can only be done by WSM.

Smoking can’t be easier than that. we can say that Weber mountain cooker is the master of all trades when compared to other brands.

so here is our list of best smokers for beginners to help you get out of decision paralysis.

Weber smokey mountain Charcoal Smoker

Weber smokey mountain cooker is an all-around smoker that provides multiple benefits at the same time. It gives both the ease of use and taste of a charcoal smoker in the same place.

It requires a bit of effort in the start to ignite charcoal and light up a fire. but it’s less complex than the other charcoal smoker.
the effort required is then rewarded by the delicious smoky taste of the meat.

It has a durable outer surface and can last for a longer time.

The manufacturer of the Weber smokey mountain is so much confident in their product that they provide 10 years warranty .it can’t be more trustworthy than that.

It can maintain the temperature for a long time due to its stainless steel build and design. so it can be used for cold smoking.

the temperature and humidity inside the smoker are controlled by a water bowl .which maintains constant temperature and humidity to smoke meat with good flavor.

It can be a good choice for both beginners and experts. its ease of use and flavor makes it a go-to choice for beginners.

while being good for beginners, it is so much advanced that it has even been used by smoking experts in various smoking competitions.

It comes in three sizes, 14,18,22 inches .for beginners, It’s better to go with 18 inches Weber mountain cooker.

because it has enough space for smoking anything at the start. you can also go with 22 inches smoker but it gets a bit hot due to smoking a large amount of meat in one go. so it can be a bit frustrating for beginners.

you can smoke around 9 racks of ribs collectively in it. of which 6 racks can be smoked in the primary area and 3 in the secondary area.

You don’t have to worry about the less space because it has two porcelain-coated grilling grates attached which make it efficient for smoking more food while covering less space.

And finally, to your surprise, it’s more inexpensive than its other competitors. It provides the same comfort and taste produced by expensive and so-called best smokers at much less cost.

Hence it makes smoking more enjoyable.

Pros of Weber smokey mountain Charcoal Smoker

• It’s easy to use
• Its temperature control is pretty easy
• It has awesome stainless steel build quality and lasts for years.
• It’s affordable and pretty inexpensive keeping in mind the features it has
• Comes in different sizes which makes it perfect for everyone
• its cooking chamber has ample space.
• The meat smoked has the flavor of a charcoal smoker

Cons of Weber smokey mountain cooker

• It’s not sealed completely. the lid can have a little gap

Best electric:Masterbuilt gravity Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo

Masterbuilt gravity grill smoker is the latest version of master-built which provides the flavor of smoking meat with a charcoal grill while being easy to use as a pellet grill.

It has a digital control panel for controlling the temperature. you just have to set your desired temperature range in this panel and then it automatically controls the temperature in the exact range.

if you are looking for the best electric smoker then it is your go-to option.

In addition to controlling temperature, it also controls the airflow inside the smoker with an electric fan which pushes the air into the smoker.

so it can save you from the frustration of adjusting the vents to control the airflow.

It is a grill smoker combo which means it can be used for both smoking and grilling.

it is a versatile smoker with temperatures ranging from 225 – 700°F, which means you can use it for cooking food with different techniques.

Related:5 Best Offset Smoker Grills of the Year

It uses both electricity and charcoal at the same time to provide both flavor and ease of use at the same time.

It has a large hopper to store a huge amount of charcoal so that it doesn’t run out during the process of smoking which affects the flavor of the food.

It is durable and last longer than average smokers due to good build Quality. Due it the temperature regulation, airflow management, and build quality it can perform different functions efficiently.

Pros of Masterbuilt Gravity Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo

• It’s easy to use and beginners friendly
• It gives the flavor of a charcoal grill without much effort
• Heats up pretty quickly and can maintain temperature range over a long time
• It’s easy to assemble
• It’s a versatile smoker that performs different functions with the same design.
• The temperature is easy to control which makes it a set-it-and-forget-it type of product

Cons of Masterbuilt Gravity Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo

• A bit expensive
• Some parts of the smoker can have grease on them at the time of delivery.

pit barrel Drum smoker

Pit barrel cooker is the top competitor of weber smokey mountain in terms of price and Features.

pit barrel cooker design and working process is a bit different from Weber smoker but the flavor is equally good. It can be a good choice for people on a budget.

In contrast to Weber’s smoker, it smokes meat by hanging hooks inside the smoker. It may sound odd but it’s actually more efficient.

pit barrel cooker provides more space and makes sure each part of the meat is smoked evenly. it has 8 hooks and 2 bars to which the hooks are attached.

In addition, the pit barrel cooker also comes with a porcelain-coated grilling grate. so if you are uncomfortable with hooks or just want to smoke meat with the traditional feel of a grilling grate then you can also use that.

It’s not insulated and works by the convection heat method. the internal temperature is raised higher than the external temperature.

pit barrel cooker causes condensation due to which smoke is produced. the airflow is adjusted by a rotatable plate

In addition to addition to the smoke produced by the condensation process, a water pan is also used to produce the smoke.

moreover, because the meat is hanging vertically, the meat juices also flow down and are then smoked to produce more flavor.

It works with the minions’ method, which means instead of igniting all the charcoal in one go, a small amount of charcoal is Ignited and placed on the unlit charcoal.

So the Lower charcoal is burnt slowly after the lit charcoal is burnt out.

Pros of pit barrel Drum smoker

• It is easy to use and good for beginners
• The build Quality is excellent
• It gives the meat a good flavor
• It’s affordable and the price is justified by quality
• It’s easy to assemble

Cons of pit barrel Drum smoker

• Can’t smoke Large chunks of meat and require trimming
• Temperature management requires a bit of effort

traeger pro 780 smoker

Traeger Pro is an easy-to-use smoker equipped with advanced technology to make the cooking process more fun.

It is also a good choice for beginners because its setup requires only clicking a couple of buttons and after that, it can manage itself on its own

It doesn’t require any effort in starting up a fire because it has a one-touch ignition feature that helps you to start smoking with a single click.

It comes with various safety features which minimize the chances of accidents while using it. It has upper and lower temperature thresholds.

a low-temperature alarm is activated if the temperature drops below 125 during smoking, which shuts down the smoker right away. The same goes for the high temperature alarm which activates at 550 degrees.

It’s temperature regulation is also quite easy and if you open the lid during the process, it can reheat quickly.

the meat smoked inside a Traeger Pro smoker has Grill marks on it, which is good for meat texture.

It also has a probe thermometer that tells you the temperature of the food being smoked inside the smoker.

it also comes with an app that shows the live temperature on your phone screen. It also shows a notification when the desired temperature is reached.

It has 780 square inches of cooking space due to which we can smoke more meat at once. this Cooking area is divided into two parts.

The primary cooking area has a space of 570 square inches of cooking space and the secondary cooking area Is 210 square inches

Due to such a large cooking area, it is not portable. Although it comes with terrain wheels by which you can move it around your backyard, it is to take it for outdoor smoking.

It comes with an advanced technology known as wifire technology which makes it easier to use.

By Wifire technology you stay notified of the temperature of the smoker even when you are not physically present with the smoker.

And in addition to that you can even change the temperature of the smoker with wifire technology even when you are away from the smoker.

Pros of Traeger Pro 780 smoker

• It’s easy to use and makes smoking fun
• Wifire technology makes it easy to follow up and control temperature
  
• It has a pretty good flavor compared to other electric smokers
• Can smoke at high temperatures and can be used for outdoor smoking
  
• Large smoking space

Cons of Traeger Pro 780 smoker

• It’s not portable.

Masterbuilt digital electric smoker

Masterbuilt electric smoker is an easy-to-use and beginner-friendly smoker that requires a little bit of effort to start the smoker and after that, it can run on its own without needing much attention.

It is good for beginners that don’t have a budget to buy those expensive smokers that make the smoking process much easier.

It provides both ease of use and less cost at the same time.so it’s like hitting two birds with one stone.

As obvious by the name, it works with electricity. It requires a waterproof electric outlet to start the process.

although it also uses wood for smoking, it doesn’t provide a Smoky flavor.it is the main disadvantage of master-built electric smokers.

It’s better for the people who don’t want to be involved in the smoking process and just want to get the smoked food with ease. so it provides a lot of ease at the expense of less flavor.

As it uses electricity, it can provide a consistent temperature for a longer time, that’s why it is usually used for cold smoking.

it is not affected by weather conditions because it’s insulated.so you can use it for smoking anywhere even at places where charcoal grills are not allowed.

insulation also helps in the retention of heat and smoke.

They also have the built-in thermometer which gives you the exact reading of internal temperature without any effort.

it comes in two sizes 30″ and 40 ″ .40″ has more space for smoking and can be used for smoking large chunks of meat without trimming them.

Pros of Masterbuilt digital electric smoker

• It easy to use for beginners
• It heats up quickly and can maintain temperature for a longer time
• It’s easy to clean
• It is Inexpensive
• It has a good stainless steel build quality and lasts longer
• It’s insulated and has high heat retention

Cons of Masterbuilt digital electric smoker

• Doesn’t provide a Smoky flavor
• The LED display lights are dim

What makes a smoker best for beginners?

There are a variety of smokers out there, having different features and uses that make a beginner feel overwhelmed.

In my opinion, a beginner should start with an electric smoker. although it will not give the traditional smoking experience it’s more safe and easy to use than other types of smokers.

After smoking meat on an electric smoker, they should then move to any type of smoker they want. because until then they would have mastered the basics of smoking.

• one feature that a beginner-friendly smoker should have is that it should be easy to clean. smokers use different types of fuel like charcoal, propane, wood chips, etc.
  
  After burning out they leave behind some waste, so the smoker should have a safe and easy process to clean this waste.
  
• Preferably if it has a removable grilling grate, it will be much better because smoking meat on the grilling grate leaves behind some chunks of meat that should be cleaned before the next use.
  
• Another feature to look for is that it should be easy to heat up. Most of beginners are not familiar with the ignition process of the fuel at the start.
  
  It’s a tempting process to ignite the right amount of charcoal to produce the exact temperature to smoke the meat.
• Another feature that the best smoker for beginners should have is that it should be able to maintain the heat.
  most beginners like to check if the meat is smoked or not during the process so they keep opening the lid after some time.
  
  If the smoker can’t maintain the temperature after opening the lid then it might increase the time required for smoking as well as affect the flavor of the food.

Choosing the Best smokers for Beginners: A complete buying guide

Choosing your first smoker is quite the most important step to enjoying smoking. There are a number of things that should keep in mind before making your final choice.

Don’t worry, we are going to explain them one by one so that you should be able to enjoy your passion for smoking at its best.

Easy to use

As it will be your first smoker then you should choose a smoker that is user-friendly .it should be able to smoke with less effort.

so you will be to enjoy smoking with minimal effort. Although complex smokers come with a lot of advanced features it’s better to not use them at the start.

What’s your budget?

When beginning your smoking journey, the budget is a crucial factor to consider.

While some smokers offer ease of use and excellent taste, they might be expensive and not suitable for everyone.

It’s essential to narrow down choices based on your budget, ensuring you get the best available option within your financial limits.

For beginners, starting with a basic and affordable smoker allows for practice and learning the ins and outs of smoking.

However, beware of cheaper smokers, as they may have issues with insulation and durability, potentially hindering your passion for smoking.

Investing in a higher-quality smoker can enhance the smoking experience and provide better results in the long run.

Consider second-hand smokers if a new one exceeds your budget, as they can still offer useful features while being more affordable.

By making the right choice, beginners can embark on their smoking journey with confidence and enjoyment.

Insulation and even distribution of Heat

Smoking is a slow cooking process that can last for hours, and the quality of the smoked food heavily relies on maintaining a consistent temperature throughout.

This is especially crucial for beginners who are just starting to explore the world of smoking.

When choosing the best smoker for beginners, two essential factors come into play: insulation and heat retention.

Insulation is vital to ensure that the smoker can maintain a steady temperature over extended periods, unaffected by external conditions.

With well-insulated pellet grills or other types of smokers, beginners can focus on the cooking process without worrying about constant adjustments.

Moreover, even heat distribution within the cooking chamber is equally important. To achieve this, many modern smokers incorporate electronic fans that circulate air and disperse heat evenly.

Additionally, air control mechanisms, such as air vents, play a significant role in maintaining the desired temperature.

When heat is distributed evenly, beginners can avoid the risk of unevenly smoked food, resulting in a delightful culinary experience.

Warranty

Warranty is one of the most neglected things when buying a smoker. It should also be considered a plus point when considering a smoker.

normally warranty for a smoker ranges from 3 years up to 8 years which is no doubt a longer life span.

Warranty provides protection when testing new brands or buying a smoker for the first time. It means that you can’t go wrong with that smoker.

if there are any flaws or malfunctioning, you can get back your money or get it repaired for free.

It is a common fact that smokers with a warranty often last longer. this is because only the manufacturer that is confident in their smoker quality provides a warranty.

the cheaper or low-quality smokers don’t have a warranty and at the same time last for a short time due to build Quality.

which type of smokers are you interested in?

As a beginner, choosing the right type of smoker is crucial to ensure an enjoyable and successful smoking experience. There are several types of smokers available, each with its unique features and benefits.

Charcoal Smoker- The Flavorful Journey

If you’re passionate about the smoking process and enjoy getting involved, charcoal smokers are your go-to option.

They offer an authentic smoking experience, allowing you to control every aspect of the process, from igniting the charcoal to adjusting airflow.

Although they demand more effort, the reward is the rich, smoky flavor that only charcoal can deliver.

Pros of Charcoal smoker

• The taste produced by charcoal grills is unmatchable. It retains the tenderness of the meat while smoking slowly over time.
  
• The smoking ring produced by charcoal smokers is better than its competitors. the ring is produced because the food is actually being Cooked through the smoke.
  
• It provides the best experience while having outdoor fun.
  Outdoor camping along with meat smoked by charcoal smokers at the right temperature can make the outing memorable.

Cons of Charcoal smoker

• It requires a bit of effort to smoke with charcoal wood smokers due to the traditional smoking process
• In addition to the effort required to smoke the food, charcoal costs may also add up.
  so the money saved while buying a smoker will eventually be spent on buying charcoal.

Gas smokers- Easy and Convenient

For beginners seeking convenience, gas smokers are a great choice. They are user-friendly and require minimal effort to heat up and adjust the temperature.

With propane as their fuel source, you can enjoy extended smoking sessions without constantly refueling but you may need to add wood chips to produce smoke.

Pros of Gas smokers

• One of the main features that I personally like about gas smokers is that they are easy to use and Don’t involve complex processes to smoke meat.
• Secondly, they also have easy temperature management so that your meat should be smoked at the right temperature to give the best flavor.
• Finally,  propane is gas and in addition to being easily ignited, it lasts longer than charcoal.

Cons of Gas smokers

• The main disadvantage of using a gas smoker is that it doesn’t produce a smoke ring.
  So despite providing good taste, you can’t feel the enjoyment of traditional smoking.
  
• Another con is that they don’t have much space. They often come with small size cylinders.
  so you can’t use them for smoking large cuts of meat or batch smoking for more persons.
  
• Finally, they are not insulated and are easily affected by weather. When the temperature outside is low then their temperature is also decreased by condensation.
  so they can’t be used for outdoor smoking in cold weather.
  moreover, they cant circulate heat and smoke.

Pellet Smokers- A Beginner’s Best Friend

If you’re a beginner looking for an easy and efficient smoking process, pellet smokers are your ideal choice.

These advanced smokers offer a “set it and forget it” method, where you simply start the process, and the smoker takes care of the rest.

With user-friendly temperature controllers, you can effortlessly maintain consistent heat throughout the cooking process, ensuring perfectly smoked meat every time.

Pros of wood pellet grills

• The most important feature that makes them stand out from their competition is their temperature management.
  they don’t require much effort and there is a maximum possibility that beginners can smoke their food at the exact required temperature after some effort.
• The second advantage of pellet grills is that they can manage their fuel on their own so you don’t need to babysit them.
  The fuel (wood pellets, wood chips )just needs to be ignited at the start and after that, they can run on their own.
• wood pellet grills require less input in the smoking process.
  You just need to start them, add some meat, and wait while the pellet smoker does the magic.

Cons of Pellet smokers

• As mentioned before quality is in direct relation with price. pellet grills are a bit costly. this price is justified by their efficiency
• Although pellet grills do smoke the meat they can’t produce the smoke ring.
  the meat smoked in a pellet smoker will always have less flavor than that smoked in a charcoal smoker. charcoal wood smokers are the champions of the game when it comes to the flavor of meat.

Electric Smokers- Effortless and Consistent

For a hassle-free smoking experience, electric smokers are perfect.

They require minimal effort and come equipped with an automatic ignition button, so you won’t have to struggle with lighting up the fuel.

The control panel allows you to set your desired temperature, and the smoker handles the rest, providing a consistent heat level for extended smoking periods.

Pros of Electric Smokers

• The main advantage of using an electric smoker is that they are easy to use.
  You can just start them by clicking a couple of buttons and then you can enjoy playing games or watching Netflix and then come back to get your meat smoked for you.
  
• Normally smokers are used to smoke stiff meat.
  But electric smokers can smoke delicate food like fish, sausage, etc efficiently due to their amazing temperature control.
  
• They are advanced smokers that don’t require you to be physically present with them all the time .they can manage them by themselves.
  in addition, they have several safety features which make them safe while running on their own .for example they shut down when a maximum or minimum temperature threshold is reached.

Cons of Electric Smokers

• They are not usually used for outdoor smoking because they require electrical output to smoke the meat. In addition to that the elected output should be waterproof to avoid any accidents.
• Although they run on electricity their maintenance can be costly. So the money saved by avoiding the charcoal cost is then used for expensive repairs.
• Another disadvantage of electricity is that they can’t produce smoke ring.
• Finally, these Smokers run on their own so they don’t give the traditional feel of smoking.

Offset Smoker- Advanced and Challenging

Not recommended for beginners, offset smokers require skill and dedication. They demand manual control over temperature and airflow, which can be overwhelming for newcomers.

While they offer traditional smoking authenticity, they’re better suited for experienced users.

Pros of Offset Smoker

• They keep you involved in the process and give you maximum control over every step.
  you can decide the temperature at which the meat will be smoked, humidity present inside the smoker, airflow, and various other factors that allow you to get the best taste while retaining its tenderness.
  
• They can maintain the temperature for a longer time. so they are used for smoking tough meat or Bones at a consistent temperature for a longer time.
  
• They are beasts of a smoker and have huge smoking areas.so you smoke large batches of food at once because you will again have to wait for several for another batch of food to get smoked.
  so they are helpful for smoking for more people.

Cons of Offset Smokers

• They are too costly than other types of smokers.in addition to their own cost, the expenses of fuel (charcoal, wood chips ) and maintenance keep adding.
• They are not easy to use for beginners and most of the beginners get frustrated if they start out with an offset smoker.

Kamado grills- Versatile and Simple

Kamado grills, also known as kamado smokers, provide versatility and ease of use.

They are perfect for beginners due to their simple setup and temperature control through adjusting airflow.

Whether you want to grill or smoke, kamado grills offer a good balance of flavor and simplicity.

Pros of Kamado grills

• Kamado grills are very versatile and can perform different functions with the same design.
  So you can experience smoking, grilling, and roasting at the same time.
  
• The temperature control of kamado grills is really precise allowing you to smoke meat at the right temperature to get the best flavor possible.
  
• The fuel used are charcoal and wood which give the traditional feel of smoking with other complex smokers.

Cons of Kamado grills

• As obvious by the features, it’s more expensive than the other daily life smokers. Their maintenance is also costly which makes them costly for daily use.
• It has less capacity to hold meat than other smokers. so it will require cooking meat in small batches.
  at the same time, you will have to cut meat into smaller Chunks to put them into the smoker.

Do you want to buy a Grill or smoker?

If you’re a beginner, this decision holds great importance. Let’s focus on the best smoker for beginners.

A smoker cooks meat slowly at a low temperature, making it perfect for tougher cuts and bones. With this method, the outer surface gets cooked while ensuring even cooking internally.

On the other hand, a grill operates at higher temperatures for shorter durations, ideal for soft and delicate meat.

This thoughtful selection will elevate your cooking experience and deliver delicious results.

How many people do you typically cook for?

As a beginner exploring the world of smoking, finding the best smokers suited to your needs is crucial.

One significant factor to consider is the number of people you typically cook for. If your audience is mainly your family, a smaller smoker will suffice.

However, if you plan to cater to larger gatherings, events, or outdoor camping, a smoker with ample cooking space, such as pellet grills, is the way to go.

For beginners, investing in a larger smoker proves advantageous, as smoking is a time-consuming process.

Opting for a spacious cooking chamber allows you to cook more meat in a single session, saving time and effort.

Though larger smokers occupy more space than their smaller counterparts, the benefits they offer, like the ability to cook more in one go, outweigh this downside.

So, when choosing the best smokers for beginners, keep in mind the cooking space, type of smoker, and other essential features like wood chip compatibility.

Do you plan to use it outdoors?

Smokers come in different varieties and designs. Some are designed only to use and house backyards or other specific places because they are not portable.

if you plan to use your smoker outdoors in camping or other events then you may need to buy a smoker that is portable.

Your smoker should also be resistant to weather conditions so that it may not be affected by the weather conditions of the place you are camping at otherwise it can destroy the whole fun while camping.

it should be able to maintain temperature in any weather condition.

Build Quality

Smoker price is directly in relation to the build material. Cheaper smokers may save you some bucks but they will keep frustrating you over the long run.

the outer coating of cheaper smokers is thin. due to which the smoke leaks out.

The consistent temperature inside the smoker is crucial for the flavor of the smoked meat. if the temperature drops due to smoke leaking out then it may be difficult to heat the smoker again.

if you succeed in doing so your smoke will have a bitter taste due to fluctuating temperature.

The smoker with good build Quality will last longer than the smoker with cheaper material used in its build.

the cheaper smokers will Normally be dumped into the garbage after a couple of bad smoking experiences.

So you will have to choose a smoker that will be inexpensive yet with better stainless steel build Quality.

Efficiency

Efficiency is also related to building quality. It means to which extent the smoker can perform the function for which it is designed.

If the build quality is not better then it will affect the efficiency of the smoker.

If the smoke leaks out then the flavor of the meat will be destroyed. It will result in wasting fuel, time, and food just because of the bad build Quality.

Hence the efficiency is affected by the decrease.

Frequently asked questions

Smoking is a complex process involving multiple technical terms and techniques.

If you are a beginner then it will be beneficial for you to clear some of these misconceptions before buying your first smoker or smoking for the first time. So let’s get started.

Conclusion

So now that you have reached here then it means you are really serious about smoking.

After considering all the factors required for the ideal smoker for beginners, Weber smokey mountain wins the game.

It provides both ease of use and the best flavor at the same time. moreover, it has a good build quality and can last for ages.

Due to its build quality, it can work in any weather condition without being influenced by external weather. which makes it more efficient for outdoor use.

We hope that this guide would provide value for selecting your first smoker.