The Texas BBQ Forum

Hi

Sorry if this is in the wrong topic but just registered to the forum and want to get into smoking.

I currently have a gas BBQ that I use for spontaneous grilling most evenings but having been on holiday and tasting meat cooked for hours on a Webber kettle Ive started trying different things out on the gas BBQ using wood chips. I've cooked a chicken and pork joint which turned out great but still not as tasty as the stuff I had on holiday using the coals.

So my question is what do I buy? Done some research and found either the Weber smokey mountain or go with the premium kettle. I don't know whether to get the smokey mountain as I can dedicate that to smoking and long cooks and carry on grilling on the gas BBQ or get the kettle BBQ so I can do both over coals.

Would I regret not been able to use direct heat with not getting a kettle as I've never used coals before just gas.

Any advice would be great fully appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Welcome aboard Tom you have been bitten by the taste of wood smoke.

I'll let others pitch in to help settle your dilemma. I do own a Weber kettle but don't use it much any more since I have a Cookshack PG500.
I'll chime in though that Weber products are hard to beat.

Depends on your budget, too. If you can only go for one, maybe the WSM, because that WILL smoke for you.

Keep the gas rig by all means, especially for quick 'n' easy grilling and MOST especially if it has a side burner. This is where you start your coals, in a chimney.

Welcome aboard and keep us posted.

Thanks papa tom.
Never heard of the cookshack but a quick google search and that's a serious piece of kit!! I'll start dreaming of owning that one day
Looked into Weber for the quality.

Sailor kenshin... I can only justify getting one but the budget would stretch to a WSM if that's what the consensus was. Any other recommendations for BBQ within that price range I'd look in to not stuck within those 2 was just going off quality and reviews.

Having already started and know that I want to do better I'm willing to go all in and get the best in my budget from the start as I know it would get used.

Has anyone got the regrets of not been able to grill having bought a WSM or ended up buying a coal BBQ aswel?

I've never owned a WSM BUT I can assure you that once my ECB (Brinkman Griller/Smoker that they don't make anymore) lies down, I will be the owner of a 22" Smoking Mtn. Your budget will probably select the size but, if not, go 22. Now that is only my opinion and there are lots of good Charcoal Units out there these days so Good Luck with your choice.

Decided to go with the 57cm kettle. For the versatility of been able to grill aswel as smoke. Got my first pork shoulder on for some pulled pork. Hopefully get some good results.

Hi Tom,

How did the pulled pork turn out? Going to do one this weekend myself on my weber kettle and was curious to see how yours turned out.

Good choice, Tom, now just use it, play with it and learn it - - - - it's a process that can only be speeded up by YOU - - - ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY

Hellooo everyone!!! I have a similar question too!! I'm planning to gift my sister a smoker. But unable to decide which smoker. There are so many different kinds like propane, charcoal, electric. Can someone suggest which is the best smoker for outdoor camping. Thanks a lot in advance.

Little Weber kettles or the Smokey Mountain are portable, light, easy to operate, reasonably durable, and economic to buy. A great grill or smoker doesn't have to be expensive - my first grill was actually one of those two plate cast iron hibachi's I got at Albertsons for like $12 and used until I just flat burned it up into powder. Made great chicken with a double handful of charcoal. But not a very safe rig, whereas the Webers are pretty safe. For smoking and grilling, you want something with at least a lid on it, and this is safer to operate too for a novice. If you decide to go with the Weber kettle, read up on the "Minion" method to be able to do smoking as well as grilling.

If you want to ease into things really cheap but also fun...

https://www.worldmarket.com/product/ter ... g+grill.do

FWl2579... pulled pork turned out ok, pulled it at around 190f but when I do it again will go abit higher. Hope yours turned out well. Through abit of testing I've found to keep a temp around 225f the snake method works best for me.

I would definitely recommend the Weber kettle, having already done pork, ribs, chicken plus the usual direct grilling, I'm really happy with the purchase and results I'm getting.

Trying my first brisket tomorrow (only a small one though) got it marinating in the fridge overnight ready to go on in the morning.