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Barbecue Smokers – Top 7 BBQ Woods For Your Barbecue Smokers This Summer!

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Barbecue Smokers – Top 7 BBQ Woods For Your Barbecue Smokers This Summer!

Article by Tegan Templeton









Barbecue smokers can be used all year round to produce delicious flavored foods using the smoking process. Smoking and curing are ancient methods of food preservation used for protein rich foods, such as meat and fish, which would otherwise rapidly decompose. There are essentially two types of smoking, hot and cold, although it is possible to combine the two. Nowadays, it is really easy to smoke your own food at home, using barbecue smokers.

Whilst our ancestors used smoking and curing as essential elements for their overall survival, in modern times, barbecue smoked food is considered something of a delicacy. This is in no small part due to the flavor that the smoking process imparts. Also, the range of smoked flavors that can be created, depending upon the selection and mixing of the smoking woods, is endless. This probably explains why home barbecue smokers are now fairly commonplace and rising in popularity.

Nonetheless, selecting smoking wood for barbecue smokers can be rather daunting at first and it is not uncommon for many aspiring “wood smokers” to play safe and buy commercially flavored BBQ wood chunks or chips. As flavorsome as these products may first appear, it is unlikely that you will be able to recreate the authentic smoked taste that real wood chunks emit on the barbecue. Smokers are only as good as the raw materials that are used. So, if you are going to take the time and effort to smoke your own food then you should only use authentic woods in barbecue smokers and not some highly flavored substitute.

There are numerous woods that can be used to smoke food produce. Each will add its own distinct flavor, and sometimes color, to the produce being smoked. Some of the most popular BBQ smoke woods include hickory, mesquite, oak, pecan, apple, alder and cherry. These are all widely available to purchase online. Fruit tree woods can also be used for barbecue smoking. However, not all hardwoods are suitable for all meats or fish and you need to ensure that you match the wood to the food that you plan to smoke in your barbecue smokers.

Softwoods are never used for smoking primarily due to the resin in the woods. In any event, the smoking flavor that softwoods generate is typically bitter or tarry and rarely appetizing. Also, hardwoods are denser than softwoods which means that they burn longer and at higher temperatures. This makes them more suitable than softwoods for smoking. Woods to avoid include soft pine woods such as cedar, cypress, fir and spruce. Pressure treated woods should NEVER be used in barbecue smokers as they usually contain toxic chemicals such as arsenic. For this reason alone, you should always ensure that you purchase woods for barbecue smokers from a reputable source.

Here are the top 7 BBQ woods that you can use on barbecue smokers this summer.

Hickory Wood

Hickory is the most popular smoking wood in the United States. It can be likened to a heavy bacon flavor and is typically used for smoking ribs, pork, brisket, ham, and beef. It is one of the strongest flavored woods and resembles the sweet smoked taste that most of us would associate with everyday barbecue sauce. You can blend hickory with more subtle flavored woods such as apple wood to avoid overpowering your food.

Mesquite Wood

One of the hottest and smokiest woods you can select for barbecue smokers, Mesquite is a strong, sweet flavored smoking wood. However, it is liable to generate a bitter taste, particularly if the wood is green and has not been suitably aged. When smoking with mesquite wood for the first time it may be advisable to blend with a milder flavored smoke wood. Suitable for most red meats, in particular large cuts of beef, but not lamb.

Oak Wood

White oak is a popular smoking wood that is widely used for commercial smoking. Long burning, white oak is a classic smoking wood that is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. It produces a heavy smoky flavor that is good with red meat, especially beef, brisket, pork, fish and heavy game. You can also use red oak in barbecue smokers, which is sweeter in flavor but a good choice when smoking ribs

Pecan Wood

Burns at a lower temperature in barbecue smokers than other smoking woods and thus, is an ideal choice for slow cooking. Subtly sweet, pecan can be blended with mesquite and oak. Suitable for poultry, beef and pork.

Apple Wood

Apple wood produces a mild, slightly fruity and sweet flavor. Good for blending with other woods as it emits less smoke. Typically used for smoking pork, ham and poultry. However, as the flavor is so delicate, it can also be used for smoking fish and seafood.

Alder Wood

Best used with fish, it is commonly the red alder which is used for smoking. Alder produces an extremely light, delicate flavour with a hint of sweetness when used in barbecue smokers. Can also be used to give a lightly smoked taste to poultry and pork.

Cherry Wood

Subtle, smooth, fruity, slightly sweet flavor that is good for smoking beef, poultry and pork. If you’re smoking turkey then try blending cherry wood with oak wood. Also suitable for smoking vegetables.

These are just some of the most popular BBQ woods that can be used in barbecue smokers. As you become more experienced, you can begin to experiment with other woods such as almond, ash, walnut and fruit tree wood varieties such as orange, grape pear and plum. Over a period of time, it is undoubtedly possible to create and refine your very own unique blend of woods for barbecue smokers.



About the Author

If you are looking for in depth consumer reviews of all the best smoker grills such as the popular Brinkmann Smoke N Pit then just visit our Best Smoker Grills website.

Also, while you’re there, don’t forget to download our free BBQ recipe booklet!










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An examination of the Barbecue Smokers

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An examination of the Barbecue Smokers

Article by MaryB Williams









Barbecue propane gas grills these days really are adding a lot more ease and style from conventional barbecuing and also outdoor hiking. The benefit of employing a barbecue grill nevertheless is that the food tastes much better than when cooked in an oven or perhaps a gas grill. That is the main attribute of the barbecue which has seemed to be lost in contemporary barbecue grills such as an all-natural gasoline grill and propane fueled gas grill. In the event you choose the natural gas grills, you might not get any smoke at all that is one of the features of barbecuing. Propane gas grill on the other hand, does develop a significant amount associated with smoke however you get to smell and also taste the gas inside your barbecue once you eat that. Would you want that.

Barbecue smokers are inspired by the conventional cooking of barbecue which utilizes wood and charcoal to create a constant supply of smoke whilst evenly cooking your barbecue at the same time. Made of the latest, top quality, and heavy duty materials, these kinds of barbecue smokers really are a good mixture of traditional cooking and the calls for of the contemporary time.

Generally, barbecue smokers are large with sufficient grilling space to cook barbecue for two basketball groups. These barbecue smokers are the perfect answer for family reunions, tail gating at football games, church functions, and hunting clubs. Some of these smokers also come with wheels to be able to tow it wherever you want to take them. How handy is that.

Barbecue smokers even turn out to be most perfect for camping where you receive an plentiful supply of timber to have it going along with a perfect producer of smoke. The particular great smoky taste and smell associated with bar-b-q will be the principal essence of meats cooking. This flavor will be the main reason for people to wish to eat grilled food. The large door also tends to make it simple to load and take out the meals from the smoker. In addition, it offers easy use of the fire chamber exactly where you are able to simply add more wood to create that smoky taste in your barbecue. Most barbecue smokers are large enough to accommodate 20 full chickens, 12 turkeys, twenty pork slabs and sixteen ribs all together. Now, how is that for a healthy appetite?

Although huge in size, these kinds of bar-b-q smokers are very easy and simple to clean. They’re constructed with bottom drains which means you can simply hose all of it out. In contrast to some other gas grills, these kinds of barbecue smokers present very small danger and are entirely non hazardous to both man as well as the surroundings.

Correct to their title they do tend to smoke a great deal, but that’s exactly where your food will get all their flavour. Sadly, the majority of us unconsciously don’t know that the smoke flavor is what truly makes a barbecue a sought after item. With one of these bar-b-q smokers, you get to supply delicious and smoky barbecues not just for your self but for the whole party also.



About the Author

For loads of Bar-b-que grill product reviews take a look at BBQGrillRatings.com where you will get recommendations and ratings on most of the leading bar-b-que makes and models like Weber grills, holland electric grill, smokers and Old Smokey as well as the most up-to-date information on grilling and smoking. Get your Free ‘BBQ Grilling Buying Guide’ stuffed with secrets on how to find the best grill to meet your needs.










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Different Types of Barbecue Smokers

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Different Types of Barbecue Smokers

Article by Ron Goodwin









All those that are familiar with the concept of barbecuing would exactly know what role a barbecue smoker plays in the sphere of barbecue cooking, a traditional style of cooking meat in America. Most people install barbecue smokers at home because they want to make the food special and nothing else can help in doing this more than a barbecue smoker. When food is cooked in a barbecue smoker, the flavor that gets imparted to the food is nothing less than magical. So whether it is meat, fish or even vegetables, a barbecue smoker is what will get your guests to smack their lips!Before purchasing a barbecue smoker there are certain fundamental things that you should know. The way a barbecue smoker works is essentially very similar to that of a barbecue grill, the only difference being that in the former a special closeable lid is used to trap the smoke emanating from the smoker, and it is in this smoke that the food gets cooked. On the market, you will find two kinds of barbecue smokers namely, a direct barbecue smoker and an indirect one. In a direct barbecue smoker, there is a single unit that holds the charcoal together with scented wood chips. The food is put inside the smoker where it cooks in the scented smoke and this process lends a different flavor to the food. The indirect barbecue smoker functions much like the direct one but in this case a separate chamber holds the charcoal and wood pieces and the food kept in the grill unit receives the smoke indirectly. Smokers can again be differentiated between gas and electric barbecue smokers. Whatever features a barbecue smoker is endowed with, it can be used for both personal and commercial purposes. The kind of barbecue that one wants to buy should necessarily depend on the person’s skill in using cooking equipment. If you are not very conversant with the ways of a barbecue smoker, then, ideally, you should opt for a water smoker. This type of smoker is best suited for home environment and is actually very popular due to its being relatively inexpensive. Another high point about a water barbecue smoker is that it produces moisture throughout the process of cooking; though getting it to generate heat is difficult. For barbecue experts electric barbecue smokers are just perfect. Though they are more expensive, the advantages of using an electric smoker are many, one of them being, not needing to light a fire. Using an electric smoker also gives you more peace of mind since you do not have to put much thought to maintain it. The last of the variety of barbecue smokers is the log barbecue smoker. This is created only for the use of the superbly skilled. This smoker manages to impart the true essence of smoke to the food being cooked. When you buy a barbecue smoker an important thing to be remembered is that the product you are investing in should be fool-proof and that it is your duty to maintain it!



About the Author

Ron Goodwin is one of the founders of “The Good-One

Different Types of Barbecue Smokers

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Different Types of Barbecue Smokers

Article by Ron Goodwin









All those that are familiar with the concept of barbecuing would exactly know what role a barbecue smoker plays in the sphere of barbecue cooking, a traditional style of cooking meat in America. Most people install barbecue smokers at home because they want to make the food special and nothing else can help in doing this more than a barbecue smoker. When food is cooked in a barbecue smoker, the flavor that gets imparted to the food is nothing less than magical. So whether it is meat, fish or even vegetables, a barbecue smoker is what will get your guests to smack their lips!Before purchasing a barbecue smoker there are certain fundamental things that you should know. The way a barbecue smoker works is essentially very similar to that of a barbecue grill, the only difference being that in the former a special closeable lid is used to trap the smoke emanating from the smoker, and it is in this smoke that the food gets cooked. On the market, you will find two kinds of barbecue smokers namely, a direct barbecue smoker and an indirect one. In a direct barbecue smoker, there is a single unit that holds the charcoal together with scented wood chips. The food is put inside the smoker where it cooks in the scented smoke and this process lends a different flavor to the food. The indirect barbecue smoker functions much like the direct one but in this case a separate chamber holds the charcoal and wood pieces and the food kept in the grill unit receives the smoke indirectly. Smokers can again be differentiated between gas and electric barbecue smokers. Whatever features a barbecue smoker is endowed with, it can be used for both personal and commercial purposes. The kind of barbecue that one wants to buy should necessarily depend on the person’s skill in using cooking equipment. If you are not very conversant with the ways of a barbecue smoker, then, ideally, you should opt for a water smoker. This type of smoker is best suited for home environment and is actually very popular due to its being relatively inexpensive. Another high point about a water barbecue smoker is that it produces moisture throughout the process of cooking; though getting it to generate heat is difficult. For barbecue experts electric barbecue smokers are just perfect. Though they are more expensive, the advantages of using an electric smoker are many, one of them being, not needing to light a fire. Using an electric smoker also gives you more peace of mind since you do not have to put much thought to maintain it. The last of the variety of barbecue smokers is the log barbecue smoker. This is created only for the use of the superbly skilled. This smoker manages to impart the true essence of smoke to the food being cooked. When you buy a barbecue smoker an important thing to be remembered is that the product you are investing in should be fool-proof and that it is your duty to maintain it!



About the Author

Ron Goodwin is one of the founders of “The Good-One

All About Barbecue Smokers

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All About Barbecue Smokers

Smoking has been an integral part of barbecuing.   Barbecue lovers throughout the world consider it for a number of good reasons, one of those is the fact that smoking adds flavor to your barbecue.

Probably you’ve been to a pit barbecue restaurant and eaten pulled pork or smoked ribs.  You may have noticed that in those pieces of barbecue you have in hand, the meat just fell apart.  Well, the secret for that is smoking.  If you want to make a barbecue in the same way the restaurants do, then it’s possible with the use of a barbecue smoker.  You can even achieve a better taste than the restaurants’ result.   

The barbecue smoker has long been used by barbecue lovers because of its capability to tender the meat.  Once the meat is smoked, it has the tendency to easily fall apart.  It will also possess a smoky flavor and is luscious enough to satisfy every person’s hunger.  Perhaps the great asset of barbecue smoker is that it is designed not only for smoking meats.  It can also be utilized as a food smoker, meaning different types of food can be smoked in it.

There is a certain theory about how the barbecue smoker works.  According to some experts, there are only two main factors that make smokers work the way they used to be: slow cooking and low heat.  So what does this mean?  Well, this slow method of barbecuing means that the smoked food you are cooking is never going to dry out or overcook.  There is a variation to how long the smoking method takes for the food to fully reach its luscious state, however.  For instance, if you are barbecuing pork ribs, expect it to be cooked within two hours.  So, to avoid wasting your time doing nothing in front of it; just leave it until you notice that grey ash is already covering it.   This is similar to a typical outdoor grilling.

To put it simply, the barbecue smoker takes its role once the food is placed on the racks and the smoke starts to form.  You can close it and just leave the food to cook.   Don’t forget, however, to place an extra fuel in the barbecue smoker every couple of hours.

It is worthy to note that barbecue smokers these days come in different forms.  There are actually four common types of it: the charcoal, wood, gas, or electric barbecue smoker.  Numerous reviews have it that the charcoal and wood barbecue smokers are basically similar in appearance.   They feature a cylindrical chamber that is composed of a firebox and a cooking chamber.   The firebox is the exact portion where the fuel is burned and the wood that forms the smoke.  Cooking racks are also included, as well as a thermometer and ventilation vents.

There are also other versions of barbecue smokers, most are electrically operated.   There is what they call as barbecue pit smokers, chargill smokers, and a lot more.  Because of this variety, finding the right barbecue smoker for your barbecuing and smoking sessions can then be very difficult.  Perhaps the secret to that is to find one that possesses the best quality and features.  Of course, the best barbecue smoker is that which meets your budget.  So consider how much you can afford and how much you need.

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Grills, Barbecues and Smokers

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Grills, Barbecues and Smokers

Nothing seems to get the backyard chef in more of an uproar than the issue of which method of cooking is the best. Grillers, with their gas patio cookers love the convenience. Flame it on, let it heat up while you’re seasoning steaks and chopping vegetables, then throw it all on the grill. Cooking time: 15-20 minutes. Great for the after work cookout. Charcoal people will tell you that propane gives food a harsh flavor. The only thing for them is good clean charcoal (no glued press board or pre-added lighter fluid please). Charcoal, maybe with a little pre-soaked hickory or apple chips for smoke to give food a natural, off the grill taste.

Barbecue is a process of slow cooking meat over a low fire. Throwing burgers or chicken on the backyard grill (gas or charcoal) is not barbecuing. Barbecue has many meanings depending on where you are. Sometimes it means cooking a whole animal (usually pork) in a pit. In the Southeast its how small cuts of meat are cooked in wood burning ovens. Typically, barbecuing is a long, slow cooking process with hardwood fires in an enclosed oven or pit.

Smokers can be the most diehard of all. Put your hot-pepper rubbed brisket in the smoker for 6-8 hours. Marinate in your sauce of choice, wrap in foil and drop it into a pile of smoldering coals (or the oven at about 180 degrees if you like) to slow cook for 10 hours or so. Since barbecuing is a slow cooking process, smoking is a method of barbecuing. Only the tools might look a little different. Recently there has been a large influx of smokers on the market, making smoking easier, and more popular.

Though fisticuffs may ensue, I maintain that there is no comparison. Each has its own advantages and histories. Grilling, meaning literally to cook on a grill, is probably the oldest type of cooking. However smoking is probably an older method of food preparation (though the evidence isn’t very strong one way or the other). When the Spanish came to America they found the natives placing meat on racks to dry. The Native Americans would build smoky fires around these racks to keep the bugs away and to aid in preserving the meat. This process was very slow. Later people moved the meat and fire into smoke houses or chimneys to control the heat and improve the quality of the flavor. Hence, the barbeque as we know it was born. Barbequing was very popular among slaves who usually had access to very poor cuts of meat. Slow cooking was the best way to make tough meat palatable. Even today one of the most popular meats to slow cook is brisket, a notoriously tough cut of beef.

As for which is best for you, consider your needs. I believe it is best for the novice to start with a basic gas grill. They are easy to maintain, easy to use and so convenient. But with the growth in sales it is easy to find all types of equipment as well as books for recipes and techniques. The thing to remember is that whether you’re grilling, barbecuing or smoking there are different techniques and different recipes.

Samet Yahya Bilir is is a freelance writer who writes about shopping and product reviews topics such as Weber gas grills and color contact lens .


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A Whole New Level Of Barbecue With Brinkman Smokers

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A Whole New Level Of Barbecue With Brinkman Smokers

No matter how long you have been turning out amazing barbecued treats, you really have not truly barbecued until you have created some smoked sensations with one of the latest models of Brinkman smokers.

One of the first things that you will want to make sure that you keep in consideration is that if you are truly looking for the ability to cook barbecued culinary masterpieces long into the future, you will need to be willing to spend a little bit more money up front. Yes, there are plenty of very cheap and inexpensive models of barbecues and smokers that are now available. However, even though many models do tend to look similar, there are some very distinct features to look out for, and you will get what you pay for. Investing a little more money now in a high quality Brinkman smoker now will help to insure that you don’t have to buy multiple smokers within the lifetime of a single Brinkman smoker model.

This includes making sure that the model you are considering for purchase includes stainless steel grates as part of their construction, which fight against rust and last much longer than other types of cooking grates.

Another relatively simple design element that also helps you to enjoy many more years of faithful service from your Brinkman is a lock latch. These help to insure that the lid and door of your smoker stays securely and tightly closed even during transportation on the way to your tailgating party. This helps to prevent the lid and doors from bouncing and eventually breaking. And you can also look into trailers that are specifically designed to help you transport your barbecue set and smoker safely without risking breakage or your equipment from spilling out on to the road.

In addition, you should also look for steel charcoal/fire baskets. These allow you to quickly adjust the internal temperature of your smoker and remove hot coals safely until they fully extinguish or to add them in later when you need to once again increase the internal temperature.

And as much as we may love the entire process of creating some true barbecued delights, rarely do we look forward to the process that follows the creation; cleaning up. Fortunately, Brinkman works hard to make sure that you can spend almost all of your time cooking instead of cleaning. This includes highly convenient features such as removable ash trays, detachable parts, and easy cleaning surfaces that not only work to repel dirt but also create a very durable surface that helps to prevent against damaging and contaminating rust build up.

Alexander Sutton has been helping people discover the simplest ways to improve their quality of life. For more information, please visit Brinkman Smokers.


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Barbecue Smokers Buying Advice

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Barbecue Smokers Buying Advice

You can of course enjoy some excellent results with your barbecuing if you use a grill. But if you want to enjoy BBQ flavor on a whole new level backed by a truly traditional approach to BBQ then you will most definitely want to consider what the latest barbecue smokers can do for your culinary adventures. Use the following advice as a general guide when you browse through the different models available today.

First, for those of you who still might be on the fence about buying a BBQ smoker versus sticking with a traditional BBQ grill, it’s important for you to understand that a smoker is by far the best way for you to infuse your meat with a robust and truly authentic barbecue flavor. Plus, a barbecue smoker allows you to use different types of wood chips which grants you a much greater range of flavors that you can produce with your meat. People consistently report how much fun they have trying out different types of wood for their meat smoking, and this is something that you just can’t do with a regular grill. Not only that, but these barbecue smokers also have a water pan which is included in the design to help keep the meat moist as it cooks, and this also allows you to experiment with the flavors of liquids that you use in the water pan for an additional means of adding some subtle hints of flavor to your meats. In addition, if you really aren’t sure about completely giving up on your good friend Mr. Grill, then you can actually find models that include a combination of both grill and smoker for a flexible solution.

It is also important to note that there is a very wide variety of different models that are available, so you should never feel like you’re being trapped into buying one that’s simply out of your budget range. There are plenty of highly affordable models that you can buy now, use to master your meat smoking abilities and then step up to a more serious model later down the road once you get a little more wiggle room with your budget.

One of the less expensive types of barbecue smokers that you can buy is the vertical smoker. This types of smoker is also one of the most flexible options which makes it an especially friendly option for first time smokers.

Those who consider themselves true traditionalists when it comes to barbecuing use a wood-fueled horizontal smoker, using split wood or wood charcoal for the infusion of flavor.

There is also a newer type of smoker similar in design to a horizontal smokers that you may be interested in which features the use of pre-fabricated hardwood pellets. This is another model that provides a bit of a simpler way to start off your smoking experience since the pellets usually make it a bit easier to control the exact temperature and amount of smoke.

Alexander Sutton knows what it is to barbecue like a professional. Follow his tips, tricks and suggestions for a whole new level of barbecuing. For more information, please visit Barbecue Smokers.


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Barbecue Smokers Grills – How to Choose the Right One For You If You’re Just Starting Out! By Bill Parlaman Article Word Co

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Barbecue Smokers Grills – How to Choose the Right One For You If You’re Just Starting Out! By Bill Parlaman Article Word Co

So you’re tired of dropping tons of dough at your local barbecue restaurant and you’re ready to start turning out some tasty barbecue of your own and now you need to figure out how to choose a barbecue smoker grill. Choosing a barbecue smoker grill may seem like a difficult decision but I’m hoping this article will help cut your learning curve so you can make a very informed buying choice.

Now if you’re just smoking meat in your backyard for your family and friends you can use just about any type of grill you want. Heck, you can even use a gas grill! Basically you just need a Barbecue grill that keeps your indirect fire going for a long period of time for your low and slow cooking experience.

So without any further delay, here are some basic barbecue cookers I recommend if you’re just starting out. However, I would also like you to keep in mind when choosing a barbecue smoker these smokers can also be used if you want to enter a barbecue competition.

Kettle Style Charcoal Grill

A Weber Kettle Grill is the most basic tool you can use to smoke meat. However I suggest you purchase the 26 inch model if you can find it because its easier for you to smoke larger cuts of meat. You’ll be using charcoal to start your fire with a couple of your favorite wood chunks thrown in for smoke. You’ll also want to use an aluminum pan on one side or in the center with your charcoal on either side of the pan so your meat is not over the flame. You’ll also want to check out a hinged style cooking grate so you can flip the sides up and easily add additional charcoal or wood chunks to keep your fire going.

Vertical Bullet Style Smoker

I really recommend this little cooker if you’re just starting out but also works great if you are a seasoned pro. The charcoal goes in the bottom third of the cooker in the fire ring with a water pan directly on top. Your food then cooks on two levels in the middle and the top. This smoker grill is very easy to use and it maintains it’s temperatures very well during long cooks. Its perfect if you’re barbecuing for your family in the backyard but you’ll want to buy a few of them if you’re using it as your competition cooker. This goes for all three of these cookers I’m discussing with you.

Electric “Bullet” Smoker

This cooker is very similar to the charcoal type but uses lava rocks instead of charcoal. The lava rocks rest on electric coils which produces the heat. This type of cooker is a little easier to use because you don’t have to worry about tending a “real” fire. You’ll want to soak your wood chips and place them in an aluminum pan so they don’t burn up. Also, you don’t want the wood actually touching the heating coils to produce your smoke.

Remember, these smoker grill suggestions are best used for backyard cooking but you can also use them in a barbecue competition. So there you have it, If you’ve been struggling trying to figure out how to choose a barbecue smoker grill you now have three types of smokers to chose from all under 0.00.

Bill Parlaman is the creator of http://www.BbqFreaks.com – an online community of barbecue enthusiasts from all over the world. Through this community Bill helps backyard chefs cook great barbecue and build stronger barbecue businesses. Bill is also a student of emotional direct response marketing and copywriting and is featured in the book, Ultimate Success Secrets. You can also follow him on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/wparlaman


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Barbecues, Smokers And The Environment

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Barbecues, Smokers And The Environment

Outdoor cooking on the barbecue and smoker is now becoming a serious leisure pastime. Certainly in England where the weather is not altogether reliable, the advent of wonderful contraptions such as umbrellas and patio heaters has made outdoor cooking an extremely pleasurable recreation. In fact so much so that you’ll see people lighting the barbecue in all weathers – a funny lot those English!

Speaking as one of that “funny lot”, an extremely enthusiastic fan of outdoor cooking and now a creator and purveyor of outdoor bbq recipes and free smoker recipes I thought is was I did some research into the subject of my chosen fuel of fun.

What concerns me is that I’m thoroughly enjoying myself lighting fires, grilling fish and steaks and washing it all down with a glass or two of the falling down water and yet I must be damaging the environment, mustn’t I? Charcoal comes from wood, so with all these barbecues there must be serious deforestation going on followed by greater transport costs to ship it from further afield and less trees to absorb the carbon dioxide greenhouse gas.

So in the spirit of my own education and learning I wanted to find out about how charcoal is made and as a result I’ve found out about the process of coppicing.

Coppicing is the cutting of a tree or shrub to ground level. Doing this stimulates the tree to sprout a number of new shoots and they grow very vigorously. Coppicing could be described as similar to pruning except that with coppicing all the wood is removed and not just a few branches. By cutting the tree or shrub to the ground, all dead, diseased and old wood gets removed and that can be put to good use. The tree now free of disease is able to grow as fast as possible and this makes for a thicker plant that is also better for wildlife.

Coppicing is carried out in cycles from one year to many years depending on the species of tree and what the wood is going to be used for. This means that a variety of coppicing activity will be taking place in a wood thereby ensuring the continuation of the ecology and an ongoing supply of wood.

Coppiced trees can survive for many centuries and perhaps one of the most astonishing facts about the English countryside is that very often the oldest trees are those that have been cut down the most! Add to this the fact that because it’s sustainable there aren’t truckloads of charcoal pounding the roads, it really is a local industry.

So now I can write my free smoker recipes for your enjoyment safe in the knowledge that outdoor cooking on the charcoal BBQ grill can remain my chosen method of relaxation and recreation.

Please note that this article is not a statement of scientific fact; it’s merely a way of absolving me of guilt at lighting a fire. Of course we need to be careful whenever the earth’s natural resources are consumed and I work on the principle that the cooking process itself is no more or less environmentally unfriendly that turning on the stove or the oven. Of course I maybe wrong but at least I feel happier knowing that I’m not contributing to serious deforestation.

Not all charcoal is produced the way I have described above so please be careful when buying charcoal to check that it does indeed come from a sustainable source.

Free Smoker Recipes – Free barbecue grill recipes & meat smoker cooking ideas on gas, charcoal or electric. Easy Barbecue Recipes – Outdoor grilling tips, easy fire pit menus, healthy rotisserie suggestions, best homemade bbq sauce recipes. Smoker Grill Recipes – Easy recipes for the smoker grill with top tips and techniques.