Smokers have been a way of preserving food for 100s of years. Now that it is the 21st century and we no longer live in caves we use highly updated smokers to add flavor. The flavor of different smoke has become very popular in the BBQ world. So popular that we now experiment with different wood, mixtures of wood, temperatures, moisture, and types of smokers used. Even though there are many differences in what was just mentioned we can cover that later. What is important right now is to help define the difference in types of smokers. The most popular being pellet grills, gravity fed grills, and offset smokers. There will be an overview of each type of smoker then a list of pros and cons. Keep in mind pros and cons may be different for everyone depending on what you are looking for.

Pellet grills are awesome for several reasons. They are most popular for the set it and forget it convenience. Pellet grills use small compressed wood pellets for a fuel source and are fed to a burn pot by an auger. The technology from the controller does a great job at holding an accurate temperature making smoking food a breeze. On top of that, the technology in the controller also might allow for WIFI compatibility. This means the pellet grill can connect to WIFI and you can control the grill from a smart phone any where there is WIFI. With a large enough hopper you could start smoking before work, monitor the cook while you are in the office, and get home just in time to let the food rest and get ready for dinner. The largest down side to these grills is that they require a power source. As long as you have an outlet on the back patio or a generator at camp you'll love the convenience of these grills. Even though they are known for being a pellet grill yes pellet grills do a great job at smoking. They do a combination of grilling, or smoking. Kind of an all in one deal. Pellet grills might not get as much smoke flavor as an offset but they are far more convenient.

A gravity fed grill has a vertical chute/hopper that is filled with charcoal. The charcoal is the main fuel and how hot it burns is controlled by a controller depending on the model you purchase. The controller, similar to a pellet grill, tells a fan when to turn on, off and at what speed, to keep the right temperature. Though charcoal gives a great flavor there is a slot under the charcoal chute where you can place wood chunks that will smolder under the heat from embers falling from the burning charcoal. This is also a very low maintenance option like the pellet grill, however, you will have to monitor the wood chunks to optimize the smoke flavor.

Offset smokers are the most classic way of smoking meat. These smokers vary the most in size. Typically they consists of a very large metal drum with a smaller drum connected on one end. The fuel for this is sticks of wood like a normal outdoor firepit. Building a fire in the smaller drum makes the main drum a great place to smoke the meat. With the fire being in the offset drum, allows indirect heat to cook in the main chamber. This type of smoker requires a lot more maintenance and watching. The temperature is not controlled by a controller so there tends to be larger temperature swings but if done right that is not much of an issue. The largest reason people tend to use offset smokers is because they seem to produce the most flavor. There is much more involvement in the cooking process which may or may not be what you are looking for but is something to keep in mind.

There is not a "best smoker" for everyone. It all depends on what you are looking for. Pellet grills are great for convenience, flavor, set and forget smoking. If you want to be more involved and watch the fire maybe an offset is right for you. Many people also like the gravity fed smokers because there is a little involvement but not as demanding as an offset. You will notice we left out pricing between the three options because all can come in very different price points. All three options could cost a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. All three are great options and provide great flavor. Its up to you to decide which on is best.