The 3 Best Smokers for Beginner Grill-Masters

Learn which smoker is the best for you, and how to pick out your first smoker

Embarking on the journey of smoking your own barbecue can be both thrilling and deliciously rewarding. For beginners, choosing the right smoker is paramount to ensure a seamless experience that yields mouthwatering results. In this guide, we’ll explore and compare the three best smokers for beginners, focusing on simplicity of use, cooking options, maintenance, and other essential factors that newcomers should consider.

Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker:

• Simplicity of Use:
  • Straightforward Design: The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker is renowned for its user-friendly design. It features a bullet-shaped vertical chamber with three sections for charcoal, water, and cooking grates. This simple layout makes it easy for beginners to understand and control the smoking process.
  • Temperature Control: The adjustable vents provide excellent temperature control, allowing beginners to maintain consistent heat levels without the steep learning curve associated with more complex smokers.
• Range of Options When Cooking:
  • Versatile Cooking: Despite its simple design, the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker offers impressive versatility. It excels in low and slow cooking, allowing for flavorful smoked meats. The two cooking grates provide ample space for smoking different cuts simultaneously.
• Maintenance and Other Considerations:
  • Durable Construction: The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker is built with high-quality materials, ensuring durability and longevity.
  • Easy to Clean: The straightforward design makes it easy to clean, a crucial factor for beginners who may not be accustomed to the maintenance demands of smokers.

Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker:

• Simplicity of Use:
  • Digital Controls: The Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker is a plug-and-play option for beginners. Its digital control panel allows users to set the desired temperature and cooking time, eliminating the need for constant monitoring.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The intuitive interface makes it easy for beginners to grasp the smoking process. It’s as simple as loading wood chips, setting the temperature, and letting the smoker work its magic.
• Range of Options When Cooking:
  • Consistent Results: The electric heating element ensures consistent temperatures, making it ideal for slow smoking. This smoker is versatile, accommodating a range of meats, from brisket to ribs.
  • Ample Cooking Space: The Masterbuilt Electric Smoker offers multiple racks for cooking, providing enough space to smoke larger quantities of food.
• Maintenance and Other Considerations:
  • Minimal Cleanup: Electric smokers generally require less maintenance, and the Masterbuilt is no exception. It features a removable drip pan and easy-access wood chip tray, streamlining the cleaning process.
  • Insulated Construction: The well-insulated construction enhances heat retention and ensures efficient energy use.

Char-Griller Akorn Kamado

• Simplicity of Use:
  • Kamado-style Simplicity: The Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker brings the simplicity of a kamado-style cooker to beginners. Its egg-shaped design is user-friendly, with adjustable dampers for easy temperature control.
  • Temperature Control: With precise temperature control, beginners can achieve consistent results. The insulated steel construction helps maintain desired temperatures efficiently.
• Range of Options When Cooking:
  • Versatility in Grilling and Smoking: The Akorn Kamado Kooker offers versatility in both grilling and smoking. Its ability to sear at high temperatures and smoke low and slow makes it a multifunctional choice for beginners.
  • Cast Iron Cooking Grates: The cast iron cooking grates contribute to excellent heat retention and even cooking, enhancing the range of options when cooking.
• Maintenance and Other Considerations:
  • Durable Construction: The Akorn Kamado Kooker is built with durable materials, ensuring longevity and resistance to weathering.
  • Easy to Clean: The ash pan makes cleaning a breeze, and the design minimizes ash buildup, providing a hassle-free maintenance experience for beginners.

How Do I Choose the Best Smoker For Me?

Choosing the right smoker as a beginner is crucial for a positive smoking experience. Each of the three smokers—Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker, Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker, and Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker—offers a unique set of features catering to different preferences and needs.

For those who value a traditional charcoal experience with user-friendly controls, the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker is an excellent choice. The Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker is perfect for beginners who appreciate a set-it-and-forget-it approach with digital controls. The Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker provides a kamado-style option for those seeking versatility in both grilling and smoking.

My favorite recipes to cook for a beginner are by far the Smoked Pork Butt, and Brisket.

While looking for a smoker, It’s important to have other tools like great knives in your tool set.

One of the worst things you can do with a charcoal smoker is using lighter fluid, learn how to light your smoker/ grill without it here.

Ultimately, the best smoker for you depends on your preferences, desired level of involvement in the smoking process, and the types of foods you want to smoke. Regardless of your choice, each of these smokers ensures that even beginners can achieve delicious, perfectly smoked barbecue with relative ease. Happy smoking!