The best smokers to give for the holidays

What do you get the person in your life who loves barbecue, and loves grilling, but hasn’t explored becoming a pitmaster themselves?

A smoker, of course. But with so many types (and brands) out there, which smoker?

That depends on a lot of things: How involved does the person want to be in the smoking process? (We’ll explain in a bit.) What is your budget? Where is the smoker going to go?

Here, we’ll talk a little about three of our favorites, including how each fits with your answers to the questions above.

1. Pit Barrel Cooker (@pitbarrel): This charcoal barrel cooker is very versatile—you can grill directly if you like, or hang items from the steel rods using the included hooks. It’s unique in that the food hangs over the coals, rather than having the heat source off to the side. And when the juice drips onto those coals, it creates a “smoke fog” that is potent enough that you might not even want to use wood to generate additional smoke. It’s about $350 (a smaller model is available for $250), but as with all charcoal cookers, you’ll want to monitor the temperature closely while you’re smoking. You’ll also want to give this a bit of room, and it’s not to be placed on flammable surfaces such as a deck.

2. Traeger (@traegergrills): Pellet smokers are among the easiest to use, because you simply fill them with wood pellets and an automatic feeder maintains a pretty consistent temperature. These are for the person who doesn’t necessarily want to check the temperature of their smoker every 30 minutes, or who knows they’re not going to want to worry about adding charcoal, etc. They typically are more expensive than charcoal smokers, starting around $800, but there’s a smaller version for under $500, and portable units for even less. (Although those portable units are more for RVs and camping trips, rather than home use.)

3. Masterbuilt (@masterbuilt): Electric and propane smokers are designed for convenience, and still produce delicious food. (Masterbuilt makes charcoal smokers as well, but we’re focused on the others here.) Electric smokers require a power outlet, of course, and their temperature range is more limited than propane models. However, some people note that gas smokers, although they are more portable and versatile, are more prone to temperature fluctuation. But either can be a good option for those just getting started, or anyone seeking an affordable option. Both electric and propane smokers can be found starting between $100-$200.

We hope that helped your holiday shopping—whether you’re buying for someone else or looking for yourself! Happy holidays, and happy smoking!