Mar 29, 2020
10:37:00am
Kaanapali All-American
RE: Still haven't pulled the trigger on a grill. Advice sought...
Get one big enough to do a nice turkey, or full racks of ribs and a pork shoulder or some brisket at the same time. My GMG is a good pellet smoker. Next buy will be a nicer charcoal smoker.
My experience:

My GMG Daniel Boone works well but doesn't produce the heavy smoke flavor that I prefer. It is convenient and easy to use. I have the wifi but don't usually bother with it. Good pellets are not cheap to buy and a long smoke uses a lot.

Even the cheapest charcoal bullet smokers produce much better flavor than a pellet smoker, but they lack insulation and are finicky. They have limited capacity too. I started out with one and had fun with it for a while cooking turkeys and pulled pork mostly. I always had a gas grill too.

The Weber Smoky Mountain is not really cheap (but still cheaper than a pellet smoker). It is probably the best non-insulated charcoal smoker. I would go with that if you don't want to spend too much and don't mind dealing with charcoal.

Even a Weber kettle grill can be set up to smoke with some of the available accessories. (Cheapest option and a great charcoal grill too.)

Propane cabinet water smokers work well and are easy to use. The one I had produced some good meat for years until the burner rusted out.

I don't like electric smokers.

Check out the reviews at amazingribs.com.

My ultimate dedicated smoker would be an insulated Humphrey's cabinet charcoal smoker with a thermostat/fan. I plan to get one after I retire and move out of CA. Will get a Weber kettle for grilling and do everything with charcoal.
Kaanapali
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