BBQ Smokers Styles & Types
List of the various shapes and sizes of BBQ smokers.
The design of a BBQ smoker can impact cook times & flavors
Barbecue smokers come in many styles, each designed
to provide unique smoking experiences and flavors. Here are some
common types of BBQ smokers:
- Offset Smoker: An offset smoker has a large central chamber
for cooking the meat and a smaller firebox attached to the side.
The heat and smoke from the firebox flow into the cooking
chamber, creating indirect heat for smoking. Offset smokers are
popular among barbecue enthusiasts and offer excellent
flavor
and versatility.
- Vertical Water Smoker: Also known as a bullet smoker or
charcoal smoker, a vertical water smoker features a cylindrical
design with multiple sections. The lower section contains a
water pan that helps regulate the temperature and adds moisture
to the cooking process. The middle section holds the charcoal or
wood, while the top area is where the meat is placed. Vertical
water smokers are relatively compact and are great for beginners
due to their ease of use.
- Kamado Smoker: Kamado smokers are egg-shaped ceramic cookers
that originated in Japan. They are excellent for both smoking
and grilling. The ceramic material retains heat efficiently and
helps create a stable temperature environment. Kamado smokers
offer versatility and allow for precise temperature control,
making them suitable for smoking a wide range of meats and other
dishes.
- Electric Smoker: Electric smokers are designed for
convenience and ease of use. They are powered by electricity and
feature heating elements that produce heat and smoke. Electric
smokers are straightforward to operate, typically requiring
minimal monitoring. They are a good option for those who want to
smoke food without tending a fire or dealing with charcoal or
wood.
- Pellet Smoker: Pellet smokers, also known as pellet grills,
use wood pellets as a fuel source. These smokers have an
automatic pellet feeder that delivers pellets to a fire pot,
where they are ignited. The temperature can be controlled
digitally, allowing for precise temperature regulation. Pellet
smokers provide a convenient way to smoke food and offer a wide
range of flavors due to the variety of
wood pellets.
-
Tube Smoker: A tube smoker is a hollow tube
typically made of stainless steel filled with wood pellets or
chips. The tube smoker is placed inside a grill alongside the
primary fuel source (usually gas). Igniting the wood pellets
inside the tube creates smoke. Tube smokers are particularly
useful for adding smoke flavor to electric or gas grills. They
provide a convenient way to generate smoke and flavor the
cooking process. They are also used for cold smoking by turning
off the primary heat source.
- Drum Smoker: Drum smokers, often homemade, are simple and
effective for smoking. They consist of a steel drum converted
into a smoker by adding grates, vents, and a firebox at the
bottom. Drum smokers use charcoal or wood as fuel, and their
design allows for excellent heat retention and airflow control.
- Cabinet Smoker: Cabinet smokers, or vertical or box smokers,
resemble tall, narrow cabinets. They feature multiple racks for
food placement and have a firebox at the bottom or side. Cabinet
smokers are often used in commercial settings due to their large
capacity and ability to smoke large quantities of food.
Did You Know?
Smoking meat dates back
thousands of years.
Smoke was used to preserve
food long before the invention of modern
refrigeration. Indigenous peoples in various parts of the world,
including North America and Scandinavia, practiced smoking meat
to extend its shelf life and enhance its flavor.
Pork Cooking Resources
My First Vertical Smoker

Master
Forge Gas Smoker