Gas vs Charcoal Smoker

[Swimbait2009]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at getting a second smoker. I currently have a charcoal smoker, and like it quite a bit. What are the propane smokers like? How does the final product compare to the charcoal ones? Seems like they would be easier to control the internal temp with. Any opinions?

Thanks!

Seth

[Jim Almquist]

I have both and they both have there good and bad points. I like the gas when I want to keep temps low and steady which it does a great job at but I do think that my charcoal with hickory chips is a little better flavor. Not to say that the gas has bad flavor but for some reason the mix seems to add a just a different taste that I really like.

I once ruin a batch a salmon in the charcoal smoker when I made a quick trip to the store and even though it was running fine for a hour the wind picked up and by the time I got back it had burnt the #@*& out of my nice fillets.

[ripstick]

Must agree both have good and bad. Coal is very popular with a lot of people I know. I have used it before and it takes a lot of practise. I had fair luk with it and tried gas and found out I really like it. Temp control from the start is the key. 1 try of chips to start with and a 2nd for back up. Big thing ais the air flow.

[Swimbait2009]

I've gotten quite comfortable with my charcoal smoker, but take it on road trips where I don't have much else going on but to tend to smoker. At home I think I'd really appreciate the convenience of the gas unit. So far, no one has said that they hate theirs, so I think that's where I'm going for my 2nd unit. Thanks guys!

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have 2 gas ones and really like them. I have never had any one complain while eating anything that I smoked saying "it would have been better on charcoal".. I just like the convenience of gas, and the ability to regulate the temp easier. little easier to clean up too I would think.

[muddpuppy]

I have a side burner stick/charcoal. My problem is keeping temps and smelling like a campfire. The wife hates it. Which makes it hard for me to get better at it. I am thinking of getting a gasser or turning my current into a gasser. I want to sart making sausage and snak sticks and think gas is the way to go.

[McGurk]

I'm looking to try my hand at smoking, and right now what is intriguing to me is an Upright Drum Smoker (or ugly drum smoker or UDS). Seems like you can make on for well under $100, has no need for any water pan, can be regulated very accurately to hold a constant temp, and can smoke for 8-12 hours on less than 10 lbs of charcoal or lump coal. But, I'm pretty inexperienced at it, and haven't had much luck with the cheapo brinkman I got second hand (dries everything out). Worth a quick google search for them, though, if you are looking to try something different.

[Jim Uran]

If you don't have the time or patience to babysit your smoker while it's doing it's thing, propane is the way to go.

[Big Dave2]

For me personally, Messing around with the fire and tending the smoker is half the fun! I will never buy a gas or electric smoker and I have a gas grill some one can have if they want it. But thats just me.

[Bear55]

For me personally, Messing around with the fire and tending the smoker is half the fun! I will never buy a gas or electric smoker and I have a gas grill some one can have if they want it. But thats just me.

I'm kind of the same way Big Dave, just got rid of all my gas equipment and going strait charcoal/wood for all my grilling and bbqing. I certainly don't fault anyone for using gas/electric because they are esier and you can produce some mean bbq with them but its just not the same for me. Like you said half the fun is playing around.

[muskie-mike]

Built a UDS out of a 55 gal barrel,works very well. Have done pulled pork (10 hour smoke on 5 lbs of lump charcoal) also brisket and baby back ribs.Has two 23 inch grates.

[Big Dave2]

Nice UDS Mike!

[deerminator]

Electric! JK. I'm sure they're all good. I've only ever used electric. What I've heard is that it gives a much dryer, consistent heat than gas or charcoal. But I've never tried the alternatives so I couldn't say for sure.