Pick a smoker by how you actually cook
Fuel, size, and how much fire-tending you want — that's what separates smokers, not the brand on the lid. Answer three questions and we'll shortlist your smoker from 40 models.
The 3-question picker
1 · How involved do you want to be during a cook?
2 · Who are you usually cooking for?
3 · Budget?
Or browse the reference
- Best smoker for your purpose — beginner, set-and-forget, authentic flavor, crowds, budget.
- Set-and-forget vs authentic fire — the first real decision.
- By fuel: pellet · offset · charcoal · kamado · electric · gas.
- Every smoker in one table.
The first question to answer
Do you want to tend a fire or set a dial? A pellet or electric smoker holds temperature for you (great for beginners and busy weekends); an offset rewards fire-tending with the most authentic flavor. Everything else follows from that.