BBQFreaks.com's Bill Parlaman Helps You Choose Your Smoker Grill

OK, so now you know the history of barbecue and you've decided what you're going to barbecue so lets figure out what you're going to cook on.

Choosing a smoker can seem like a daunting task but with my help it will be a breeze but first lets get some of the lingo down shall we?

So around the BBQ circuit you'll hear competitors and Pit Bosses talking about their grills using terms like, "Cooker or Pit."

So with this said, lets go pick out your BBQ Cooker or Pit…sound like fun? Good, let's keep going.

So the first thing you need to know is you can smoke meat with just about any type of grill you find on the market today. Even a gas grill if you're just smoking meat in your back yard. However, if you plan on getting involved in BBQ competitions you won't be able to use your gas grill.

Basically a BBQ Pit can be any type of grill that keeps your indirect fire going for a long period of time for your low and slow cooking experience.

So without any further adu, here are some types of BBQ Pits I recommend if you're just starting out. However, these cookers can can also be used if you plan on entering a barbecue competition. I'll include the links so you can read a little more about each cooker at your own leisure.

Weber Charcoal Kettle Grill:

A Weber Kettle Grill is the most basic tool you can use to smoke meat. However I suggest you purchase the 26 inch model if you can find it because its easier for you to smoke larger cuts of meat. You'll be using charcoal to start your fire with a couple of your favorite wood chunks thrown in for smoke. You'll also want to use an aluminum pan on one side or the other to place your meat over so its not directly over the flame. You'll also want to check out a hinged bbq grate so you can flip it up and easily add additional charcoal to keep your fire going.

Charcoal Bullet Smoker

I really recommend this little cooker if you're just starting out but also works great if you are a seasoned pro. In fact, this is the cooker I use. It's super easy to use and it maintains temperatures very well during long cooks. Its perfect if you're barbecuing food for your family in your backyard but you'll want to buy a least a couple of them if you plan on using it as your competition cooker. You'll want to make sure you have enough room for all the meat you'll be cooking. In fact, this goes for all three of these cookers I'm discussing with you.

Electric Bullet Smoker

This little cooker is very similar to the charcoal type but uses lava rocks instead of charcoal. The lava rocks sits on electric coils which produces your heat. You'll want to soak your wood chips and place them in an aluminum pan without the wood actually touching the heating coils to produce your smoke.

So there you have it, three types of smokers you can buy today for under $200.00 and will help you turn out mouth watering barbecue every time!

Now you'll want to remember these grill suggestions are best used for backyard cooking but can be used in a barbecue competition if you wish. You'll just need to purchase a

Next time I'll help you choose the type of fuel you'll want to use and we'll also discuss what types of woods you should use when smoking your meat. I'll also help you to start your fire and keep it going during the cooking process.

Now go smoke something, Bill Parlaman

If you enjoyed this please feel free to pass it along to your family and friends. Also, I'd love to know what's going through your mind so don't be bashful and feel free to post your comments below. I really mean it when I say I'd love to hear from you!

Bill Parlaman is the creator of www.BbqFreaks.com, an online community of barbecue enthusiasts from all over the world. Through this community Bill helps backyard chefs cook great barbecue and build stronger barbecue businesses. Bill is also a student of emotional direct response marketing and copywriting and is featured in the book, Ultimate Success Secrets. You can also follow him on Twitter