Which smoker should I buy? It’s a question almost as old as time.

With so much information available — from marketing messages to message boards to social media posts to recommendations from family and friends — it’s easy to get overwhelmed when buying a smoker.

Then, there are the “shamers” who say you’re a loser if you use propane. That you can’t cook good barbecue with electric. That you aren’t a true barbecuer if you are using pellets.

Let me make it easy for you. Don’t worry about what anyone else says.

Just ask yourself a few questions:

• How do I plan to use it?
  • Am I just cooking for my family on the weekends?
  • Will I be cooking for large crowds?
  • Do I plan to use it to make money for my business (or side hustle)?
  • Does it need to be portable so I can take it places?
• How much time do I want to spend cooking on it?
  • Do I have time — and skill — to manage the fire?
  • Would I prefer a set it and forget it smoker?
• What do I plan to cook with it?
  • Am I going low and slow with pulled pork, brisket, and ribs?
  • Do I do more high-heat cooking, such as steaks?
  • Is a griddle more my style?
• How much money do I want to spend?
  • What other costs are involved, such as charcoal, wood chips, wood chunks, and pellets?
  • Can I afford accessories that enhance the cooking experience?
• How much time do I want to spend on maintenance?
• How long will the smoker last?
• What kind of climate am I cooking in?

The most important factor when deciding which smoker to buy is that it’s right for you.

Forget what anyone else says you should — or shouldn’t — buy. Make sure it meets your needs in terms of time, skill level, and budget.

Don’t worry about what others think when buying a smoker

I’ve been curing and smoking bacon for a few years and selling it locally. I’ve sold nearly 1,000 pounds since 2019 and customer love it. But most people would be surprised to learn that I smoke it on a digital electric smoker. I know I get shamed for that by those who think there’s only one right way to barbecue.

But guess what.

I find that it produces the best results and I don’t care what others think.

I’ve tried bacon in the Big Green Egg. I’ve tried it on an offset. They produced good results, but it wasn’t nearly as good as my method. I prefer a lower smoker temperature and a longer cook time, which just isn’t possible without an electric smoker.

Does that mean you should get an electric smoker? No!

Get what works for you.

Part of the fun of buying a smoker is trying new things and learning as you grow.

My very first smoker was an ugly drum smoker that the previous owner of my house left behind. Not the nice ones that are made these days, it was an old one. It didn’t yield great results. But it taught me how to manage fire.

Then, I expanded to a Masterbuilt propane smoker — one of those rectangular cabinet smokers. It was great for ease of use and taught me the importance of cleaning a smoker and using a drip pan to avoid grease fires.

I also inherited my first Masterbuilt digital electric smoker from my wife’s grandfather, which is what got me into smoking bacon — and really all I used it for.

Next, I got a Weber Kettle, which gave me portability to take camping and allowed me to learn fire management using just charcoal and wood.

I then got my first Big Green Egg (a large that I bought from a friend) so I could increase capacity of my cooks — fit a full packer brisket or a couple of pork butts or a bunch of wings. You get the picture. I liked it so much I added an XL Big Green Egg to further increase capacity.

A 36-inch Blackstone Griddle gave me the ability to cook a wider range of items that can’t be cooked on a traditional grill or smoker.

Looking for even more portability, I replaced my Weber Kettle with a PK Grill, which folds up nicely for transporting from place to place.

Last week, my original electric smoker finally died, so I replaced it with a Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050. A combination of electric and charcoal/wood fired, this smoker will give me the low temperatures I need for bacon, significantly increase my bacon capacity, and allow me to smoke and sear other meats.

When you are considering buying a smoker, make sure it fits with your lifestyle.

As you can see, my barbecue journey has grown leaps and bounds over the past decade. Each smoker provided a learning experience that brought me to where I am today — and I’m still learning! I have my eye on a Workhorse next, and then a Primitive Pits smoker trailer. I fit the learning experience with the stage I was in.

Don’t get a stickburner if you don’t have the will or time to babysit the fire. If all you want is a cooker that’s easy to use to feed your family, don’t spend big bucks to get the hottest toy out there just because people say it’s cool. If you’re new to smoking and want to learn, start small and work your way up, learning along the way.

Most importantly, get the smoker that is right for you.