Having a delicious smoked meat or fish can make a meal spectacular, but smoking meats is an art all in itself. Traditional smokers use a variety of woods and pellets to keep the fire going. The fire then causes a ring of smoke to develop, which envelops the meat and infuses a delicious smoked flavor into it. You get not only the taste and flavor of the meat, but the type of wood that you are using when smoking it as well. Electric smokers have become all the rage nowadays with more and more people switching from traditional options like wood and propane to something that is much easier and even safer when used around the home.
Traditional Methods
Traditional methods of smoking meats and fish include using wood pellets or chips or using propane. Both of these have their pros and cons. With wood pellets and chips, you need to constantly tend the fire to ensure that it does not go out. While this is all well and good at the time, most meats have to be cooked for hours upon hours until they can be deemed finished. If you are constantly tending the meat, it might become a problem if you have other chores to do. Propane smokers can be dangerous just because of the gas involved, not to mention the constant hiked pricing of propane. However, many people who enjoy smoked meats prefer either wood or propane because of that delicious wood-burned flavor. That is something that you just do not get with an electric smoker.
Electric Smokers
Electric smokers are becoming popular because of how easy they are to use. Even if you have never smoked meat or fish in your life, there’s a pretty good chance that you will be able to use this type of smoker. In fact, many people find that with electric smokers, they are able to focus on other things around the house while their food is being cooked. The smoker takes care of all of the different controls for you, ensuring that your meats come out perfectly every single time. You might not get that traditional smoke ring and flavor when you’re using an electric smoker, but it saves time and hassle. For those who tend to use propane, you might even save a bit of money by going with an electric option. Plus, a lot of people have found that while electric smokers tend to be smaller, you can fit more food into them because of the different racks inside.
Which One is Better?
If you ask any foodie who smokes a lot of their meats and fish, you might hear that they wouldn’t give up either of their smokers. Electric smokers have their place and both cook the foods quicker and easier. Traditional smokers are ideal if you plan to spend a lot of time staying around the appliance and tending to its fire. Both of these appliances result in a deliciously cooked meat that you can pair with potatoes, veggies and anything else that your heart desires. You might find that an electric smoker is more within your budget at first and then you upgrade to a traditional option, or vice versa.
The key here is to make use of the smoker that best fits your food and meal needs. If you need a quick and effortless way to smoke meats, you need to go with the electric smoker. If, on the other hand, you want a more traditional smoked flavor and don’t mind tending to the meat for many hours, you will find that traditional smokers are better fit for you. Do some research on different smokers available to you and find out more about the pricing and specs involved with each. Once you choose a specific smoker, it is up to you to figure out how to use it both effectively and safely. Once you learn how to use the appliance, you will find that it is easier than ever to get that delicious BBQ flavor at home without the price that comes with purchasing these types of meats when you are visiting a restaurant with family and friends.