BBQ & Smoking
Master fire, smoke, and time to turn cheap cuts into the best meal on the table.
~$354Cost to start
ModerateDifficulty
3+ hrTime / session
2 setup steps, ~$354 all in. Nothing to buy until you say so.
Is it you?
Nobody has scored this against your answers yet. 3+ hr at a time, $354 to find out whether it sticks.
MessMessyNoiseSome noise
The path13 quests
ASetting up2 things to sort, in any order$26
- Get a thermometer, and smoke on the grill you own
- Clear a whole afternoon for the first cook
Then the quests
- Hold a steady low temperature for hours
- Smoke chicken or a rack of ribs
- Cook meat to the right internal temp
More on BBQ & Smoking
Everything else we have written about it. Free to read, no account needed.
Guides1
What to buy2
Best Beginner Smoker (2026): 3 Picks for Every BudgetGreat barbecue is mostly about holding a steady low temperature for hours, so the best beginner smoker is the one that makes that easy. The type you pick (electric, pellet, or charcoal) decides how hands-on it is. Here are three that take the guesswork out, from a set-and-forget box to a premium pellet rig.Best Smoker for Beginners (2026): 3 Real PicksA smoker is the tool that turns tough, cheap cuts into brisket and ribs by cooking them low and slow in wood smoke for hours. For a beginner, the single most important thing is not size or brand but how easy it is to hold a steady temperature, because that is what low-and-slow really is: keeping a box at 225 to 275 degrees for six to twelve hours. An electric smoker does that almost automatically, which is why it is the easiest place to start; charcoal and pellet give more flavor and control but ask more of you. Here are three good ones across the range, plus what actually matters when you choose.
From the blog1
Learn it with a course
UdemyRecommended course
BBQ - From Beginner to pro: Grilling, Smoking and Cooking
Start on UdemyAffiliate link
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