Smoke is a great flavor enhancer for meat and vegetables of all types. Get mouthwatering notes of smokiness in your outdoor cooking with the BBQ smokers selection at Ace Hardware from brands like Traeger, Big Green Egg and Masterbuilt.
Benefits of Vertical Smokers
While some people enjoy the versatility of a grill smoker combo, a dedicated smoker also has its advantages, including:
- A compact design for space-conscious consumers
- Relatively affordable options compared to combo grills
- More energy-efficient operation than smoker grills
- Spacious interior with multiple racks to smoke large amounts of food
Vertical smokers are solid options for people looking to save space and enjoy deliciously smoked foods for less. They are also great for the dedicated BBQ master who wants both to slow smoke recipes to perfection while tending to their grills in real time.
Vertical vs. Drum Smokers
Although they are often used interchangeably, vertical and drum smokers are different. Vertical varieties usually stand on four legs and have a box-like appearance, while drum models have a distinct barrel-like appearance. While drum smokers are ideal for hanging meat as it smokes, vertical designs let you slow, hot or cold smoke smaller cuts of meat on different shelves.
How Do Charcoal, Wood and Pellet Smokers Compare?
The fuel you burn in your smoker has a huge effect on the final flavor of your food. Choose a smoker that uses one of the three main kinds of smoking fuels: charcoal, wood and wood pellets.
Charcoal Smokers
Charcoal produces plenty of heat over a long cooking time, as well as powerful smoky flavors. A charcoal smoker grill is an ideal way to start your smoking journey, available in horizontal, vertical and drum designs.
Wood Smoker Designs
Wood chips are fast burning and produce plenty of smoke and are great for short cooking times or cold smoking away from the heat. For longer cooking times, wood logs are ideal, imparting a light smokiness along the way. A wood smoker can use a range of chips or logs, including hickory, cherry, apple and mesquite, each imparting its distinctive flavor to your food. You can use both wood chunks and chips in wood smokers for dynamic cooking that adds a smoky burst of flavor.
Wood Pellet Smokers
A pellet smoker is a great all-rounder, making it easy to smoke most ingredients to your preferences. Inexpensive but capable of infusing great flavor, wood pellets are made from compressed sawdust and fill your wood smoker with lots of smoke over a long-smoldering time.
Convection and Electric BBQ Smokers
As well as traditional outdoor smokers, Ace also carries outdoor convection BBQ smokers which use total indirect heat for an even, fast and hot smoke with very little attention needed during the cooking process. These portable smoker models are ideal for camping, tailgating or other kinds of mobile cooking when you want a hassle-free smoky flavor to your food.
Our electric smokers use wood for a convenient convection smoking experience. Electricity heats metal rods, heating wood chips and water to create smoke as your food cooks. Due to the electric convection design, operation is very easy and great for slow, long cooks.
What Size Smoker Do You Need?
The right size depends on how much food you plan to cook at once. Smaller vertical smokers are great for occasional use or small families. Larger horizontal or drum smokers offer more space for full racks of ribs, briskets or multiple cuts of meat, making them better for entertaining or batch cooking.
Shop Barbecue Smokers Near You at Ace
Cooking with smoke rewards you with excellent taste and tenderness but getting the right smoker is important for success, so check out an Ace near you. others to transform your barbecue experience.
Our knowledgeable staff can help you find the right model for your needs, then be sure to explore grilling accessories, utensils and barbecue sauces and rubs to take total control of your next cookout.
