What’s the Cheapest Way to Start?
What’s the cheapest way to get into meat smoking? What basics do I need to get started with meat smoking?
When I started smoking, I was given a sub-$100 electric smoker as a gift, and that was all I had. I used a BBQ thermometer to test the internal temperature, wood chips purchased from the grocery store, and used a basic grocery store rub to prep the meat. So, technically you can start experimenting for around $100. Having learned a lot since the time I started, I’ll list some things to consider when jumping into meat smoking.
The Smoker
If you haven’t already, check out the “How expensive are typical smokers?” section. In it, I explain some of the differences between the various ‘tiers’ of smokers. As I mentioned, I started with a low end Brinkman smoker. And while it produced some great food, I quickly outgrew it. The heating element also failed after a few months, and the customer service was poor. They offered me the opportunity to buy a replacement part that was 50% of the units cost! With that experience, I would suggest about $225 for a smoker. Masterbuilt is great if you are looking at an electric smoker, and Weber is a great option for charcoal. If that is too high of a price tag for the smoker, check Craigslist or yard sales. I’ve seen a few fantastic units listed, so you can score a great deal. Smoker: $225
Accessories
The only accessory that I’ve found absolutely crucial for smoking great food is a remote thermometer. There are both wired and wireless units available. Something I learned after using my BBQ thermometer was that every time you open the smoker door to check temperature, you add about an hour to the cooking time. Because of that, a unit that shows you the temperature without having to open the door is fantastic. I bought two for under $20 each, but we’ll aim high. Thermometer: $20
Wood
There are different nuances with using wood in different smokers, but overall, chunks are better than chips. Chunks allow you to generate smoke longer and more consistently than wood chips, as they tend to burn up quickly (even when soaked in water). It is not a good idea to use random pieces of wood found around your house as it is important that no chemicals have touched the wood. If you buy a good quality smoker, they will typically include a few pounds of wood to get you started. If not, there are a variety of online shops that sell a variety of woods. Cookshack (the company that makes my smoker), sells a wood sample kit for $30.00 and it includes 5lbs of Hickory, Mesquite, Apple, and Cherry wood for a total of 20lbs of wood. The wood is already cut into the right size (about 2 oz. per piece). They also sell at 10lb box of a single type of wood for under $20. Amazon also sells wood chunks of various types of food at similar prices – under $20 for 9lbs of wood. Using the term ‘BBQ wood chunks’ will yield results online. Wood Chunks: $20
Fuel
If you go electric, the only cost is kilowatts (which end up being very insignificant). If you do charcoal, there will be the cost of fuel which I would guess is about $15 for a good bad of non-chemical compressed hardwood briquettes. If you decide to go with a propane smoker, you’ll have the propane to factor in as well. A quick search yields an estimate of $30 if you don’t already have a tank. I won’t add any extra cost here as I go with electric, but if you decide on another option, add the appropriate cost. Fuel: $0
Other
The other costs that you will need to factor in are more in the grocery category of the budget. Sauces, rubs, and of course, the meat itself. Different cuts vary dramatically in cost, so putting a number on this stuff is very difficult. There are numerous resources online for finding sauces and rubs. Currently, I use the rub that came with my smoker, made by Cookshack, and I use Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce – available for less than $3.00 a bottle in my area. The last thing you will need is some heavy duty foil. I use it to line the inside of my smoker (and I would suggest the same for the refrigerator looking electric smokers) to make clean up easy.
When all is said and done, you can get a very good quality smoking setup for under $300. You can go lower if you buy the lowest end smoker available, but I personally don’t think saving the extra $150 is worth it considering how much more you get. Again, you can find much of this stuff used as well. If $300 is too much to start getting into the hobby, search some used listings in your area and pick up a Smokin‘ deal. And yes, that pun was intended.
