Smoking is considered one of the most demanding cooking process and might seem really frustrating to lot of people. This is because of the patience that you need to exert just so to finish the smoking process. Stomachs have to be filled when hunger strikes, and this is the reason why frying seems to be the most popular because food is served in just mere minutes while smoked food is served after hours!
But smoked food is much healthier and truly a delight with its tender and juicy flavor. Aside from the many hours needed to smoke, another challenge is selecting the type of smoker that you are likely to use. It has to be in line with your cooking style. You should remember that different types of smokers work differently, so your food might not taste as what you’ve anticipated. You should choose a smoker that would meet all your cooking preferences along with its features combined with its functions. Despite your high cooking skills, the type of smoker you use is also important. It was a good idea to read this post right now especially if you’re looking for information about vertical smoker vs offset smoker.
The difference between vertical and offset smoker
One of the most distinct characteristics between vertical and offset smoker is the size. An offset smoker is larger than a vertical smoker. If you’re into much simpler designs then you should choose an offset smoker because it’s much more minimal than a vertical smoker.
Most modern smoker grills such as offset barrel smokers, horizontal smokers, or pipe smokers allow you to control the cooking process. Aside from considering your smoker’s brand, you must also consider other things such as fuel usage or the quality of smoked food it produces within hours.
The crucial factor in selecting the smoker for you is how it gets to smoke the meat the way you want it. Before you’ll go out choosing the smoker for yourself, you should first read on the advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of a vertical water smoker
Vertical smoker is easy to use because it merely applies the law of physics when it comes to how it works. According to many customers, vertical smokers are also the most affordable smokers in the market.
The vertical water smoker includes compartment in the bottom section that serves as its heat source. This compartment is one of the most significant parts of the smoker because it holds the charcoal fuel or other raw material that generate heat.
Another part that the vertical water include is the water pan. It is also an important part because it is important to moisturize the air inside the smoker instead of using dry heat to smoke the meat. This strategy allows the meat to taste tender and soft because you’ve cooked by using low temperatures.
The vertical water smoker is smaller and much more efficient compared to larger smokers. Aside from the affordability of owning a vertical smoker, it also requires lesser fuel to operate. If you’re still beginning to smoke then you must use the vertical smoker.
The disadvantages of a vertical smoker
One of the primarily complaints with vertical water smokers is the loss of heat that is necessary to cook the meat every time the lid gets opened. Another complaint is that the size of meat to be smoked inside the smoker must be limited because of its limited space.
Another concern with vertical smokers is that you could only retrieve food in one direction courtesy of its design. Another concern is that retrieving pieces of food might seem inconvenient because of its 2-year layer grates that requires you remove the upper grate first before accessing the lower rack.
This concludes that the simplicity of the offset smoker is really much simpler when it comes to the design despite it is larger in size.
Advantages of the horizontal offset smoker
If you really want to cook a perfectly juicy smoked food then you must practice consistently because cooking is a gradual process. Smoking might be frustrating because it takes a lot while to get it done, but it is also rewarding in the end.
Choose an offset smoker that is of high quality and includes a reverse flow thermal circulation configuration. Practice with the right offset smoker, and it will be guaranteed that you produce satisfying results.
Compared with the vertical smoker that has limited space, the offset smoker provides a bigger cooking space that would allow you to cook a larger quantity of meat. Aside from merely smoking it, you could also hand and skewer at the same time. An offset smoker also cuts cost on your bill.
The disadvantages of the horizontal offset smoker
Compared to vertical smokers, the offset smokers might present itself as more challenging to operate and may affect the overall mood in the cooking process.
A good smoker always includes the reverse flow thermal circulate design, and that is the most distinct indicator that the smoker is going to function well. Another disadvantage when it comes to horizontal offset smokers is its construction because the materials used for the offset smokers are thin metal sheets. These thin metal sheets are responsible for easier dissipation of heat.
Sometimes the temperature indicator located near the firebox is poorly designed that doesn’t guarantee the heat transfer. Another disadvantage when it comes to offset smoker its fuel consumption. The smoker might sometimes uneven heating and will not cook the meat evenly.
It all boils down to you
There are many smoker grills presented to you, but choosing the right one will all depend on you. It’s challenging to actually choose one because all of these smoker grills present different functions and features that might be appealing. But before you’ll choose one, you must consider the advantages and disadvantages of these smokers.
Smokers could actually last long with their durable construction. You just need to properly store them and accordingly use them. One way of maintaining a smoker is to remove its drip pan and remove the grease right away, so that it wouldn’t build up or accumulate.
Smokers might have been really frustrating before especially when it came to using traditional smokers because you needed to go through the hassle in changing the coal. Right now, modern smokers has built-in features for convenience. You can simply set the temperature and then let the smoker do all the work.
Because of this, you can use the time to accomplish other tasks such as going back to where you’ve left at work. Another is tending your garden perhaps. Or you can spend more time with your family and friends.
The longevity of the smoker depends on how you’re going to keep it. Choosing your smoker also depends on its functions, features, its cooking capacity, how often would you need to smoke meat, or if you’d be using the smoker indoors or outdoors. If you’re going to use the smoker outdoors, make sure that the smoker you’re going to buy has rear handles, so that it’s easier for you to move it around. There are many types of smokers, but not all of them could meet your requirements.