I have a bbq/smoker combo and I’d really like to learn how to smoke meat. I don’t really have anyone in my life to teach me. I know how to bbq, with propane, so most of my help would need to be centered around the prep, fire making, and smoker specific items I’ll need. I have the smoker and a meat thermometer and that’s it, so I know I’ll need to get more stuff. Anyone know any good videos or articles that really go over the basics of smoking?
Amazing Ribs is an excellent website. Lots of great info.
Some of my YouTube follows I’ve found helpful:
Mad Scientist BBQ Malcom Reed, HowToBBQRight Ash Kickin’ BBQ Meat Church BBQ American Smoke (he started using a Pit Boss vertical smoker like mine) Chuds BBQ Smoke Trails BBQ (he’s a bit of a character and has an unhealthy attraction to Aaron Franklin, but has some entertaining content).
They all go through prep to varying degrees. Some use pellet grills, most use stick burners, some charcoal. Jirby from Goldee’s BBQ has some stick burner fire management content on his YouTube site, as does Mad Scientist. Chums might too.
I’ve found a lot of “stuff” really isn’t needed to get started. Gloves have been very helpful (I like to use cotton gloves with disposable gloves over them), spray bottle to spritz, and a good instant read thermometer. A good sharp boning knife for trimming. A good slicing knife for cutting done ribs. A notebook to take notes of your cooks so you can track what worked and didn’t work. Maybe disposable cutting boards, nice but not needed. Sure you have a decent cutting board in the house.
Keep asking questions, it’s how we all learn. I didn’t have anyone in my life either to get me going in smoking and I’m moving along OK thanks to the community.