Did you know the barbecue equipment you choose to smoke with can make or break your success?

Barbecuing meats has been around since the dawn of civilization. It harkens back to times where humans had no other choice but to cook meat over an open fire.

That’s probably why almost everyone still loves it, even in 2017.

Without the right barbecue equipment for your smoker, however, you might be leaving a lot of great flavors off the table.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the equipment you need for your commercial smoker that can set you apart from your competition.

Let’s take a closer look.

Types of Smokers and Upgrades

Generally speaking, there are 4 kinds of smokers used in commercial smokehouses.

The type of equipment you need will vary based upon the smoker you use.

1. Offset Smoker

This is the most commonly used smoker. It’s normally a cylinder shape with a small fire box at the end, which is attached to the bottom.

You’ll start a small fire in the fire box, which has air-tight controls. The heat and smoke get drawn from the pipe into the smoking chamber.

Barbecue equipment upgrades include:

• Reverse flow offset
• Deflector, duct or convention plate
• Mud pan charcoal fuse
• Chimney cap

2. Upright Drum Smoker

This is an upright steel drum that can vary in size. It contains a base to hold your charcoal at the bottom and cooking rack(s) at the top.

The air is controlled through an intake at the very bottom of the drum.

Equipment upgrades include:

• 2″ air inlet or exhaust
• 55-gallon stainless steel shelf
• Curved mount drop handle basket
• Wet bulb socks

3. Propane Smoker

This type of smoker gives you a lot more control over the smoking environment.

The heat for the smoker is created by a gas burner located directly under a steel (or iron) box that contains the charcoal or wood, which then provides the smoke.

The box contains a few holes on the top only. This serves to “starve” the wood or charcoal of oxygen to create smoke rather than fire.

Equipment upgrades include:

• Replacement gasket to better seal the doors
• Bricks at the bottom to retain and distribute heat more evenly

4. Commercial Smoking House

These smokers are made from beautiful stainless steel. The smoking generator utilizes friction, an electric coil or a small flame that ignites sawdust whenever needed.

The heat from the steam coils is balanced with water sprays to help perfectly control humidity and temperature.

Barbecue equipment upgrades include:

• Smokehouse door air seals
• Silicon gaskets

Smoke Your Competition Away

When you’re ready to smoke out your competition, it’s time to make upgrades to your smoker. After all, the better flavor you produce, the more customers you’ll get (and keep).

Browse our extensive list of parts and products to find the best equipment to help blow your competition out of the water.

No matter what type of smoker you use, you’re sure to find what you need in our shop.

Here’s to the love of smoking!

Did you know that 45% of Americans planned on buying a new smoker or grill last year?

There’s a reason! Smokers have become more popular, especially during the summertime for all those outdoor BBQs.

The smoker helps create that delicious BBQ taste. But if you’ve noticed your smoker hasn’t been working the same, it might be time to replace some parts.

Read on to learn more about smoker maintenance tips.

Remember to consult your manual when removing or replacing any parts on your smoker. If you cannot find your manual, be sure to contact the manufacturer or check their website.

 

1. Sealing Your Smoker’s Doors

Using your smoker frequently can cause wear and tear on its doors.

The heat in your smoker is key, so make sure heat doesn’t leak out of the doors. If you have a cheap smoker, the metal is likely thinner and not retaining heat as well as it could be.

Fix the doors on your smoker with a silicone seal that can withstand high temperatures. It’s also a good idea to consider buying a gasket seal (for the bottom of the doors) for extra protection.

 

2. Maintain the Grates

The grates on your smoker go through a lot, so be sure to keep them extra clean. If they’re too far gone and a grill isn’t cutting it, consider replacing them.

While it’s important to have your grates seasoned for cooking, too much grease, oil, and other soot can ruin them.

Cleaning your smoker regularly is important to helping prevent grease and oil buildup, which causes your smoker to run less efficiently. Buildup can also change the taste of your food.

 

3. Replace the Smoker’s Water Pan

The water pan for your smoker ensures that your meat doesn’t dry out during slow-cooking.

It’s important to maintain a proper level of water in the pan during the smoking process. Make sure to clean this pan afterwards.

After awhile, you might find that it’s hard to scrub the water pan clean due to the accumulation of grease and fat.

This is an easy part to replace, and will help keep your smoker looking fresh and new.

Bonus: You can even use disposable aluminum pans for your water, helping maintain a fresh look each time you use your smoker. These make your cleanups easier too!

 

4. Wet Bulb Socks

Wet bulb socks are crucial to understanding the temperature and humidity in your smoker.

Replace these with every cook cycle to ensure that you have an accurate temperature reading in your smoker.

Be sure to prep them properly, and place them near the exhaust damper for best results.

 

5. Metal Radiators and Lava Rocks

Whether your smoker uses metal radiator bars or lava rocks, both require maintenance.

The bars should be cleaned regularly to help prevent soot from getting on your food. If they are made of stainless steel, they will last longer than an enamel surface. These must be replaced frequently.

Similarly, lava rocks absorb grease. You should replace the lava rocks to prevent carbon from affecting the smoked flavor of your food.

 

Smoker Maintenance Is Key to Having a Long-term Smoker

A smoker is a great investment that will last a long time if you take care of it!

Cleaning it regularly to help prevent buildups of grease, soot, and rust will help prolong your smoker. As you have learned, sometimes parts need to be replaced.

Remember: Smoker maintenance makes for a better BBQ!

How do you practice smoker maintenance? Let us know in the comments box below!