Barrel cookers are one of the most simple designs of outdoor smokers you can get, which also makes them one of the cheapest. Finally, the Bullet smoker weighs just about 17 pounds, while the Weber smoker weighs nearly 40 pounds. Build a Professional Barbecue Smoker: This Instructable will show you how to build the ultimate backyard barbecue pit. Below is our complete review covering what we’ve learned from creating our own Ugly Drum Smoker (UDS) and barbecuing with the Pit Barrel Cooker. I’d say give it a shot using the PBC in more of the standard method: https://pitbarrelcooker.com/pages/instructions?ref=eqtcejjugy. Can I interest you in a smoker you can easily build yourself which will be designed well enough to smoke food for upwards of 10 hours without the need for constant maintenance? If that’s not enough, it’s American made by Veteran family-owned and operated team, who’s just as serious about great tasting BBQ as you are. The Oklahoma Joe Bronco is very expensive, but it offers an unparalleled smoking experience. Please log in again. I love my PBC…everything I put on it comes out amazing! Upright drum smokers. The basic ugly drum smoker needs some type of basket system to hold the wood or charcoal, and some type of cooking grate for meat. This is enough space to ensure that your meat is cooked via indirect heat, but not so far that you struggle for temperature. It features a steel construction with a sleek porcelain-enamelled bowl, and plated steel cooking grates. Ugly Drum Smokers have traditionally been made from 55-gallon drums, but the Pit Barrel Cooker opts for a 30-gallon size. ... Drum… The smoker grates should be positioned about 24 inches above the firebox for the best results. If your barbecue parties usually cater for groups of around 4-6 people, you shouldn’t run into any problems with any of the smokers on this list. The new model also features a steel coating upgrade from the previous powder coating to an enamel-based coating. Load the charcoal basket completely, mixing in wood chips throughout. For the smoker, it’s nice to be able to light up charcoals and know they will burn at a consistent temperature for a long time. With the ability to raise or lower the charcoal nest, you can smoke, grill, or sear on this backyard BBQ drum smoker! Its movable grate and additional meat hangers let you customize your setup your way, while the oversized charcoal basket holds enough fuel for all-day smoke therapy. Use a pair of BBQ gloves! One thing with the PBC, it’s more of a cooker than a smoker — cooking by way of convection — it likes to run in the neighborhood of 270°. Smoking times can last as long as 12 hours, in which time you will need to reload your coals. This 30-gallon smoker from Pit Barrel Cooker Co. is a classical drum/barrel smoker. The build quality in the Bullet is also great for the price. $799.00 Gateway Drum Smoker® STRAIGHT UP 55G - … I will have to sell a smoker before I get a new one I think, but this is the style I … The juices burn, creating what PBC calls a “smoke fog”, and giving your meat an even smokier, juicer natural flavor that other smokers lack. Barrel smoking is the funnest BBQ time there is I have owned traeger big green egg Webber smokers and I love the ugs.thank you. A secondary grate often sits between the two, offering higher cooking temperatures due to the closer proximity to the fire. When you’ve removed everything from the box and laid it all out in front of you, you’ll see: Shot of the barrel, charcoal pan, cooking grate, and rods in the box. With their design essentially coming down to a 55-gallon drum with a cage and grates inside, they can be easily made and manufactured. For added adjustability, this drum smoker also has 2 adjustable intake pipes and a single adjustable exhaust pipe. Other smokers tend to only have an intake and exhaust damper, so an added two allows you to be more precise with tweaking cooking temperatures. Surprisingly, hanging meats come out evenly – despite one end sitting just above the hot coals. The Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker features a cool … In a wide or irregularly shaped smoker, like a gas grill or offset smoker, there’s a lot more room for heat and air to roll around, and things will cook more inconsistently as a result. Low Cost, No Weld 55 Gallon Drum Smoker: Being broke like myself we can all still appreciate the taste of home smoked meat. The ugly drum smoker is about as basic and easy to build as it gets. The Smokey Mountain has four aluminum lined dampers to give you more control over airflow and heat through the unit. the gateway drum smoker® experience Uniquely engineered for quality performance, Gateway Drum Smokers is the acclaimed premier brand of drum smokers on the market. The BHC 18C smoker from Barrel House is a not too expensive alternative to the Pit Barrel Cooker Co. 18-1/2-inch smoker reviewed earlier. For the most recent model, the Pit Barrell Cooker has upgraded from a 20-gauge steel to an 18-gauge steel. But on the other hand, it also shows how much less thickly built it is than the Weber unit. Unboxing is easy; just pop open the box, remove the instructions, lid and packaging on top, and pull the Pit Barrel Cooker out of the box. The Smokey Mountain is perfect for BBQ fans who want an elite-level drum smoker without the steep learning curve. The Oklahoma Joe’s® Bronco Drum Smoker has a unique airflow control system and sealed lid that deliver precise control over smoke and heat. Click below to view the Pit Barrel Cooker on the Pit Barrel Cooker Co. website. Not long ago Ugly Drum Smokers were a Do-It-Yourself item. Easy access to charcoal for reloading is important for barbecue. Get the lowdown on the best drum smokers out there today, as well as what features to look out for so you can get the right upgrade for your BBQ smoking setup. Last update on 2020-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. The Pit Barrel Cooker can’t be beat at its entry level price. We expected that end to be drier and stringier than the other. The cut-out will be your smoker door. Additionally, when cooking on the PBC I’ve never used a water pan. Drum smokers go by many names - Ugly Drum Smoker, Barrel Smokers, UDS, Barrel cookers, etc. Why 30 gallons instead of the traditional 55 Gallon Drum? Any advice on that? It seems to be not too far off the Pit Barrel, and it also comes with similar utensils – a cooking grate and 8 meat hooks. And we’re not the only ones who feel this way; the PBC checks most of the boxes per Amazing Ribs list of things to look for when buying a smoker. Funny they’re working on a 55 gallon drum. And while one of the best parts of an Ugly Drum Smoker is constructing your own, the PBC ships ready to go out of the box. Joint sealant used is good to 1200°C (2,190°F) and the high temperature black powder coating is rated to 750°C (1,380°F). Once the coals in the chimney are ready, you’ll add them back into the charcoal basket to start the cooking process. One of our most popular and old school models are the charcoal Drum Smokers. Rumor has it due to be shipped sometime around the holidays. In fact, the ventilation is so precise that, if you don’t have the rebar rods in place or if the lid is offset, temps can climb to +300° quickly. Here’s why we chose the PBC as a contender for our Best Of Under $500 roundup. That’s another place where the PBC excels – creating smooth, consistent smoke. Fuel Sauces BBQ ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL™ NEW RULES NEW FLAVOR™ FAST ... View all. But that doesn’t stop barbecued meats from coming out perfectly soft, smoky and juicy – usually in much less time than on other smokers. 370 sq in cooking surface across 2 porcelain-coated cooking grates. Popularity of upright barrel smokers, aka Ugly Drum Smokers, has been on the upswing. It’s that easy – you’re ready to smoke. Classic Pit Barrel Cooker Package. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Once the charcoal is burning white hot, dump them back on top of the charcoal in the basket. Using gas allows for ease of ignition and temperature control; but once again you must provide flavorsome smoke on your own. The firebox is built at the base barrel, and the main cooking grate sits about 24 inches above it. The addition of the door makes it quick and easy to refuel, while ensuring that you don’t disturb your food or cooking temperatures. With that said, because the Bullet is smaller, it has “only” 370 square inches of cooking space. Next, fill up the charcoal basket with charcoal till it’s flush and level on top. Porks and briskets have the crispy bark and delicious juicy flavor we’re looking for, ribs are easy to pull off the bone, and there’s a perfect smoke ring. Smoking Meat Geeks is all about bringing people together that enjoy food as much as I do. But despite its inexpensiveness, the Bullet charcoal smoker has many of the benefits of the Weber smoker thanks to the similar design. My concern is this charcoal smoke seems quite harsh to me for a long smoke like pork shoulders. Special Price $159.00 Regular Price $189.00. If you’re handy, you could easily do it by drilling / welding in a bracket on your own. 5 Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker – Best Rated Drum Smoker With its matte black 14-gauge powder-coated steel construction, this smoker really stands out from the crowd. When it comes to ease-of-use, convenience and sheer smoking power at a great price, the Pit Barrel Cooker can hold it’s own. We did have some problems with it running hot – sitting closer to 250°F to 265°F. This trailer mounted smoker was built using an old 250 gallon propane tank and is the perfect size large parties, catering, competitions, or whole-hog barbecue. Rating: 96%. All things considered, the Pit Barrel Cooker is an awesome ugly drum smoker and we have no problem backing it 100%. The Pit Barrel Cooker (PBC) is a versatile charcoal smoker and grill, whose design has been perfected upon the concept of the Ugly Drum Smoker (UDS). Their steel barrel design offers a unique way to ramp up the heat for good outdoor smoking. Propane Smoker Grill Barrel Smoker Bbq Pit Smoker Build A Smoker Diy Smoker Homemade Smoker Bbq Pics Smoker Trailer Trailer Build. The burning charcoals will provide enough heat, igniting more charcoal evenly as you burn through, and keeping a consistent temp the whole time. And the Pit Barrel Cooker Company didn’t stumble upon this revelation by accident: they tested over 29 different barrel designs and sizes to find the perfect one. Ribs might be too long to hang without cutting in half; the ends can drag in the coals, which isn’t good. Overall, the Barrel House BHC 18C is a very decent drum smoker for the price. If you live between sea level and 2,000’ elevation, slide the cap to leave it ¼ open. Includes: (1) Barrel House Cooker BHC18C, (1) Manual & Instructions Booklet, (1) Built-in... Fast Results: Cooks at 275˚- 310˚F, a competition proven alternative to “Low & Slow" for... 8 lbs. This burns off oil residues. I took them up to 205deg. Uds drum smoker cooking grate- laser cut with expanded metal pattern. Then, remove a few handfuls of the charcoal, put it into a charcoal chimney with some fire starter, and light it. Now – immediately hang your meat and get them cooking. Maybe my pork would cook faster as everyone says. It’s a classic Ugly Drum Smoker, but one that comes (mostly) pre-assembled, ready to go out of the box and shipped straight to your door for free. How long can you for cook on a drum smoker? Unique airflow control system and sealed lid allows for precise temperature management, Cooking grate and meat hangers enable a custom smoking setup, Oversized charcoal basket holds enough fuel for all-day smoking. The barrel could benefit from installing additional pins at the bottom of the cooker, about 4 inches above the coals. This is also nice because it makes it easier to handle and ship. The Char-Broil Bullet 16-inch smoker isn’t as heavy-duty as the Weber drum smoker. Instead, the smooth-burning charcoal creates a steady, light smoke that lasts the whole cook. There is no right or wrong input, as long as you’re engaging, you’re a Meat Geek! Just remember that 30-gallon drum smokers are most consistent and often easiest ways smoke meat. Beef Roast in Pit Barrel Smoker with a View of Charcoal Basket and Vent Below. No smoker is 100% foolproof – no, not even a Traeger – and there will always be the need to adjust your smoker and practice with it in order to find the exact temp you’re looking for. LavaLock BBQ Smoker Supply Uds Ugly Drum Parts Intake Teardrop Vent Damper 1-1/2 Flange for 55 Gallon Drum 4.8 out of 5 stars 8. These types of smoker are extremely lightweight, which makes them perfect for taking out on the road. Surprisingly, the meat comes out just as juicy and tender as it would if were smoking at 225F for longer. The shell of the drum is specially built using 1.2mm thick steel which is 50% thicker than a standard food grade drum which contributes in part to the excellent thermal stability of the smoker. In fact, with its more convenient charcoal basket, it may be a better buy for some people than the Pit Barrel! These drums offer only enough space for a 22-inch rack. I just smoked 2 pork shoulders… took 12.5 hours, hung till they hit 160deg, then wrapped in foil with some liquid. Are you a beginner looking for an easy-to-use yet affordable … While some would consider a mostly pre-assembled drum smoker a man-card infraction; we won’t tell. The Pit Barrel Cooker from Pit Barrel Cooker Company is the ‘Original Vertical’ Style Smoker. I thought my snake was getting me a better, lower temp. The $350 price tag is just icing on the cake. Plus having the entire basket full of coals means that all those drippings are coming into contact with hot coals which yields the delicious smoke you’re after. Drum smokers are not insulated, which means that some heat loss is inevitable. Sold Out View. See, the cylindrical shape of a drum creates the perfect environment for even, convection cooking; heat rises from the coals at the bottom until it bounces off the lid on top. Running a bit hot is common with the PBC, it seems, so we think it’s worth withholding judgement until the food is done. We respect your privacy and will never spam you. Innovative airflow control system simplifies temperature regulation, featuring numbered damper... Porcelain-coated body for lasting durability, and removable ash pan for quick and easy cleanup. Channel 1 is the internal ambient temperature probe, indicating the PBC’s temperature throughout the cook. Comes with a cooking grate and 8 meat hooks. Drum smokers are easy to use making them perfect for anyone - from a BBQ beginner to a competition BBQ pro. In Weber and Char-Broil smokers, you could easily add charcoal via the side door. Among the common features in the two smokers are the side door for heat control and easy charcoal addition, the number of included cooking grates, as well as flexible heat adjustment thanks to dampers. of Charcoal, 6+ Hours of Burn Time: This cooker uses 8 lbs. The other two channels are probes  inserted into the brisket to monitor the doneness of the meat. I’ve had a Pit Barrel Junior for about a year now and really enjoy it. What are the disadvantages of a drum smoker? If you want to smoke some turkey, PBCC sells a. Once your smoker is close to the temperature you want to smoke at; whether that’s low and slow at 225°, or hotter and faster at 275-300°, you can add your wood for flavor. Which, by the way, is a lot sooner than in larger smokers or one sitting at a steady 225°F. Having cooked on an upright barrel smoker for over six years, I appreciate the small footprint, ease of use, and unique grill-like flavors characteristic of this design. I wish I could just burn wood, but it is not designed for that. Over the years the design of the Ugly Drum Smoker has remained the same: a barrel with ventilation, charcoal basket and a lid – in short, that’s it. I think when charcoal ignites it gives off the harshest smoke. Although you are getting only one cooking grate, the hooks may allow for greater flexibility in grilling than in Weber and Char-Broil units. Hinged cooking grate that can be purchased as an addon accessory from the Pit Barrel Cooker Co. Smoking poultry, pork…, Propane gas smokers offer quick fire setup and easy barbecue smoking, all at an affordable price. The built-in lid thermometer is the first one – if you don’t have a meat probe, then this handy tool will allow you to keep an eye on the smoking process. Classic Pit Barrel Cooker Package. I was able to keep the temp pretty low, 220-235deg by only placing hot coals on one side of the tray, causing the coal ignite like the snake method, did not mess with venting at all. Drum smokers are extremely fuel efficient, with burning times much longer than other types of smokers and grills. It doesn’t get more manly than yielding the best tasting brisket from a barrel that could very well be a trash can. Place the flat piece inside the tank, then build a hardwood fire inside the tank. If you’re smoking a lot of meat at once – especially briskets or pork – the ambient temp might drop 10°F-20°F when you hit the Stall, due to all that evaporating moisture. This barrel style vertical smoker has been celebrated in the meat smoking and BBQ industry with its backyard, cult like following. I think my poor man snake method may be the problem. Learning how to control the smoker in the drum is crucial, and will be difficult for newcomers to the cooking form. It turns out that dripping juices keep that end cool, slowing cooking down and creating an evenly-cooked piece all the way across. This unit may not be as durable, but it has a few interesting features that the Pit Barrel doesn’t have. You shouldn’t need that user manual too much, because this this smoker requires very little setup; you can have it ready to go in under 5 minutes. Weber’s Smokey Mountain is a premium grade drum smoker that fully justifies its price tag. This is our top pick as the best smoker under $500. But with the Pit Barrel Cooker, the only real work you’ll need to do is attach the handle to the top of the lid, which takes all of 30 seconds with the included screws and screwdriver. The PBC does run a bit hot and can take some practice to get exactly right. A quick look at how the vertical style drum smoker by the Pit Barrel Cooker Co stands up to other types of smokers. Custom design and rights reserved by WiredFrame Development Group, Pit Barrel Cooker Unboxing & Testing Review, Tappecue Touch: A Complete Product Review, ThermoWorks Signals Thermometer WiFi + Bluetooth [Full Review], https://pitbarrelcooker.com/pages/instructions?ref=eqtcejjugy, Smoked Pork Butt [How To w/ Best Recipes], Char-broil Digital Electric Smoker Review [w/ Video], Smoking Wood : Tips for Smoking with Cherry, 5 Best WiFi Meat Thermometers – 2020 Review & Buyers Guide, Smoking Meat 101 – How to BBQ & Types of Smokers, Billows ThermoWorks Review – Tested & Reviewed, 5 Best BBQ Gloves — 2020 Review & Buyers Guide, Grilling up the Best Diner Burger at Home, Best Way to Grill Scallops w/ Sauces for Dipping, Amazing Pan Sauces with Stout Beer for Steak, Smoking & Drinking – Pairing Meat with Drinks & Cocktails, Freezing and Thawing Meat Methods to Keep Flavors, 5 Best Wireless Bluetooth Grill Meat Thermometer …, 30-Gallon Drum Smoker Design – the ideal size for smoking, Hanging hooks for even cooking on all sides, Ready to go out of the box – almost no assembly required, It’s portable – good for camping, beach parties, and more, A couple packs of Pit Barrell Cooker Co. Rubs (Beef, Game, All-Purpose).