Pro tip: went with the offset smoker over a pellet grill for competition season

I had to choose between a $1,200 offset smoker and a $1,500 pellet grill for my first comp in Kansas City last fall. Picked the offset because I wanted real control over the fire. First cook went great but the second one I let the temp drop during a rain storm and ruined a whole pork shoulder. Has anyone else had a similar gamble backfire on them at a comp?

2 comments

2 Comments

jade_hunt486d ago

Well hold on, you didn't ruin that shoulder from the offset smoker being a gamble. It sounds like you just had a bad day with the weather. An offset smoker needs you to stay on top of it rain or shine, and that's just part of the game. A pellet grill would have choked on the rain too if it got wet or if the wind killed your fire pot, trust me on that. You made the right choice for competition because judges want that real smoke flavor, not the fake stuff pellets give off. Just build a simple tarp shelter next time and youll be fine.

julia_hayes1d agoTop Commenter

Three inches of rain in two hours during a competition? That's brutal. I would have just packed up and accepted the loss honestly. Respect to anyone who can keep a fire going through that kind of monsoon.