Time to get a smoker...

[theGinsue]

I'd like to get a propane smoker for ease of use and consistent temps (and portability to hunting camp). That said, I have/use, & I have always preferred, the side-box type of smoker for charcoal/wood/chips (here's an example of a cheap one that will work fine, especially for beginning). Any time you smoke with heat directly under the items being smoked, you're cooking the meat/food as much as you are smoking it. With the side-box style you get the smoke across the food but less of the direct heat to cause it to "cook".

I strongly advise staying away from the types that use the wood "biscuits". Last I saw, a box of biscuits cost about $20 and you typically go through 3 boxes to smoke a brisket. Wood pellets are good for any style but are made especially for electric auto-feeding smokers where you plug in and can almost walk away until the food is smoked. The pellets aren't as pricey as the biscuits, but they're not as cheap as the wood chunks/chips.

You can end up spending thousands of dollars on high-end smokers, but my brother had a cheap Brinkman barrel smoker from WalMart that he smoked a whitetail deer tenderloin on that I loved (and I usually dislike deer meat). I recommend starting with something inexpensive and easy until you get a feel for it. By then you'll have a better idea of what you like, dislike, can't live without. Inevitably you'll want a BIGGER smoker to be able to do a brisket & ribs at the same time.

For the actual execution of smoking...
As a Missouri boy, raised on smoked BBQ, I love hickory smoked meats, but you have to add in some cherry or apple (or other fruit) wood too or the hickory will impart too much bitterness. I use approx 1/3 fruit wood to 2/3 hickory. Using oak adds a nice mellow flavoring too.

While I haven't participated in some time, I'm a member at: http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/. Which is another great resource.

build your own! that's what real men do!

Um, you missed your gender mark on this comment with TheGrey....she's a lady.