BBQ, and smoking, what books to get
 

I am wanting to get into BBQ, Smoking, and making my own sauces/rubs.

Can any of you guys give me recommendations on the best BBQ book? Smokers book? And recipe for sauces and rubs book?

I am also looking for a new smoker, any recommendations on those would be helpful also, I may make my own.

Some suggestions other than books are online forums. Weber has one that relates to their "WSM Smoker", which is a very good smoker from beginner to advanced. Lots of good advice, recipes, hints, etc on there. Also Addicted to BBQ website along with Primo grills and smoker's website. I use all three of them for what I do. I've had a homebuilt smoker, a brinkmann, a traeger, and currently use a primo. My 2 cents.

http://tvwbb.infopop.cc/eve/forums
http://primogrillforum.com/forums/
http://addictedtobbq.proboards.com/index.cgi

I am fairly to new to smoking I have found this site to be outstanding in helping me figure out what I am doing. I have even become the preferred Pitmaster at work.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forums/index.php

Steve Raichles (sp) book the bbq bible is probably the most complete volume of rubs, sauces, marinades and times and temps. I have it and it is very good from beginner to experienced bbq'er

No book but this site is good. Site for the Weber Smokey Mountain...good no-fuss starting smoker around to 200-300 price point. Recipes apply to anything though.

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/

eddheadforum is a great online forum. The Big Green Egg is IMO the best grill/smoker/oven around. You will pay for it if you want to go that route, but it is worth it.

There are all kinds recipes for everything from rubs to pork shoulder to sides and sauces. If you are into "beer can chicken" and like it a little spicy try the spicy drunken chicken. I have had many people tell me it is the best chicken they have ever had.

The BBQ Bible is what I use. Good shit in there.

www.smokering.net
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Thanks for the info so far guys.

I am really wanting a smoker with bottom heat and large water tray.

Any reason why you're wanting something like that? I've had a bullet like that, as well as a propane smoker and my offset wood smoker, and if I had to do it over again would start right off with the offset box and never look back.

2nd.

This is the best book to get started.

others

Dr. BBQ's Big Time BBQ cookbook

Mike Mills Peace, Love and Barbecue

I have all three but Paul Kirk's book is the one I keep going back to.

As for smokers with a water pan try Backwoods or Spicewine. But a weber 22.5 WSM is good way to get started.

THIS!!!!

I received the book "Smoke & Spice" from my brother when I first got into smoking years ago. Some of the best rub recipes you'll find. Willie's Wunderful rub is a staple, and can be modified for more/less heat quite easily.

And I'd go with an offset firebox. I have an old Brinkman's Pitmaster Deluxe. I could use a new one, but this one dials into 210 degrees so easy it's hard for me to think about getting a different one.

http://www.barbecuebible.com/store/index.php#bbqusa

Most of these books are good.

Raichlen does a great job of explaining stuff for a n00b.

This place is at 39th and Main Street, KCMO (next door-ish to Wild Oats)

Phoenix Herbs

It's where I buy the spices to make my rubs. Good prices esp. if you're buying more than an oz, and they have good turnover, everything is fresh. If you're going to look at the lights on the Plaza, go a little early and stock up on spices. I've been doing bidness with 'em under one name or another since they were in the River Quay (before the mob blew it up).

Just had several people tell me to get the fire below, but I found a good deal on an offset box brinkman the other day. Maybe I should consider it

Yes, do. Whomever is telling you to get the fire below isn't serious about smoking. JMO.

This one has some great recipes and stories.

http://www.amazon.com/John-Willingha.../dp/0688132871

I like Steve Raichlen's books because he writes as much about techniques and equipment as he does about recipes.

I frequently visit the virtual weber bullet site. Good information and nice people.

Oh, and another good one is CP, which is why I'm about to start a smoked turkey thread.

Okay thanks, they have something like this one at Home depot fro 130

http://joeknepper.com/sitebuilder/im...er-369x340.jpg

I bought the WSM because so many people love the results and ease of use, but I confess that I want to get and off set. What do you see as the most important differences?

What's wrong with using a bullet smoker? I have three of them and I'd bet that my BBQ is just as 'serious' as yours.

What are the three things you like best about your WSM?

Temperature control. Once these things are broken in, I can do a 16 hour cook with very little tweaking to the fire.

Portability. I do cooks for people off site all of the time. The bullets are easy to break down and take to parks, campsites, other peoples' homes, etc.

Flexibility. I have a cold smoker setup for my bullet, which enables me to smoke cheese. I love it. I can also break down my bullet and turn it into a grill in a matter of seconds if needed. Great for crisping chicken skin when I don't have a grill nearby.

I just got done curing and smoking some bellies to give out for xmas. That bacon is always a big hit. I honestly can't think of anything you can do in an offset that you can't do in a bullet, unless we're doing a hog. :D

This!

For those considering a cheap offset you will find more frustration than good results. The metal is usually too thin to keep good temp contol and they usually require several mods to be effective. Go with the WSM bullet or a Big green egg and you wont be sorry. Alot of teams use these set ups on the competition circut.

For what it's worth, I love my WSM and everything I've smoked in it!

But I am a noob with no experience with an offset :)

My wife got me this one for X-mas, now if I can find some time to sit down and thumb through it.

http://www.patiodaddiobbq.com/images...stBBQCover.jpg

1 Link Weber
Grilling tips, and nice recipe section. 48
2 Link BBQ University
PBS cooking show, expand your tailgate menu with these great recipes. 98
3 Link K.C. BBQ Society
Have fun!

All of the above websites are full of great info, sorry, you will have to look up the links, or go to my website and look up the bbq links page, ho ho ho!

Well today I picked up this book

http://www.steaktenderizer.com/image...o_grill_lg.jpg


And got one of these handy dandy fellers.

http://images.ewins.com/digital_asse...904069&mdx=300

Great book. Probably the most applicable of his I have seen. Really good techniques in there.

Yeah so far it looks great, I have the small problem of getting hungry as **** when I read these books....

The "How to Grill" book is a good book. Let us know how your thermometer pans out.

I'm a cheater. I just bought a new digital electric smoker.

http://www.electricsmokerpro.com/Bra...-p/btds76p.htm

Didn't you have a Masterbuilt one before? Or am I going fooking nuts.

Yeah, I used it too much and wore it out. Had to get a new one.

LOL

So do you like the Bradley better? Is it a better machine? Are those wood patty things more expensive?

I can't imagine a book with any better info than you'll find here:
http://forum.cookshack.com/eve/forums

DT

He he.. and guys give me a hard time about my cookshack! ROFL

DT

Just got it ordered as a Christmas present. Haven't used it yet.