Here’s a partial inventory of the equipment I own and use. I’m constantly acquiring new equipment, tools, gadgets, etc. so this list is constantly growing. If you see something you like, contact the manufacturer and be sure you tell them you heard about it from my site!
Weber Smokey Mountain
The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker, or WSM, is designed to produce barbecued meats slow cooked over charcoal and smoke wood. Properly fueled and adjusted, it’ll consistently produce competition quality ‘cue. Comes in two sizes (18 ½” and 22 ½”). The 18 ½” WSM will accommodate two whole beef briskets, or a whole large turkey, or four entire Boston butts, or up to eight slabs of trimmed St. Louis style spare ribs. It’s probably all most of us really need for cooking at home. I bought my WSM locally at Village Hardware in Alexandria, VA. They’re a Weber “Alliance” dealer, and as such they have access to the entire Weber product line, as well as exclusive merchandise available only to Alliance dealers. I also buy all my smoke wood, lump charcoal, and various other supplies there. Owner Larry Gray is a real “old school” hardware store guy, and that’s a good thing. If you don’t live in the metro DC area, WSMs are usually available through your local hardware store. Don’t bother trying to find the WSM at big box stores like Home Depot or Lowes because they don’t carry them. Anyway, you should be supporting local small businesses, so find your local dealer and give him a shot. If all else fails, they are also available online.
Cajun Bandit Stainless Steel Replacement Door for WSM
Chris Perres of Cajun Bandit makes a number of aftermarket replacement parts to make your WSM even better. I purchased his stainless steel replacement door, a real upgrade from the original stamped metal door, which is just too flimsy for my taste. The Cajun Bandit door is handmade of heavy gauge stainless steel and I think it does a much better job of heat retention than the stock one. In addition to doors, Chris also makes replacement charcoal rings and a conversion kit that allows you to convert a 22” Weber Kettle into a smoker. Check them out at C&C Grillin’ Company.
BBQ Guru Caldera Tallboy
The Caldera Tallboy is a high capacity, quality smoker. With 17 positions for its 13"x22" shelves, it’s designed so that standard steam tables fit perfectly in the cooking shelf tracks. The Tallboy is super versatile, too. You can do low and slow smoking, cold smoking (e.g. smoked cheese and jerky), grilling and you can even deep fry on it. You can break it down flat for transport, too. The Tallboy really holds a steady temperature, and it works especially well with hardwood lump charcoal. To give you an idea of the Tallboy’s capacity, I used it to cook brisket for 60 people last December, and we had lots of leftovers! Available from The BBQ Guru.
BBQ Guru Onyx Everything Oven
The Onyx is my newest smoker and it is already my favorite. The Onyx features insulated, double wall construction and air tight doors, making it very fuel-efficient. That translates into long burn times with very low charcoal consumption. It is made for use with a stainless steel catering pan to be used as a removable water/drip pan, which allows the Onyx to be used as a water smoker, a dry smoker, a grill or even a roasting or warming oven. It holds any combination of three 13"x22" shelves or full size catering pans. According to the BBQ Guru, it can hold approximately six pork butts, six racks of St. Louis spare ribs, two packer briskets or up to 64 chicken thighs. It only weighs 84 lbs, so it’s relatively easy to move, too.
Santa Maria Tailgater
I picked up my Santa Maria grill in Santa Maria, CA at the local Home Depot. Santa Maria style BBQ is characterized by open pit cooking a thick cut of beef, typically tri-tip or top block, over red oak coals. The beef is seasoned with a rub consisting of salt, pepper, parsley and garlic. The red oak gives the beef a unique smoke flavor distinct from the white or Acadian oak I use out here. Fortunately, I was able to find an online source for red oak so I’ve got a supply for use on this grill. As for the grill itself, the most unique feature is the pulley style setup for the cooking grate that allows precise adjustment over the coals. I really like this grill and it’s going to get some serious use in 2010. Available from Santa Maria Grill Outfitters.
BBQ Guru CyberQ II
My “go-to” temperature controller. Reliable, ruggedly built and unsurpassed customer service. Available from The BBQ Guru.
Weber Smokey Mountain
The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker, or WSM, is designed to produce barbecued meats slow cooked over charcoal and smoke wood. Properly fueled and adjusted, it’ll consistently produce competition quality ‘cue. Comes in two sizes (18 ½” and 22 ½”). The 18 ½” WSM will accommodate two whole beef briskets, or a whole large turkey, or four entire Boston butts, or up to eight slabs of trimmed St. Louis style spare ribs. It’s probably all most of us really need for cooking at home. I bought my WSM locally at Village Hardware in Alexandria, VA. They’re a Weber “Alliance” dealer, and as such they have access to the entire Weber product line, as well as exclusive merchandise available only to Alliance dealers. I also buy all my smoke wood, lump charcoal, and various other supplies there. Owner Larry Gray is a real “old school” hardware store guy, and that’s a good thing. If you don’t live in the metro DC area, WSMs are usually available through your local hardware store. Don’t bother trying to find the WSM at big box stores like Home Depot or Lowes because they don’t carry them. Anyway, you should be supporting local small businesses, so find your local dealer and give him a shot. If all else fails, they are also available online.
Cajun Bandit Stainless Steel Replacement Door for WSM
Chris Perres of Cajun Bandit makes a number of aftermarket replacement parts to make your WSM even better. I purchased his stainless steel replacement door, a real upgrade from the original stamped metal door, which is just too flimsy for my taste. The Cajun Bandit door is handmade of heavy gauge stainless steel and I think it does a much better job of heat retention than the stock one. In addition to doors, Chris also makes replacement charcoal rings and a conversion kit that allows you to convert a 22” Weber Kettle into a smoker. Check them out at C&C Grillin’ Company.
BBQ Guru Caldera Tallboy
The Caldera Tallboy is a high capacity, quality smoker. With 17 positions for its 13"x22" shelves, it’s designed so that standard steam tables fit perfectly in the cooking shelf tracks. The Tallboy is super versatile, too. You can do low and slow smoking, cold smoking (e.g. smoked cheese and jerky), grilling and you can even deep fry on it. You can break it down flat for transport, too. The Tallboy really holds a steady temperature, and it works especially well with hardwood lump charcoal. To give you an idea of the Tallboy’s capacity, I used it to cook brisket for 60 people last December, and we had lots of leftovers! Available from The BBQ Guru.
BBQ Guru Onyx Everything Oven
The Onyx is my newest smoker and it is already my favorite. The Onyx features insulated, double wall construction and air tight doors, making it very fuel-efficient. That translates into long burn times with very low charcoal consumption. It is made for use with a stainless steel catering pan to be used as a removable water/drip pan, which allows the Onyx to be used as a water smoker, a dry smoker, a grill or even a roasting or warming oven. It holds any combination of three 13"x22" shelves or full size catering pans. According to the BBQ Guru, it can hold approximately six pork butts, six racks of St. Louis spare ribs, two packer briskets or up to 64 chicken thighs. It only weighs 84 lbs, so it’s relatively easy to move, too.
Santa Maria Tailgater
I picked up my Santa Maria grill in Santa Maria, CA at the local Home Depot. Santa Maria style BBQ is characterized by open pit cooking a thick cut of beef, typically tri-tip or top block, over red oak coals. The beef is seasoned with a rub consisting of salt, pepper, parsley and garlic. The red oak gives the beef a unique smoke flavor distinct from the white or Acadian oak I use out here. Fortunately, I was able to find an online source for red oak so I’ve got a supply for use on this grill. As for the grill itself, the most unique feature is the pulley style setup for the cooking grate that allows precise adjustment over the coals. I really like this grill and it’s going to get some serious use in 2010. Available from Santa Maria Grill Outfitters.
BBQ Guru CyberQ II
My “go-to” temperature controller. Reliable, ruggedly built and unsurpassed customer service. Available from The BBQ Guru.