How to Choose the Right BBQ Pit or Smoker for Your Grilling Style

Have you developed your favorite grilling style yet? If you have, then choosing the right grill or smoker to match your preferences is the next step to true grill mastery.

Here at Lone Star Grillz we make custom grills and smokers supporting every grill master's style. Here's what you need to know.

The Different Grilling Styles

There are four basic grilling styles.

Direct grilling involves cooking food directly over a heat source at high heat. This is the style most beginners are familiar with.

Hamburgers and steaks both respond well to direct grilling, but you can't get some of the more advanced BBQ delights this way.

Then there's indirect grilling. You cook the food next to the heat source rather than on it, and cook it at lower temperatures. It's great for whole chickens and roasts.

Smoking allows you to cook food slowly over low heat while adding flavor while using wood smoke. Use it for brisket or ribs.

Finally there's cold smoking, which allows you to use smoke to preserve and flavor food without cooking it. Cold smoking is great for cheese and certain types of fish.

Which grills support each style?

Charcoal grills like our Santa Maria Grill do a good job of supporting direct and indirect grilling. The Santa Maria even has an adjustable grilling grate allowing you to either sit your meat right atop the fire or raise it high above.

Pellet grills support both grilling and smoking.

Offset smokers support all forms of smoking, even cold smoking. All you must do is keep your temperature between 68°F and 86°F while adding beer or wine to infuse your food with flavor.

We have several smokers capable of allowing you to cook massive amounts of meat in one go. If you routinely have many people to feed, any one of these larger smokers could be the way to go.

If you love all forms of grilling, try the El Patron. This is a hot box style cooker allowing you to do direct grilling, indirect grilling, baking, searing, rotisserie, and even pizza. It's the perfect option for the highly versatile chef who doesn't want any limits.

Not sure which pit is the perfect option for you?

Grills and smokers are all we do!

Call us to ask our expert opinion. Tell us exactly how you anticipate using your grill and we'll make a recommendation. We're even happy to create a custom grill and smoker trailer for you so you can take your BBQ show on the road.

We love BBQ as much as you do, and are happy to speak with you