It’s kind of weird how the thought of buying a new grill brings out my inner caveman. Maybe it’s because fire wrangling is embedded deep down in our DNA. Maybe it’s because Tim the Tool Man from Home Improvement comes to mind and triggers my primal grunting responses. Maybe it’s because many of today’s modern grills and smokers are the modern-day evolution of how to speak in the age-old language of smoke signals.
These unique cooking vessels allow us to harness the power of fire and smoke and magically infuse foods with special flavors and textures that just can’t be created in the kitchen.
These cookers, and the cool tools and accessories we use to tame them, are the barrier to entry in the pitmaster club. Some of these grills solve a very specific problem, and others are universally useful. All are beloved in their own way. It’s a food problem similar to potato chips. How do you stop at just one?