WSM vs. Ceramic (BGE, Kamado, etc..)

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I know from reading this site, the WSM is a purposebuilt smoker and not really intended for grilling. The ceramic types are mainly grills with the ability, using firebricks, to do some indirect stuff like smoking.

Price excluded, which is quite a bit between the two, how do they compare? Has anyone here had the chance to use both? If so, what's you're opinion? Pro's and Con's.

One or the other would be an addition to a fairly large and versatile grill/smoker combo that I've already got. It would mainly be used for extended cooking sessions. Maybe anything over 5 or 6 hours.
 
Check out the Backwoods Smoker. The Party model has a removal water pan, so that it can be suitable for direct cooking. Pull out racks, with some other options that are available.

Backwoods Smoker

Jim
 
A gentleman called Q.N.E.tyme cooks on WSMs and a BGE and has cooked side by side to compare. He reports that there is little difference in the way both cooker do low and slow, with product very good on both.
As to grilling, there are those that grill on a WSM but it was not made for that as you said.
Both cookers offer something the other doesn't do as well (WSM as grill, BGE it's portabilty and cost).
Jim
 
Those backwoods (commercial) smokers are very similar to the type ovens that chinese restaurants use to cook spareribs, and we all know how good those are!

have you used one before, if so, how was it?
 
You can drop the lid on a WSM and it won't break vs the BGE. For the $ you can have
two WSM's and a nice Weber kettle. After surfing the BGE site it appears folks have quite
a few problems with those things. Cracks, broken hinges, other broken parts. Might rust out a grill on a WSM but pick up another one at hardware store for a few bucks.
 
Theo,
No I have never cooked on one. I am seriously considering buying one though. It seems to be quite similar to the WSM, with pull out shelves.
I'm going to be attending a bbq cookoff event, at the Harpoon Brewery, Vt. this weekend. Garry Howard, of the Smokering Team, has offered me to take a look at the Backwoods Smoker that he uses. He uses the Competitor model, and has nothing but good things to say about it.

Jim
 
Boy does the Backwoods Smoker look like a winner. Insulation like what the ceramic of a BGE provides. Multiple racks, and then some, like the WSM. Steel so as not to crack like ceramic. Multiple sizes to fit the customers needs. They've sure got it together.

Wish I had seen it before buying my current unit, but maybe I'll take a look at the patio or party as my needs aren't that large.

Jim Morrissey,
I'm guessing that you've not seen one in person, right? Once you get the chance to see one, I would be interested to hear about the construction of the Backwoods. What size would you get? What size would compare with the WSM? I'd assume the patio by the measurements, but you guys have the experinece.

Thanks
 
Well BGE is not the only Ceramic out there and the other two have very loyal followings. Details are on my website click the little house. Ceramic cookers can get very hot, hotter than I'd want to get a WSM for fear of melting plastic and aluminum parts. As a smoker I don't think the product is better or worse than a WSM. For the money two WSM's and a one touch Platinum would be much more appealing to me than a ceramic for many reasons including way more cooking capacity.
Just my $0.02,
 
Have never visted your website. But I trust your making cookers equal or better than the WSM. Maybe I missed the point of what the origial poster, was questioning, but I doubt it.

Jim
 
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