BBQ schmo to BBQ pro

Fette Sau

Unlike a commercial smoker which burns all wood and no charcoal, home smokers need a combination of both. And unlike grilling—where you’re looking at about an hour from the time you light the coals until your food’s on the table, backyard barbecue is a long, involved process.

You’re facing anywhere from eight to 10 hours of smoking, so if you’re planning an afternoon feast, you’ll be up early to get things rolling and constantly checking in on your meat to make sure the smoke and heat levels are where you want them. This ain’t tailgating over a mini-Weber while throwing back some Miller Chills, my friend—this is an honest day’s work.