Commercial Outdoor Barbecue & Smokers

Selecting a Commercial Smoker for Your Business

If you want your barbecued foods and smoked meats to stand out, you need the right equipment. A reasonably priced commercial smoker not only affects the texture and flavor, but it also influences the number of mouths you can feed. This handy guide lists the types of commercial smokers available on eBay and highlights important factors to consider before selecting a model for your business.

The main difference between models is the fuel source. So, consider the type of fuel you plan to use to narrow your choice. The smokers for sale on eBay include:

• Charcoal - Since these smokers produce large amounts of carbon monoxide, they must be used outdoors. They also require a hands-on approach to maintain consistent heat levels.
• Wood pellets - These smokers cook foods evenly, allowing you to bake, smoke, and grill a variety of foods outdoors.
• Electric - Since electric smokers create heat and steam (as opposed to smoke), they are ideal for indoor use. Generally, chefs add wood chips or pellets to a commercial electric smoker to give foods a rich, smoky flavor.
• Liquid propane - This type of smoker operates with a liquid propane gas tank, which makes it easy to move your smoker from location to location.
• Natural gas - These smokers use gas from a utility company and operate through a direct pipeline installed in an indoor or outdoor kitchen without producing a bunch of smoke. Like electric models, you can add wood chips to enhance the flavor of foods.

After you decide what type of smoker you want based on fuel source, consider the five Cs: capacity, control, configuration, construction, and convenience.

• Capacity: To serve a crowd of people within a short time frame, look for a reasonably priced used commercial smoker for sale with racks for cooking different types of food with at least a 500-square-inch cooking area.
• Control: The ability to control and adjust the temperature not only keeps you from burning foods, but it also reduces the time spent checking the food.
• Configuration: You'll find reasonably priced commercial smokers for sale with a variety of configurations: offset (barrel-shape with a separate firebox for fuel), vertical (available with single and double doors,), compact (installed underneath a counter), and rotisserie (rotates the meats).
• Construction: Stainless-steel construction performs well under high temperatures and prevents the smoker from fading and rusting, providing years of use.
• Convenience: Opt for commercial-grade smokers with drip pans and removable grates to make cleanup easier.

The type of smoker you buy depends upon your personal preferences and how much money you want to spend. First, determine what type of fuel source you want to use. Next, determine what size of smoker you need to accomplish you serving requirements. Finally, determine the features you want with the smoker like construction and shape.