Whereas my love of smoked meats is well-documented, my very own journey into truly tending the hearth began simply final spring after I jumped on the alternative to evaluation the Traeger Woodridge Professional. When Recteq got here calling with an analogous supply to take a look at the Flagship 1600, I figured it will be a great way to remain heat all winter.
Whereas the 2 people who smoke have so much in widespread, the Recteq undoubtedly seems like an improve from the Traeger I’ve been utilizing. Not solely does it have practically twice the cooking house, however the big pellet hopper, rounded barrel, and correct smokestack assist me really feel like an actual pitmaster.
The trade-off is shedding a number of the usability options that make the Woodridge Professional an amazing first smoker. The setup isn’t as fairly as easy, and the bigger footprint and fewer ergonomic circumstances require a bit of extra expertise or endurance. With each choices, wonderful smoked meat is only a few button presses away, however talking as somebody with each of their yard, I’ve been firing up the Recteq extra usually.
Getting Settled
{Photograph}: Brad Bourque
Organising the Recteq wasn’t as time-consuming because the Woodridge, nevertheless it was harder to handle by myself. A number of the steps, like attaching the bull horns to the lid, or flipping the barrel onto its stand, would actually profit from a affected person pal or cherished one. Like most people who smoke, you’ll have to run a burn-in cycle at 400 levels Fahrenheit to ensure there’s nothing left over from manufacturing or delivery. Given the quantity of setup time and wish to chill down the smoker after, I might suggest setting this up Friday afternoon if you wish to smoke on a Saturday.
