When it comes to smoking meat, you should have a smoker that gives you reliable and consistent cooking results. A pellet smoker could be an option if you seek smoky, rich flavors in your meat. It’s ideal for commercial use, particularly for restaurateurs and BBQ enthusiasts who want to satisfy their customers’ taste buds. Here are five features to look for in a commercial pellet smoker:
1. Precise Temperature Control
Pellet smokers are often praised for their consistent, even heat for smoking your barbeque. This heat results from a digital controller that keeps the smoker at the desired temperature without having to adjust it constantly. The controller automatically feeds wood pellets into the firebox to maintain consistent heat and prevent large heat fluctuations that might dry out your meat. Most pellet smokers have a meat probe that allows you to check on the internal temperature of your food. After reaching the desired temperature, the smoker will automatically drop into a rest cycle.
2. Flue Venting
Pellet smokers require proper ventilation to operate seamlessly. Your commercial pellet smoker might feature a flue venting or chimney at the top. This vent does more than bring oxygen into the smoker; it prevents smoke from over-permeating the dishes you are cooking. It’s advisable to keep the flue vent at least partially open when smoking your meat to allow oxygen to reach wood pellets for combustion to take place.
3. Stainless Steel Interior and Exterior
A commercial smoker should be a sturdy appliance to handle large volumes of meat, which is why they are built with high-quality material meant to last for an extended period. A reliable smoker features high-grade steel, like stainless steel, in both its interior and exterior components. This metal is an optimal choice because steel doesn’t warp or bend even when exposed to heat or weight. Another feature of stainless steel is that it cleans easily with warm water, disinfectants or soap, and a microfiber cloth to wipe away any unwanted smudges or streaks.
4. Removable Racks and Shelves
The large cooking chamber in a commercial smoker features removable racks and shelves for flexibility to create more space. Additional space might be useful if you are cooking more than one serving at a time or smoking larger pieces of meat. After smoking your food, you should always clean the racks and shelves before their next use. Removing the racks and shelves allows you to efficiently clean them to get rid of any stubborn gunk or grease.
5. Quality Insulation
A properly insulated pellet smoker allows you to smoke your meat year-round, even in the middle of winter. Proper insulation prevents heat from escaping, which makes your smoker consume fewer pellets and reach higher temperatures faster. Your smoker will also feature sealed seams to prevent moisture from leaking into the insulation. This extends the insulation’s lifespan, allowing your smoker to operate more efficiently with superior heat retention.
Choose Your Commercial Pellet Smoker
Knowing what features a commercial smoker offers makes it easier to choose what could meet the needs of your BBQ restaurant or catered events. Choose a heavy-duty smoker that will accommodate and evenly cook large pieces of meat, multiple vegetables, or other foods on a regular basis. Since this smoker’s fuel source is wood pellets, your meat will have smoky wood flavors that are frequently popular among consumers. Get a quality commercial pellet smoker today and start smoking meat and side dishes for your customers.
