Barrel House Cooker vs Pit Barrel Cooker- Making the Right Choice

A smoker is one of the most versatile cooking equipment to have. It redefines outdoor cooking, making it easy for you to prepare smoked treats like a pro. With too many options, however, making the right choice is overwhelming. A lot of the smokers may look alike, but they offer different features and innovations.

Undecided about the smoker to buy? Read this quick guide that compares Barrel House Cooker vs Pit Barrel Cooker. By looking at their models, we hope that it will be easier for you to make the right decision.

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A Quick Comparison of Barrel House Cooker vs Pit Barrel Cooker

Take your outdoor cooking experience to the next level with the right equipment. While the options abound, Barrel House and Pit Barrel are two of the top cookers that should be on your radar. Below, we will give you a look at the two products, so you can decide which one is better for your needs.

Cooking System

The two products that we are comparing in this article have a similar cooking system. They both fit in the category of horizontal cookers, which makes them space-efficient. It is a great alternative to horizontal smokers if you have limited space to spare. They both look like a drum from the outside.

It is also worth noting that both offer a set-and-forget functionality. The latter makes it user-friendly. It means that you can do other things while cooking something, so you can become more productive.

Design

When it comes to the design, we are not talking about aesthetics. Instead, it is about how functional and practical the design is. In a Pit Barrel Cooker, the charcoal grate is at the drum’s base. On the top of it, you will find the grilling grate, which is also used for smoking. Above it is where you can hang meats. This means that you will need to bend on the middle grate if you want to flip your meat.

The Barrel House Cooker has a slightly different design, which also makes it a better option. While the set-up is almost the same, one of the biggest differences is that you can move its bottom charcoal basket to the middle and use the top-most part for grilling.

Material

When choosing an outdoor cooker, the material is one of the most important considerations. This is indicative of the overall quality of a product, especially its durability and efficiency.

The Barrel House Cooker is made of a 20-gauge metal barrel. It is built to last, so you can be confident that the durability is second to none. Inside and outside, the cooker is porcelain-enameled, which also helps in improving its quality. Meanwhile, it has stainless steel components. The non-abrasive stand is also a plus, which keeps the cooker stable.

More so, it is also worth pointing out that the different accessories are made of equally impressive materials. For instance, the thermometer and meat hooks are made of stainless steel. Meanwhile, the air intake instruction plate and name plate are made of aluminum. The handles, feet, and lid cleat are zinc-coated steel.

On the other hand, the Pit Barrel Cooker is made of 18-gauge steel, which also has porcelain enamel coating. The latter protects against external elements that can cause premature damage.

Performance

Honestly, the two are almost the same in terms of the performance that they can deliver. They are from two of the most reputable brands in the market, so we are confident that they can deliver unmatched performance. They both heat efficiently and will cook food evenly. These grills and smokers will infuse robust flavors on your food. Best of all, they have intuitive experience, making them perfect even for anyone without vast experience.

Capacity

Do you often cook for a small or large group? Is there a huge space to spare in your garden or patio? The answers to these questions will impact the size of the cooker to buy.

For the Barrel House Cooker, you can hang up to 15 pounds of brisket, four chickens, eight rib racks, and one 30-pound turkey. The hook makes it easier to maximize space efficiency while making sure that food is cooked evenly.

On the other hand, the Pit Barrel Smoker has a 30-gallon drum with a capacity of up to 240 square inches. The manufacturer did not provide specifics about what exactly can fit in the cooker, but we imagine that the capacity will be almost the same as that of the Barrel House Cooker.

Size

Aside from the capacity, it is also important to know the dimensions of the cooker that you will be buying, especially if you have a small patio. For the Barrel House Cooker, below are its dimensions:

Cooking Barrel Diameter: 18 inches
Overall Width: 24.5 inches
Overall Height: 35.5 inches
Overall Depth: 18 inches
Hanging Distance: 22 inches
Weight: 44 pounds

On the other hand, below is a rundown of the dimensions of the Pit Barrel Cooker:

Overall Height: 36 inches
Width: 25 inches
Shipping Weight: 57 pounds

Inclusions

For the best bang for the buck, consider what is included in the package upon purchase. The more accessories come with the cooker, the better. The Barrel House Cooker includes a built-in thermometer, full grate, eight metal hooks, and an accessory wand.

Meanwhile, the Pit Barrel Cooker will have different inclusions depending on the package that you will choose. Here are the four packages available, as well as what you will get in each of them:

PBC Standard: The cheapest of the four options, it includes a 30-gallon steel drum, eight stainless steel hooks, two steel hanging rods, standard grill grate, charcoal basket, wooden hook remover, three-point barrel stand, five-ounce all-purpose pit rub, and five-ounce beef and game pit rub.
PBC Select: It is inclusive of everything that you will find in PBC Standard, as well as a few other inclusions. It has a chimney starter, ash pan, custom fit cover, pit grips, and hinged grate.
PBC Choice: Aside from everything that you will find in PBC Select, the package also includes a sausage, hotdog, and brat hanger, turkey hanger, corn hanger, all-purpose basket hanger, hook tool, bottle opener, and four-pack vertical skewers.
PBC Prime: If you want the best value for every dollar, this is the right choice for you. Aside from all the inclusions in PBC Choice, it also comes with a two-pack vertical skewers, four additional meat hooks, custom grill grate, shaker set, tong, and spatula.

Price

If you are on a budget, then the Barrel House Cooker is a better option. It is economical, but that does not mean that it compromises the overall performance. The base model for the Pit Barrel Cooker is just slightly more expensive. The price, however, should not be an issue since both of them have exceptional quality.
Pit Barrel Cooker vs Barrel House Cooker – Quick Review