Just got my first smoker

[MileHighGrowler]

(11-17-2021, 12:28 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I don't know a lot about smoking but I know there is a big difference between cooking fresh meat and meat that has been frozen. My parents raised cattle for years. I like having free beef but the freezing breaks down the cells and releases most of the moisture. It just is not as good as fresh.

I always prefer fresh, but I've frozen ribs, roasts, briskets, pork butts, turkeys, chickens, tri-tip, etc. and as long as it's vacuum sealed and not in the freezer too long, I've never had an issue with the taste or texture.  Especially when smoking, there's usually some element of fat being added (butter, tallow) and moisture doesn't seem to be much of a problem.  But yes, if I could pick every time between fresh and frozen, I'd go fresh.