pitmaster
noun
pit·mas·ter
ˈpit-ˌma-stər 
variants
or pit master
plural pitmasters or pit masters
: a person who oversees the cooking done in a barbecue pit : a professional or skilled barbecuer
"This is good, really good," Allan says, tasting pitmaster Scott Smith's first cured pork belly. "I wouldn't change a thing."—
John T. Edge
John T. EdgeHe was one of Houston's most celebrated pitmasters and helped to kick off the barbecue renaissance here.—J. C. Reid
J. C. ReidRobert Polk, the pit master I met earlier this morning, comes in carrying a gorgeous brisket fresh from the smoker and hands it off to Smitty, who starts slicing it to make sandwiches and plates.—Patricia Sharpe
Patricia SharpeExamples of pitmaster in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Neighbors collaborate on town ventures while everyone—from artists to pitmasters—sprinkles a sense of history into Dunedin’s next chapter.
—Katie Strasberg Rousso, Southern Living, 12 July 2025
Some restaurants are perhaps better defined by their pitmasters than their style, such as at Carey Bringle's Peg Leg Porker.
—Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
As any pitmaster will tell you, true BBQ (barbecue) is slow cooking for hours with low, indirect heat using hardwood as fuel.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2025
Mary Sue’s is from Hunt County pitmaster and caterer Eddie Deen, known for serving lunch to thousands at Texas and presidential inaugurations.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitmaster
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Katie Strasberg Rousso, Southern Living, 12 July 2025
Some restaurants are perhaps better defined by their pitmasters than their style, such as at Carey Bringle's Peg Leg Porker.
—Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
As any pitmaster will tell you, true BBQ (barbecue) is slow cooking for hours with low, indirect heat using hardwood as fuel.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2025
Mary Sue’s is from Hunt County pitmaster and caterer Eddie Deen, known for serving lunch to thousands at Texas and presidential inaugurations.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pitmaster
Cite this Entry
“Pitmaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitmaster. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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