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

He was one of Houston's most celebrated pitmasters and helped to kick off the barbecue renaissance here.

—J. C. Reid

Robert 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

Examples of pitmaster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Texas Monthly and other publications have long employed dedicated barbecue writers who document pitmasters, smokehouses and regional traditions with the same seriousness often given to fine dining. —Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 29 May 2026

Grill, baby, grill This pitmaster (who probably owns a reliable Weber) prefers traditional grilling techniques and flavors with the classic (and signature) grill marks stamped on all his creations. —Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026

Harp Barbecue, run by pitmaster Tyler Harp, told its followers on Instagram that its last day of service would be Saturday. —Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026

At the nonprofit Housing Industry Foundation’s inaugural BBQ & Brews event, more than a dozen of the Bay Area’s top pitmaster teams will compete in several meat-smoking categories and feed the crowd. —Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

pit entry 1 (in barbecue pit) + master entry 1

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pitmaster

• bandmaster
• broadcaster
• cadastre
• disaster
• forecaster
• grandmaster
• headmaster
• newscaster
• paymaster
• pilaster
• postmaster
• roadmaster