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

Start the grill Most pitmasters agree that ribs should be cooked over low heat (about 250 to 300 degrees) for several hours, but recipes can differ. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 4 July 2025

But, as any great pitmaster knows, simplicity is deceptively difficult. —Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

With ample cooking space, precise digital temperature control and classic vertical design, it's built for pitmasters in the making. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025

Now restaurants that had been open for decades suddenly had lines out the door; customers were asking pitmasters for autographs. —Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025

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
• headmaster
• newscaster
• paymaster
• pilaster
• postmaster
• roadmaster
• schoolmaster