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

In short order, a Bon Appétit editor named it the best barbecue in the country, and Franklin became the first pitmaster to receive a James Beard Award for best chef. —Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025

Here, guests can dig into his smoky meals, check out daily cooking demos from Guy and other pitmaster pros, and even see special guests like Whiskey Myers and Shaboozey stop by. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2025

Erica Blaire is an award-winning competition pitmaster and Food Network Master of ‘Cue Barbecue Champion How To Grill Baby Back Ribs Play it Straight Choose racks of ribs with straighter bones that lay flat on the grill. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025

Owner Jared Leonard and former general manager and pitmaster Patrick Klaiber confirmed both the closure and the walkout Monday. —Miguel Otárola, The Denver Post, 4 Mar. 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