pitmaster

noun

pit·​mas·​ter ˈpit-ˌma-stər How to pronounce pitmaster (audio)
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 The competition is a fun way to see pitmasters in action. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024 Australian chefs Jo Barrett and Josh Niland are teaming up for dinner on Saturday, April 13; and L.A. pitmaster Burt Bakman will close out the festival’s first weekend with Texas-style smoked meats on Sunday, April 14. Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024 The thermostat goes from 140 degrees to 350 degrees, and the device includes a programmable menu so that restaurants with multiple pitmasters can deliver the same results. Jill Wendholt Silva, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024 In 2014, the chef and pitmaster brought his grilling expertise to Pearland, a principal city within Houston’s metropolitan area. Kayla Stewart, Bon Appétit, 23 Feb. 2024 An acclaimed pitmaster with his own book of recipes, Horn launched the eponymous West Oakland restaurant in October 2020. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 And smart grilling is one of the latest trends to expand the audience and make things easier for suburban pitmasters. Chris Morris, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024 But in Houston, pitmasters are building on tradition. Kayla Stewart, Bon Appétit, 23 Feb. 2024 Hamm and his wife, Anna Osceola, stopped by Near Southside’s Brix Barbecue around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, pitmaster Jeremiah Jemente said. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pitmaster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pitmaster was in 1984

Dictionary Entries Near pitmaster

Cite this Entry

“Pitmaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitmaster. Accessed 4 May. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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