Tips For Buying Or Building a BBQ Pit Or Charcoal Smoker

When I cook over any kind of outdoor BBQ pit, I like to use a charcoal smoker. I like the flavor that charcoal and wood put into the meat and there is no other way of duplicating that flavor other than using the real thing. Woods that I use in addition to the charcoal currently include apple, hedge, and hickory. Right now I use two different types of BBQ smokers.

smoker box for gas grill

My main smoker is a horizontal barrel type charcoal smoker with an offset firebox. One of the main reasons I like this charcoal smoker so much is that you can use it as a smoker or as a grill. It has plenty of room to fit big cuts of meat such as beef brisket or ribs. Using the smoker is fairly self explanatory. If you are slow cooking a cut of meat, build your fire in the fire box on the end and place your cut of meat in the middle of the grill area. You will have to set the vents on the end and on the top to try and maintain a constant temperature. Basically, you want to create a "draw" that pulls the heat and smoke from the fire across the meat and out the top. If you are grilling hamburgers or steaks, just build your fire in the main barrel, directly underneath your meat like you would any other grill.

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The other smoker that I use is an upright barrel type charcoal smoker. These types of smokers have a place to build the fire at the bottom with the main grill part towards the top of the barrel. Many smokers of this style also have a pan in between the fire and the grill that you can fill with water to keep moisture in the meat. I do not use this pan since I have other methods of keeping the meat moist. I have found that this type of smoker works great for cooking chicken and smaller cuts of meat such as roast. It is rather difficult to cook larger cuts of meat such as brisket or ribs. Also, the meat sits directly over the fire, which I don't like to do for the larger cuts that have to cook slow. Chicken can cook a little faster. One advantage of the upright style smoker over the horizontal style smoker is price. The upright style is cheaper due to its smaller size. Just keep in mind what cuts of meat that you will be cooking if you are shopping for a charcoal smoker and make sure what you buy will accommodate your preferences.

There are also many different types of gas and electric smokers. Many people enjoy using these and have used them with excellent results. They are a little cleaner to use and easier to get the fire started. Again, my preference for a charcoal smoker is simply because of flavor. Homemade bbq pits and smokers are quite common as well.

Tips For Buying Or Building a BBQ Pit Or Charcoal Smoker

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Charcoal Smoker Grills - Grilling and Meat Smoking in One Package

The smell and flavor of smoked meats and BBQ is perhaps the essence of the American summer. When the heat begins to rise, outdoor cooking becomes a favorite pastime. This is the moment where we bring family and friends together to have good food and great fun under the sun.

smoker bbq

For all those mouth-watering meats, you're going to need a good and sturdy grill. It's the perfect time to start looking for a charcoal smoker grill that will fit your purpose. Charcoal smoker grills come in many shapes and sizes, and some even have additional features. Charcoal smoker grills have superior cooking abilities. You can either cook indirectly or directly over them. With multiple vents, you have optimal control. These grills have large cooking areas, so that there's plenty of space to grill all the goodies. Many have optional rotisserie kits as well.

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There are some grills with an incredible ability to maintain lower temperatures for extended periods. This is the best condition where you can slow cook your meat until it becomes perfectly tender and juicy. You'll also want to own a grill that can cook fast without burning the food.

Some of the additional features you might find will include temperature control (hot on the inside but cool on the outside) and airflow control systems, designs similar to those of gas grills with the benefit of charcoal use, innovative charcoal baskets, lighting mechanisms, and cranks that can change the grate height. You'll find grills made from a variety of materials, from aluminum to stainless steel, to heavy porcelain-coated cast iron. Whether you want the traditional barrel style or the more modern style, you're bound to find whatever it is you want for your summertime BBQ fun. From the mostly stationary to the extremely portable grills, it's already out there in the shops.

Charcoal smoker grills are a must have for Americans. There's something that fits every person's budget, so it will be easy for you to find the right grill.

There are multiple brands of charcoal grills in the market these days. From the basics such as Weber One Touch Silver and Old Smokey Classic, to the more technologically advanced grills such as the Big Green Egg, Napoleon Charcoal Grill, and the Grillery Standard. We have tons of great places available where you can start looking for your charcoal smoker grill. Purchase the one that has a bunch of added features at the best deal you can get it for. Of course, we can't always expect to get everything we want and need in one grill, but we can buy a few add-ons to make it perfect for us.

Charcoal Smoker Grills - Grilling and Meat Smoking in One Package

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Warning - Is A Charcoal Turkey Smoker A Better Way To Cook A Turkey? You Decide!

If you are looking for a charcoal turkey smoker, you are not alone.

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Many people agree that a smoked turkey makes the very best holiday main course. If you've always roasted your Thanksgiving or Christmas bird, you may be wondering what the differences are between the roasted and the smoked version.

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When you read this article through to the end, you will not only learn the answer, but also find out how you can get the best deal on a turkey smoker on sale in time for the holidays.

How is smoking a turkey different from roasting one?

Here are the main differences:
Smoking is a much slower process - it will take around 10 hours to smoke a 16 pound bird. Smoking imparts a distinctive "smokey" flavor to the bird that can not be duplicated in a kitchen oven. Smoked turkey has a more pinkish color and a smoother texture than a roasted one, because smoking actually results in a chemical change in the turkey which causes this.

All in all, a smoked turkey has a lot more flavor and is more moist and tender than an oven roasted turkey.

Shopping online is the best way to get a great deal on a turkey smoker.

It is so frustrating to run around to all the stores this time of year looking for sales, only to find that what you are looking for is sold out!

When you shop online, however, you can jump from site to site with just a few clicks of your mouse and without leaving your chair. When you shop this way, you can easily find out which stores carry your item and which stores are having sales.

You can shop for your item, make a decision, purchase it, and then sit back and wait for it to be delivered all within a few minutes - and many sites offer really fast, and even free, delivery options. Shopping online is a great way to find a great deal on a charcoal turkey smoker!

Warning - Is A Charcoal Turkey Smoker A Better Way To Cook A Turkey? You Decide!

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How to Use Your Charcoal Grill As a Smoker

Ever wanted to smoke a brisket or salmon but could not because all you have is the normal round backyard charcoal grill? Well you can and you also can smoke foods just like a pro. See the key to smoking is cooking slow and low. This means long cook times and low cook temperatures. The idea is to indirectly cook the foods with the heat from the smoke and not the fire itself. Most think the only way to cook this way is to buy another grill that is made for just smoking. Not true. Not even close. Below is the steps you take to turn your charcoal grill into a smoker pit.

smoker box for gas grill

In order to do this, you just need a few simple items. Most of which you likely have around the house already. Here is your list:

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Standard charcoal grill

Wood for smoking. (mesquite, hickory, or oak) You can find these in the grill section of your favorite store.

A metal 2 quart pan - To place the wood chips in. A porcelain bowl that is used in smokers can be purchased.

Water - To soak the wood chips in

Charcoal - NEVER use charcoal with lighter fluid infused, you will taste it in the food. Just stick with plain charcoal.

First you must soak your wood chips in water and any other seasonings that you want to use. Remember this will accent the taste of the food. After you have thoroughly soaked the wood chips place them in your 2 quart metal pan or bowl with about 2 cups of water.

Place this bowl of chips directly in the middle of where you normally place your charcoals.

Now place your coals on both sides of the bowl of wood chips. Light your coals and once they are hot and your wood has begun to smoke it's time to place your meat on the grill. Keep in mind that your food must stay directly above the water pan. Close your grill lid and close all openings.

Keep the grill temperature around 190 degrees and use a meat thermometer to determine when your food is done. Add coals and more water as needed - about every hour.

How to Use Your Charcoal Grill As a Smoker

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Building a "Fire" in Your Charcoal Water Smoker

Building a "Fire" in your Charcoal Water Smoker is as easy as lighting the charcoal. All you need is a quality charcoal, a charcoal chimney, and a wad of newspaper. Maintaining a consistent temperature in your smoker is a different story.

smokers outpost

About fifteen minutes after you light your initial batch of charcoal, it will be ready for your water smoker. You can easily pour it in the fire pan, insert the water pan and grill grates. After that, all you need to do is slap on the meat and put on the lid. If that's all you had to do, then you would be set. Come back in three to five hours (depending upon the weight of your meat), and it will be ready. Right? If you do that, you'll will be sorely disappointed.

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In order to maintain a temperature of 225 degrees, you are going to need to be adding additional hot charcoal every 45 - 60 minutes. Considering it takes approximately 15 minutes to light the charcoal, you need to be lighting a new batch ever 30 - 45 minutes.

One big downfall of a less expensive smoker is that it can be difficult to access the fire pan. There is a small door in the front that gives you access to the water and fire pans. You have a couple of options here. You can insert the hot coals through the small door with a set of barbecue tongs. I've done this many times and it works pretty good. I would recommend wearing a pair of gloves if you take this approach.

Another suggestion is to make modifications to your water smoker. One recommended mod is to install the legs on the outside of the smoker and place the fire pan on top of stacked bricks or pavers. This way all you will need to do is lift the smoker in order to empty the ashes and add hot coals.

The Minion Method is another way to use charcoal. This method involves loading the fire pan with unlit charcoal and placing hot coals on top. As the red hot coals burn, they will slowly light the unlit charcoal below.

Regardless of the method you use, just make sure you maintain the internal temperature between 200 and 250 degrees. A good rule of thumb is one hour per pound of meat. Part of the joy of smoking meat comes from the process involved. Best of luck and happy smoking!

Building a "Fire" in Your Charcoal Water Smoker

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Looking For A Charcoal Turkey Smoker? Better Read This First!

Are you looking for charcoal smokers on sale?

smoker barbecue grill

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, lots of people are looking for a charcoal turkey smoker now.

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Most folks look for charcoal smokers for meat during the prime BBQ months - the summer grilling season. However, many smoker owners who have prepared a turkey this way swear that smoking a turkey is the absolutely tastiest way to prepare your holiday main course.

But there is a potential problem you must be aware of if you want to cook your bird this way. Read through this article to find out what you need to know to use a successfully smoke a turkey and also to have a good shopping experience for a smoker.

Smoking a turkey - what could go wrong?

If you use your turkey smoker correctly, you will have a terrific holiday dinner. But to do that, you must keep your smoker at the right temperature to cook your turkey to 165 degrees F. Less than this can have ill effects on the health of all dining!

Here are three things you can do to help your smoker cook your turkey correctly:

Set the smoker temperature high enough, and recognize that wind and cold may have an effect (higher quality smokers are not as affected by weather). If you run the smoker at a temperature range of 220 degrees F - 240 degrees F it will take about 30 - 40 minutes per pound to cook your turkey. Try to stick to smoking a 12 - 16 pound bird. A smaller bird will smoke up fine, but if you go larger than 20lbs. you may be facing an increased risk of food contamination. Using a good, quick read meat thermometer is a must! It must be very reliable and it should register the temperature of the turkey quickly. Test it in two places - away from the bone and preferably in dark meat sections, which cook more slowly than white meat.A properly smoked turkey will be more pink than what you may be accustomed to if you have always roasted your bird, so using a thermometer is crucial. As long as the temperature is 165 F, your turkey is safe to eat regardless of the color.

It is easy to research turkey smokers or smokers for meat online.

You can easily check out lots of smokers online - choosing one that takes any guesswork out of correct temperatures is a cinch!

Instead of running to each of the physical stores that sell various smokers reading product descriptions on boxes, or talking to sales clerks who may not have even ever used a smoker themselves, you can sit comfortably at your computer and compare all of the units and buyers' reviews on each online.

You can save lots of time this way finding a great smoker which will safely smoke a turkey!

Looking For A Charcoal Turkey Smoker? Better Read This First!

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