Using a charcoal grill as a smoker?

[213th]

Found a few tips and stuff like that. We rent so really no room for a smoker too, so I'm trying to figure out a good setup that I can use with my grill to do some smoking. Anyone ever try it before?

[IMGreat101]

Found a few tips and stuff like that. We rent so really no room for a smoker too, so I'm trying to figure out a good setup that I can use with my grill to do some smoking. Anyone ever try it before?

yup

[sgtbear111]

In the mid 70's I rented a riverfront apt on the Nisqually Reservation in an 8 unit apt bldg. My neighbor was enrolled so he fished the river, no limit any time he wanted to gill net fish. He was a good guy but mved out. He moved in with his g/f, so he sub-let to his 20 yr old son and let him assume paying the lease. Jr. had some loud destructive (fights, etc) parties and the bedroom window became a second door when he punched a ladder thru the glass. I called the SO and FD out there on one occasion and we had a doorway "chat" about a "heating" fire in the bedroom. Power was off due to non payment. So he gets the boot/evicted. The owner was in there cleaning up. The ex-tenant's dad co-signed the lease for the apt and damages and got sued and lost for about $20K in repairs due.

This kid was fishing under his right as an enrolled member, but was smoking all his fish in the bathroom. The toilet was torn up and in the tub shower, it held his alder charcoal (best for smoking fish). The charcoal had melted the fiberglass tub. The rest of the tub shower area was strung with wire and smoked fish. The walls and everything else were slick and smoky brown. I had smelled occ'l faint odors of smoked fish in my bathroom when the fan was on. I love alder-smoked trout, halibut, and salmon, the elusive odor was not offensive to me. The actual toilet used was a hole dug along an outside wall of the bldg.

The rest of the apt was trashed in the usual fashion that low-enders and dopers treat other people's property. MJ paraphernalia, rotten garbage in abundance, furniture broken or half burnt. All the sheet rock, floors, fixtures, and appliances had to be torn out to the framing and replaced. One expensive way to smoke meats while a renter...........

Landlord once, never again.

[213th]

yup

How do you go about it?

[IMGreat101]

How do you go about it?

First I use a charcoal chimney as a starter, never use lighter fluid.

For most meats I use 1/2 chimney full of briquettes.

When charcoal is ready, dump against one side and top with wood of your choice. I use apple or mesquite. We also have some grapevine and mulberry. We do not soak our woods as it dampens the coals and interferes with the heat.

Place grate on grill. If you are using chips, place meat on grill furthest away from wood. If using larger chunks let wood start to burn and then place lid on with vent open (top vent should always be open when cooking.

Position bottom vent to half open.

Open beer, drink.

Cook meat to desired doneness.


This grill smoking will not achieve the same as a proper smoker but the flavor will be there.

[JeffW]

Smoking is usually done at a lower temp than grilling. Most of the meat I smoke is done at 225 degrees. While I have a dedicated smoker, you can smoke on a grill with indirect heat and wood. The meat cannot be directly over the coals, it needs to be off to the side.

[213th]

First I use a charcoal chimney as a starter, never use lighter fluid.

For most meats I use 1/2 chimney full of briquettes.

When charcoal is ready, dump against one side and top with wood of your choice. I use apple or mesquite. We also have some grapevine and mulberry. We do not soak our woods as it dampens the coals and interferes with the heat.

Place grate on grill. If you are using chips, place meat on grill furthest away from wood. If using larger chunks let wood start to burn and then place lid on with vent open (top vent should always be open when cooking.

Position bottom vent to half open.

Open beer, drink.

Cook meat to desired doneness.


This grill smoking will not achieve the same as a proper smoker but the flavor will be there.

That's pretty much on track with what I read online, but I wanted to run it by someone I trust. If it goes wrong, I'm heading over to pay you a visit! I'm only an hour or so away haha.

One thing I had read, was to get a cheap aluminum pan and put a little water in it, and just set it near the coals. Is that necessary? I'll be trying a pork shoulder (for pulled pork) and maybe ribs this weekend. I really need a real smoker though...I wonder if the landlord would notice....

[Duckling]

I've never tried using a grill as a smoker. But if you watch triple D (diners, drive-in & dives) on the Food Network channel, a lot of the BBQ places do this and they explain how they set it up.

[mfranklin01]

I know this will be seen as blasphemous by most (I feel like a heritic for even doing it) I'm going to "smoke" some ribs on my gas grill for the fourth

[Buttercup]

I know this will be seen as blasphemous by most (I feel like a heritic for even doing it) I'm going to "smoke" some ribs on my gas grill for the fourth

Hey, you have to work with what you've got - I'm sure your ribs will be delicious!!

[213th]

Hey, you have to work with what you've got - I'm sure your ribs will be delicious!!

Exactly. I'd love to have a smoker, but at an apartment it isn't practical and I haven't smoked enough to justify buying one either.

[Ducky]

I suspect our next grill purchase will have a smoker box attachment. Hubby has been making noises along those lines.

[mfranklin01]

did a trial run with a small brisket...worked like a charm

[IMGreat101]

did a trial run with a small brisket...worked like a charm

[213th]

did a trial run with a small brisket...worked like a charm

I want to do a brisket next