All you really need is a basic charcoal grill, a little know-how and some practice. It’s also important to make sure that you give the meat enough time to sear on one side before deciding to turn it onto the other side. Pellet tube smokers Use too much charcoal and you’ll waste valuable fuel. If you want to use a smoker box on your charcoal grill then the process is similar as above mentioned. At least someone agrees with me about electric A porcelain bowl that is used in smokers can be Salmon - 4 pounds or less for a standard 22" Webber Grill A clean, food grade tub to soak the salmon in. We’ll show you how to make a smoker using tools you have on hand, so you can enjoy deliciously home-smoked recipes all summer. If you were to take a look at the distance between the bottom of the smoker and the grilling grate, you’d notice that there’s a significant amount of space, which means the grate is likely to not get warm enough for searing meat. A few steps and your gas or charcoal grill can handle anything from … Ensure that you clean the grilling grate of your smoker similar to how you would with a traditional grill. It also adds some moisture to the food, which in many cases will cook for hours and hours, so it could dry out otherwise. The type of smoker grill combo you choose will depend on your budget and desired features. We’d recommend grabbing three to four small logs of wood and you can place them directly on top of the hot charcoals. The first thing you’re going to need to do is to make sure that you’re getting your hands on the right equipment. Next, drop damp wood chips or dry wood chunks directly onto the coals. SmokyFlavors.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. However, when using a charcoal grill you don’t need a smoker box at all. This instructable will explain how to turn a broken gas grill into a charcoal or wood chip grill. In the event that you’d prefer to grill, you’re going to need to have access to the firebox to add in your charcoal, logs, and grilling grate so the meat you are cooking will be as close as possible to the heat source, cutting back on your cooking time and helping you to achieve the perfect sear. This increases the smokiness of the flavor because it amps up the smoke that’s produced. Begin by filling a chimney starter about one-third full with briquettes. That is necessary not only for the next step but also to ensure that your food will get hot enough to cook in as little time as possible. Copyright © 2020 Weber, All Rights Reserved. Oh and if you like it please vote for me! You can always use a smoker box on a grill to mimic the taste of a smoker. A charcoal smoker is a great way to cook tender, delicious meat that is full of flavor. Or how smoking your meats impacts the flavor? Then, carefully add about 2 to 3 cups of water to the pan. If you don’t already have an existing grill, it’s recommended that you consider looking into an offset smoker. If you attempt to start your charcoal grill with the each exhaust closed, you won’t only keep your grill from rising to the proper temp, but you will end up choking out your flame. With the help of this guide, you’ll be able to learn how to create an all-in-one cooking device that is simple to use. A charcoal smoker operates on simple principles, but it can take some practice to get the cooking process right. For more about how we use your information, see our privacy policy. Learning how much charcoal to use when firing up your grill or smoker is a vital skill to master. Step 3 : Carefully pour in the hot briquettes into your offset smoker box of your charcoal grill. Otherwise, you’ll experience build-up up of dangerous chemicals the next time you decide to use your smoker as a grill. You can close the lid to your smoker and allow the logs to burn down until they are basically embers. Although I said "chips," you can also use wood chunks. Required fields are marked *. With the help of this guide, you’ll be able to learn how to create an all-in-one cooking device that is simple to use. Standard charcoal grill Wood for smoking. On the other hand, the cooking temperature of smokers ranges from 160°F – 300°F. You don’t have to use a probe thermometer for the ambient temperature, but you need a way to measure how hot your smoker is running without having to open the lid. Any Charcoal Unit Will Smoke O bviously, if you own a little tailgate model of a charcoal grill, you won’t be doing multiple slabs of ribs or a full packer cut brisket on that unit. The first time you try will be an experiment, but with a little luck, you can produce delicious tasting meat. It’s quite easy to convert a traditional grill into a smoker, but turning a smoker into a grill is slightly tougher. What you might not know though is that you can actually use these pellets in your charcoal grill to enhance your cooking even further. If you keep the fire small and to one side of the grill, you can generate the low temperatures that are the secret of real barbecue. Alternatively, you can use a pellet tube smoker to keep the wood pellets in as you combine them with the charcoal. 3/4 cups salt (Kosher or pickling salt) 3/4 cups sugar 1/3 cup brown sugar 6 cups water Food grade needle nose pliers (not from your workbench) 3 cups Hickory chips and a container to soak them in. To allow for the best airflow for grilling, make sure that you leave the exhaust chamber of the smoker slightly open so that the fire doesn’t get choked out, and the meat will still get the succulent smoked flavor once it’s finished cooking. Once you’ve achieved the ideal cook for your meat, it’s now time to remove the meat from the grill and allow it to have time to rest before serving. How to Convert Your Gas Grill Into a Smoker Start by identifying your heat sources, and get your grill setup for a little indirect cooking. If you’ve ever wondered and asked, “Can you grill on a smoker?”, the answer is yes, and with ease! No, no, no. Allow 30 minutes to 1 hour for the coals to burn down to the correct temperature and the water to heat up. Before closing the lid, place the grilling grate back in its appropriate position and grab a thermometer that can attach itself to the grate, as you’re going to need to monitor its temperature to make sure it’s at the ideal heat for grilling. Above all else, being able to answer, “Can you grill on a smoker?,” gives you the ability to use a single tool instead of having to buy both a grill and a smoker separately. This doesn’t mean that you’ll be not able to perform cooking with toys temperature, as meat, vegetables, cheese and most of the meats requires a lower temperature to get smoked. If you have a charcoal grill, you can create a smoker that delivers amazing results. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in a position to where you can either grill or smoke rather than do both. The things that you can do with multi-purpose appliances is amazing, especially when it comes to repurposing your smoker into a grill. How to Use a Charcoal Smoker. As you’ll be working off of the heat of the coals with this method, you will need to wait for the grate to reach its maximum temperature once the room-temperature meat is put on the grill. Soak the wood so it "smokes" when added to the grill instead of burning up. The water in the pan is important because it helps to maintain a low cooking temperature. You can turn your charcoal grill into a smoker with these simple steps! At this point, you may notice that the logs are beginning to catch fire which is exactly what you want for the highest production of heat. If you use chunks, be sure to soak them longer, so the wood becomes saturated with water. Now that the smoker is at the ideal temperature for grilling, you’re going to want to prepare your meat and/or vegetables with the help of a dry rub or basic seasoning, whichever you prefer, and place the meat directly onto the grate. However, if you already own a smoker and are interested in converting it to a grill, proceed to the next step. So if you've ever wanted the chops to cook real smoked barbecue, and do it on a budget, this guide is for you. With the ability to create a dual-purpose appliance, you’ll surely be able to make the most out of your meats and vegetables during warm weather. They are all the traditional smoker types who love to use the old fashioned charcoal smokers. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. Follow this guide to get started, and have fun showing off your skills at your … With the help of an offset smoker, you can decide whether you’d like to smoke or grill your meat, as there is a separate chamber (known as a firebox) to the right of the main compartment where you’d add your smoking materials. Expect to add more coals every hour or so to maintain the heat. Begin by filling a chimney starter about one-third full with briquettes. Otherwise, you’ll find that the meat will stick to the grate and tear apart. A water pan : if you add a water pan over the direct heat side of your grill, it can help to keep your grill’s temperature down – which can be a big help when you’re trying to dial in your temperature. Turn Gas Grill Into Charcoal Grill : This is my first instructable so bear with me on it. If you’re using a charcoal grill, be ready to add more coals every hour or so to maintain the desired temperature. Using a smoker is slow and steady, but the result is warm and juicy. Above all else, being able to answer, “Can you grill on a smoker?,” gives you the ability to use a single tool instead of having to buy both a grill and a smoker separately. You can even use it for a simple turkey smoker. When they are fully lit, pour all of the charcoal on one side of the charcoal grate (if desired, use a charcoal basket, which holds the coals close together so they burn more slowly) and place a large disposable foil pan on the other side. Smoking on a charcoal grill is really easy to do, especially if you are already comfortable grilling with indirect heat. In general, you can’t go wrong with a classic charcoal grill smoker. When you’re getting your smoker ready to grill, you’re going to need to prepare enough charcoal to fit approximately half of the bottom chamber. If you want to know how to smoke on an offset smoker, that's a huge topic. As you can see, the high-level setup and execution of using a smoker box are pretty easy and straight forward; however, there are additional low-level details that will help you get the most out of using your gas grill as a smoker This comes with the smoker and helps keep the large amount of coals away from the vents and helps with air flow. If you have a charcoal grill you can achieve this flavor at home without purchasing an expensive smoker. If you look in close to the above picture you'll see a charcoal ring. Depending on the type of meat your cooking, you may prefer one type of wood over another. This is particularly important if you’re grilling burgers on your smoker. At this point, the thermometer should be reading around 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can proceed to the next step. Turning your grill into a smoker is a pretty easy, hands-off process. The way Offset smokers are quite popular because they offer the best of both worlds. Need to know how to use a smoker? Mesquite is a great choice for grilling meats and vegetables, and it’s one of the most readily available types of wood. The same way you grill on any other grill. While smokers can be charcoal, gas, wood or electric, the gas and electric varieties are generally much easier to use and require less adjustment. There are also plenty of different ways to transform your regular grill into a smoker with a few simple steps, giving you the ability to make the most out of the equipment that you already have in your home. Now that you have a sufficient amount of searing hot charcoal, it’s time to add your choice of wood. No matter which type of grill (gas or charcoal) you’re using, the cooking temperature will be very high. Smoking is a little different from grilling in that the goal is to cook the meat with indirect heat. As the name suggests, smokers use actual smoke to cook food. Consumer Reports’ experts say you don’t need to run out and buy a smoker. No need to change grills from charcoal or gas to wood. With this method of grilling by using your smoker, you should have a fully ready meal within 30 minutes. You don’t need to invest in a smoker to do it; just use your gas or charcoal grill. When you get a hankering for meats or chicken with that smoky barbecue taste, a smoker is your best bet. If you love the flavor of char-grilled cooking and want to make this delicious food on your grill, we can help. A metal 2 quart pan - To place the wood chips in. Smoking on a charcoal grill is really easy to do, especially if you are already comfortable grilling with indirect heat. That being said, the average charcoal grill can actually do both. Any good charcoal grill with a large enough chamber can be adjusted to emulate the food you would cook in a smoker. Your email address will not be published. Turn your charcoal grill into a smoker in a few easy steps. Depending on how you like the meat and the type of meat you are grilling, pay close attention to the internal temperature to ensure that it does not overcook. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We’ll take you through the process step-by-step so that you will know how to use a charcoal grill with confidence. With a charcoal smoker, you can use no wood, or as much or as little as you like, same with using a gas grill as a smoker, but with a pellet grill, 100% of the fuel is wood for the entire cook, so there’s no getting away from it. But there's no escaping the fact that a smoker grill is more complex than a kettle grill, and only delivers great results if you know how to use it right. Most of the time, people wonder if you can use a grill as a smoker, but what if you had the ability to grill on your smoker instead? Start a charcoal fire and put the food over it. (mesquite, hickory, or oak) You can find these in the grill section of your favorite store. They tend to be less expensive and produce incredible results. I can’t tell you how much flack I get for using electric smokers from all of my friends! Your email address will not be published. Not only are you going to need to use more charcoal than you would if you were smoking, but you’re also going to need to make sure that the charcoal gets extremely hot. For about $10, you can get an aftermarket smoker box at a home center and just add wood chips directly to that. If you’re new to smoking, then the key things to keep in mind are to keep a very close eye on temperature, and to be very patient. If charcoal is more your fuel of choice, … You can directly add the wood chips to the coals by “Dennis Brown / Wikimedia Commons” Smokers are designed to get no warmer than about 225 degrees, and unlike a grill, they have to have the smoke to do their jobs even if your meat cooks all day. When preparing your grill it's important to remember the basic difference between smokers and grills. Then place your food on top of the cooking grate over the water pan and cover your grill. Can You Grill on a Smoker: The Easiest Method, The Small Charcoal Grill: How To Make Your Food Delicious, Tips To Help You Buy The Best Electric Grill Brands, How to Season a Smoker with a Few Simple Steps, Do You Soak Wood Chips for Electric Smokers: The Answer and Other Facts About Smoking, The Best Wireless Meat Thermometers: Famili OT007 Remote Electric BBQ meat thermometer with timer, Lighting A Charcoal Grill – All You Need To Know. I have nine books on how to do that, and there are The main difference between a smoker and a charcoal grill is that a smoker contains the fire in a separate space and keeps the heat low enough to cook meats at temperatures around 225 F to 250 F/110 C to120 C. 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