Even though most people associate charcoal grills with their unique flavor, smokers are an entirely different level of smokiness. Smokers are an ideal choice for cooking meat low and slow. It takes time to impart the savory, smoky flavor that smokers are known for. This makes smokers perfect for preparing a roast for pulled pork or making flavorful jerky. This article will break down everything that you need to know to use a smoker grill, as well as the pros and cons when compared against other methods of grilling.
Pros and Cons of Grilling with a Smoker
Advantages
Grilling with a smoker has several benefits, including:
- Unique, smoky flavor- When you are smoking, the wood that you choose can change the flavor of the meat you are cooking. Some of the most popular choices include hickory, cherry, and apple woods.
- Not overwhelming- An authentic smoking flavor is not as overwhelming as that created by liquid smoke.
- Low-maintenance during cooking- You will not need to closely monitor meat cooked at low smoking temperatures as often as meat on the grill. At most, you should check the smoker every hour.
- You can add flavors- The low-and-slow method means that all the flavors you add to the grill come through in the meat. In addition to flavor from the wood, herbs can be added to water to steam the meat with flavor and marinades and dry rubs can give a direct flavor to the meat.
Disadvantages
Even though a smoker is a great choice for imparting savory flavor on meats, it does come with its disadvantages. This includes:
- The wrong flavors can be imparted- Not all woods are good for use in the smoker. Pine, for example, has a pungent taste and can be slightly toxic. Mesquite flavors can be hard to adjust in the smoker without practice, as they can become pungent when created using a smoker.
- Meat overcooks if cooked too long- Even though smoking generally maintains a steady temperature, it can be easy to overcook your meat. Instead of going by recommended guidelines, use a meat thermometer to get the perfect internal temperature of your meat.
- Needs more fuel- In addition to wood chips, you need either charcoal or gas to burn the wood chips. This means you spend more money on fuel when you want to smoke meat instead of using a traditional grill.
How to Use a Smoker
Step 1: Preparing for First-Time Use
The first time that you use the smoker, you need to build a large fire inside and let it burn for a minimum of 45 minutes. This is necessary to seal any pores that may have developed in the metal. Sealing these pores prevents the flavorful smoke from escaping the smoker.
Step 2: Preparing Your Meat
If you want to create certain flavors in your meat, you should prepare it with a marinade and let it soak for several hours before grilling. Alternatively, you could create a dry rub to add flavors to your meat. The dry rub can be added just before smoking, which is a good option if you forget to prepare your meat earlier in the day.
Step 3: Getting Ready to Cook
If you have already prepared your smoker, you can start preparing your wood chips. Moisture is key to the smoking process, so you will need to soak your wood chips for at least 30 minutes. While the wood chips are soaking, put charcoal in the firebox and light it. You can add the wood chips to the grill after the temperature has reached 400 degrees. Then, let the temperature drop to 250 degrees before adding your meat.
You should also create moisture by steaming a bowl of water. Place water in a fire-safe bowl and add herbs and spices. Position this under the grill grate, near where you want to place the meat.
Step 4: The Smoking Process
Once you are ready, set the meat over the bowl of water, close the grill, and let the smoker do its work. You do not want to open the lid too frequently, otherwise, all the moisture will escape. Typically, you can expect each pound of meat to take an additional hour to 1 ½ hours to cook.
Here are a few tips you can use:
You should continue to add moisture as you monitor your meat. Refill the bowl about once per hour, each time that you check the meat. When you refill the bowl, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat. Smoking it too long will dry it out.
The quality of the wood chips you choose matters when it comes to flavor. Avoid wood that has been treated with pesticides or other harmful ingredients.
Open the damper if the temperature drops too low. This will increase the amount of oxygen available and the heat will increase as a result.
Once you are ready to take the meat out of the smoker, be sure to let it rest for 20-30 minutes before serving. This will give the juices time to be absorbed by the meat so it does not spill out everywhere when you cut into it.
How to Clean Your Smoker
One of the best ways to cook meat in the smoker is to lie a few sheets of foil down on the grill before cooking. Since the smoking process works by infusing the flavors from the steam and smoke into the meat, you do not need any direct flame and the foil will not hinder the cooking process. Even when you do this to protect the grates, however, there are still several other areas of the smoker that get dirty.
To a clean a smoker, it should be seasoned like you would a cast iron skillet. Most smokers come with instructions, but we’ll break down the basic process here. Start by lighting a fire in the grill and allow it to burn very hot. Once all the leftover residue has been vaporized, use your grill brush to knock any ashes or black debris loose. Use a vacuum to remove this from the grill.
If you need to season the smoker, choose a cooking oil (you can even use bacon grease) and coat the inside of the smoker. Then, heat it to 250-275F. This will bind the oil to the surface of the smoker and help it repel water, which is critical to preventing smoking. Seasoning from time to time preserves the cooking surface. You should also maintain the smoker’s integrity by removing ashes after you use the smoker and leftover food debris.
Smoker Maintenance
The way you maintain your smoker depends on if it uses gas or charcoal to heat the wood chips. Typically, you will need to inspect gas lines and other connections regularly to see if they need to be tightened or replaced. You may also need to replace the grill grate periodically, depending on its condition and if it has developed rust.
Smoking is one of the best ways to impress your friends, family, or neighborhood with your cooking techniques. It is a low-maintenance and a great way to impart unmatched flavor on a wide variety of meats. For people who like to indulge in briskets, pulled pork, jerky, and other succulent cuts of meat, smokers are an excellent choice.
