Propane grills aren’t just for burgers and steaks anymore. With a few tricks, you can mimic the indirect low and slow heat of a traditional smoker and produce quality cuts of slow-smoked barbecue. You can even use it for a simple turkey smoker.
If you’re using a charcoal grill, dump the damp chips directly on to the coals. If you’re using a gas grill, wrap the coals in foil and poke tiny holes to allow steam to escape. Lay the package of wood chips directly on the unlit cooking grate, and then fire it up again. You’re ready to get started once you see smoke!
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. When cooking low and slow (225-250°F [107-121°C]), avoid directly exposing your meat to the heat source. That’s called grilling! Check out our post, The Difference Between Grilling and Barbecue for more information on the temperature differences between direct and indirect heat cooking. Or check out our BBQ 101 series to learn more about smoker types and how they’re used.
Setting up your cooker so your meat is not in the direct path of the heat source will allow heat to circulate around the meat, which results in cooking by convection. Heat is transferred to the food by a fluid – in this case, air, and conduction carries the surface heat through to the center of the cut.
How to Turn Your Grill Into a Smoker with Michael Symon | Symon’s Dinners Cooking Out | Food Network
FAQ
Can you substitute a grill for a smoker?
Can you add a smoker to a grill?
Can you smoke meat on any grill?
Can you turn a gas grill into a smoker?
Babs Costello, the self-appointed “internet mom/grandma you didn’t know you needed,” recently offered her Instagram followers a simple way to convert a gas grill into a smoker. All you’ll need, aside from your grill, are wood chips — which can be purchased from your neighborhood hardware store — aluminum foil, and a metal pan.
How do you smoke wood on a gas grill?
Place the wood chips in the metal or foil pan, then cover with aluminum foil. Poke several holes into the foil to allow the smoke to escape. Once your wood is prepped, place the pan on your cold grill, turn on all the burners, and set them to high. Cover the grill and heat until you see heavy, blue smoke.
Can a grill become a smoker?
A grill can become a smoker fairly easily if you know what to do. Though the phrase “smoke ’em if you got ’em” usually refers to taking a cigarette break, it could actually easily be applied to Virgil’s Real Barbecue chef Glenn Rolnick ‘s attitude toward most varieties of meat.
How do you smoke on a cold Grill?
Once your wood is prepped, place the pan on your cold grill, turn on all the burners, and set them to high. Cover the grill and heat until you see heavy, blue smoke. Once your makeshift smoker box has been properly heated, turn off all but the primary burner — which you will turn down to medium — and you’re ready to smoke.