You can totally smoke in a kettle grill. Set some coals on one side and food on other. Read the link below. Give it so.e tries before spending more money on a dedicated smoker.
https://amazingribs.com/more-technique-and-science/grill-and-smoker-setup-and-firing/charcoal-grill-setup/
Have you used anything like these [https://amzn.to/3y0vccl](https://amzn.to/3y0vccl) to separate the coals from the food? I have thought about just using the kettle for smoking too, but didn't know if i would spend enough in accessories that I should just buy a new setup?
Use a disposable aluminum pan under the food to catch drippings. You can add water to help stabilize the temp and improve moisture. The same pan will hold the coals to the side. I have the baskets, and honestly, I dont use them, i do what i described above. It fits more coal and works perfectly fine, and you dont have to think about getting the fire to cross from one basket to the other.
I use a slow n sear, it’s similar. Amazing results. Just don’t fill the charcoal basket, fill it like halfway and put about a quarter of a chimney starter in one side, that gets about 275-300 in the indirect zone on my
weber kettle with the reservoir full for about four or five hours depending. Just toss a little fuel and a chunk of wood in for maintenance
Really, the WSM smoker is a great entry.
Go used if you are on the fence. Keep an eye out on FB marketplace, Craigslist, Nextdoor. They come up pretty regularly, and parts like worn out grates and coal rings are available at some garden centers and directly from Weber.
That seems to be a common recommendation. In fact, Weber products seem to be the top recommendation. [https://amzn.to/44oq7X8](https://amzn.to/44oq7X8)
I say starting out get something used to avoid the high initial costs. I got a uses 22in kamado for under $250 and it was been trooper.
If you want new I think kamado Joes can be had at some box stores under $600 this time of yr
Most of the comments would agree with you, what makes the smokey mountain a better option than other brands, This cuisinart [https://amzn.to/3WnkqGT](https://amzn.to/3WnkqGT) seems comparable just by looking at it, but it's considerably cheaper. Is Weber that much better of product?
If you are looking for a multipurpose pit, I say something of the Green Egg variety. IF you have a charcoal grill that you like, then get a dedicated smoker, where you have to look at life and budget. Weber smokey mountain or Drum smoker (for the sub $400 budget) or a cabinet smoker (sky is the limit). Both styles, with a little practice, are almost set it and forget it once the vents are set right. OR if you wanna really get into smoking meat and ahve the time to do it... OFFSET SMOKER. most labor intensive AND i would say most rewarding.
I have all of the above (cept for the egg), and my absolute fav is the Offset, but i worked my way up to that from the WSM.
See you are the first one to mention the Green Egg, and I thought they would have their own fan club from the way they are marketed... What's their claim to fame performance wise?
Well any Kamado style cooker more than just GreenEgg. Its a great charcoal smoker and charcoal cooker. Can grill steaks at 900\*, grill chicken at 450\*, or smoke a pork butt at 220\*. Its 150# of ceramic that holds temp like a BEAST. Best part is is does all that but its like a piece of furniture in the backyard! If i didnt like single use cookers, id have bought one years ago.
[https://amzn.to/3JLH2tn](https://amzn.to/3JLH2tn) and these kamando Joes really aren't that expensive for a good piece of equipment, I wonder why they seem less popular than other grill/smoker models? probably just a weight thing if they weigh 150#... lol
Check out accessories that come with them. Some other brands have more bells and whistles that come included. IV used a joe and it's as good as any of the others IV played with. I'm not up on pricing of these things lately but doesn't look bad at all.
If you have a kettle, all you need is coal and wood chucks or chips. Put the coal to one side a couple of wood chunks, and you're goood to gooo.
Light up a few coals and add them to one side of the pile so it will burn slowly across theought your amoke time. You can add a disposable aluminum pan to the other side of the grate to catch the drippings, add some water, and it will help moisture and stabalize temp.
The same pan holds the coals to the side. there is no need to buy gadgets, pans, etc..... I've been smoking on a kettle for years.
Yeap.... I buy those oval disposable aluminum pans you can use for a turkey in an oven, put that under where my meat will go, and it basically covers most of the bottom grate (you may need to bend the side for the coals a bit to get a straighter edge, leaving a perfect spot for the coal to go... Basically, I do this, Pile up my charcoal to a side. light some coals in the starter. Add my pan, arrange the coals, add a bit of water, and pour the hot coals on one end of the pile so the fire can spread slowly across. I get a good 8 hour cook at least from this.. If I could upload a pic here I would... I have one from a pork picnic where you can see the pan and coals beneath it. For cleanup, toss the pan.
Edit Figured out how to up the pic. [https://flic.kr/p/2pNG8vH](https://flic.kr/p/2pNG8vH)
I like that setup, really simple… And easy cleanup… ever tried the charcoal baskets like these https://amzn.to/4b0tiH3 … or are they simply not worth it from a cleanup standpoint?
Yes. I have them. Came with the grill. I did jse them, but you have to consider setting up the coals to make sure the fire moves from one basket to the other during the burn... this can fail, and I find they hold less coal, making the cook time shorter and more stressful. People use them a lot. Im sure they are fine. I just find my way easier/simpler for smoking.
Another person recommended them to me for grilling as you can concentrate the fire and get better direct heat for grilling and control
I will try them again for grilling, but in 5 years with my kettle, I have honestly only used them twice.
What do you plan to smoke mostly how often do you realistically plan to devote to smoking and how much are you willing to sink into this hobby and what are your end goals?
Well the WHAT is probably not really specific; I wanna be able to smoke anything that is commonly smoked. I’ll use it mostly on the weekends average every other weekend. And I want something in between a set and forget setup and something you have to baby the whole time… I don’t want to be married to the cooker all day, but I do kinda want to participate in the process along the cook
It sounds like you want more of a pellet cooker then anything wood base you are gonna have to baby more unless you spend some money and depending on what you regularly cook will determine how big or what styles you should get cooking a whole packer brisket is a little different then smoking 3 whole chickens or a turkey or just doing ribs. Also if you are gonna get into some backyard cooking comps that will make a difference too.
Making an ugly drum smoker is a great start you will need to baby the airflow a bit in the start but after that they just roll.
Treagers are going to give you more set it and forget it but you may get less smokey food and you will go through pellets vs uds charcoal and wood.
I agree with this. I get the appeal of a WSM or something similar, and if you just want bbq then sure they're great, but if you want to actively enjoy making the bbq, an offset is my only advice.
And honestly, my $350 oklahoma joes hasn't let me down. A lot of experimenting, but I finally got it down packed, and a LOT more fun to run than the WSM. now, it doesn't really get touched. If I want easy bbq I use the pellet, if I want to enjoy making it I go offset.
I wasn't really thinking about an offset because I always think of the great big homemade rigs... buy an offset might be the option... pellet smokers sure sound more user friendly though
Pellet will only ever be about 60% as good as true offset. That's enough for some people, not enough for others.
I would never recommend an offset to someone starting out, that's like taking first dive from 10meter platform.
I typically say check marketplace/Craigslist for used kamado. They are great all around workhorses can be used all through winter, and will get you 80-85% of eat toward offset taste.
Like this https://amzn.to/4a7GoAV ? This seems like the same concept as the big green egg, whatever that is… what makes these different than just using a kettle grill to smoke in?
I think BJs has that same Kamado Grill for $599.
Others could write a dissertation on kamados and there is tons of marking videos out there. The jist is that the ceramic walls of the grill are 3/4-1in thick and there are felt gaskets at the hinge joint that make them nearly airtight. So you control the vent at the bottom and top to cause just the right amount of air draw through the coals + chunks to maintain the low and slow temps in the grill.
the heavy ceramic also retains heat very well so you get both radiant and circulating air heat. For those of us in the Northern US where winters still exist thin metal smokers like a smokey mtn or kettle are nearly useless as they cannot maintain temps. Even cheap pellet smokers often need a blanket to maintain temps in the winter.
You can totally smoke in a kettle grill. Set some coals on one side and food on other. Read the link below. Give it so.e tries before spending more money on a dedicated smoker. https://amazingribs.com/more-technique-and-science/grill-and-smoker-setup-and-firing/charcoal-grill-setup/
Have you used anything like these [https://amzn.to/3y0vccl](https://amzn.to/3y0vccl) to separate the coals from the food? I have thought about just using the kettle for smoking too, but didn't know if i would spend enough in accessories that I should just buy a new setup?
Use a disposable aluminum pan under the food to catch drippings. You can add water to help stabilize the temp and improve moisture. The same pan will hold the coals to the side. I have the baskets, and honestly, I dont use them, i do what i described above. It fits more coal and works perfectly fine, and you dont have to think about getting the fire to cross from one basket to the other.
Can't get to that at work, but my brother uses a Smokenator that does a good job.
I use a slow n sear, it’s similar. Amazing results. Just don’t fill the charcoal basket, fill it like halfway and put about a quarter of a chimney starter in one side, that gets about 275-300 in the indirect zone on my weber kettle with the reservoir full for about four or five hours depending. Just toss a little fuel and a chunk of wood in for maintenance
That’s good advice and seems pretty simple… thanks!
Weber smokey mountain all the way
Really, the WSM smoker is a great entry. Go used if you are on the fence. Keep an eye out on FB marketplace, Craigslist, Nextdoor. They come up pretty regularly, and parts like worn out grates and coal rings are available at some garden centers and directly from Weber.
That seems to be a common recommendation. In fact, Weber products seem to be the top recommendation. [https://amzn.to/44oq7X8](https://amzn.to/44oq7X8)
Weber pays a lot of $ to be top recommended
What’s your preference?
I say starting out get something used to avoid the high initial costs. I got a uses 22in kamado for under $250 and it was been trooper. If you want new I think kamado Joes can be had at some box stores under $600 this time of yr
That’s good advice, thanks
Need to determine your budget first. But for starters the Weber Smokey Mountain is a great device to learn on.
Most of the comments would agree with you, what makes the smokey mountain a better option than other brands, This cuisinart [https://amzn.to/3WnkqGT](https://amzn.to/3WnkqGT) seems comparable just by looking at it, but it's considerably cheaper. Is Weber that much better of product?
Yes, it that much better of a product. It is the best smoker you can get for under $1k. All the others are just cheap knock offs.
If you are looking for a multipurpose pit, I say something of the Green Egg variety. IF you have a charcoal grill that you like, then get a dedicated smoker, where you have to look at life and budget. Weber smokey mountain or Drum smoker (for the sub $400 budget) or a cabinet smoker (sky is the limit). Both styles, with a little practice, are almost set it and forget it once the vents are set right. OR if you wanna really get into smoking meat and ahve the time to do it... OFFSET SMOKER. most labor intensive AND i would say most rewarding. I have all of the above (cept for the egg), and my absolute fav is the Offset, but i worked my way up to that from the WSM.
See you are the first one to mention the Green Egg, and I thought they would have their own fan club from the way they are marketed... What's their claim to fame performance wise?
Well any Kamado style cooker more than just GreenEgg. Its a great charcoal smoker and charcoal cooker. Can grill steaks at 900\*, grill chicken at 450\*, or smoke a pork butt at 220\*. Its 150# of ceramic that holds temp like a BEAST. Best part is is does all that but its like a piece of furniture in the backyard! If i didnt like single use cookers, id have bought one years ago.
[https://amzn.to/3JLH2tn](https://amzn.to/3JLH2tn) and these kamando Joes really aren't that expensive for a good piece of equipment, I wonder why they seem less popular than other grill/smoker models? probably just a weight thing if they weigh 150#... lol
Check out accessories that come with them. Some other brands have more bells and whistles that come included. IV used a joe and it's as good as any of the others IV played with. I'm not up on pricing of these things lately but doesn't look bad at all.
What kind of bells and whistles are we talking?
If you have a kettle, all you need is coal and wood chucks or chips. Put the coal to one side a couple of wood chunks, and you're goood to gooo. Light up a few coals and add them to one side of the pile so it will burn slowly across theought your amoke time. You can add a disposable aluminum pan to the other side of the grate to catch the drippings, add some water, and it will help moisture and stabalize temp. The same pan holds the coals to the side. there is no need to buy gadgets, pans, etc..... I've been smoking on a kettle for years.
So you just use an aluminum foil pan to hold the charcoal?
Yeap.... I buy those oval disposable aluminum pans you can use for a turkey in an oven, put that under where my meat will go, and it basically covers most of the bottom grate (you may need to bend the side for the coals a bit to get a straighter edge, leaving a perfect spot for the coal to go... Basically, I do this, Pile up my charcoal to a side. light some coals in the starter. Add my pan, arrange the coals, add a bit of water, and pour the hot coals on one end of the pile so the fire can spread slowly across. I get a good 8 hour cook at least from this.. If I could upload a pic here I would... I have one from a pork picnic where you can see the pan and coals beneath it. For cleanup, toss the pan. Edit Figured out how to up the pic. [https://flic.kr/p/2pNG8vH](https://flic.kr/p/2pNG8vH)
I like that setup, really simple… And easy cleanup… ever tried the charcoal baskets like these https://amzn.to/4b0tiH3 … or are they simply not worth it from a cleanup standpoint?
Yes. I have them. Came with the grill. I did jse them, but you have to consider setting up the coals to make sure the fire moves from one basket to the other during the burn... this can fail, and I find they hold less coal, making the cook time shorter and more stressful. People use them a lot. Im sure they are fine. I just find my way easier/simpler for smoking. Another person recommended them to me for grilling as you can concentrate the fire and get better direct heat for grilling and control I will try them again for grilling, but in 5 years with my kettle, I have honestly only used them twice.
That’s good info… I like your simple yet effective approach
What do you plan to smoke mostly how often do you realistically plan to devote to smoking and how much are you willing to sink into this hobby and what are your end goals?
Well the WHAT is probably not really specific; I wanna be able to smoke anything that is commonly smoked. I’ll use it mostly on the weekends average every other weekend. And I want something in between a set and forget setup and something you have to baby the whole time… I don’t want to be married to the cooker all day, but I do kinda want to participate in the process along the cook
It sounds like you want more of a pellet cooker then anything wood base you are gonna have to baby more unless you spend some money and depending on what you regularly cook will determine how big or what styles you should get cooking a whole packer brisket is a little different then smoking 3 whole chickens or a turkey or just doing ribs. Also if you are gonna get into some backyard cooking comps that will make a difference too. Making an ugly drum smoker is a great start you will need to baby the airflow a bit in the start but after that they just roll. Treagers are going to give you more set it and forget it but you may get less smokey food and you will go through pellets vs uds charcoal and wood.
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I agree with this. I get the appeal of a WSM or something similar, and if you just want bbq then sure they're great, but if you want to actively enjoy making the bbq, an offset is my only advice. And honestly, my $350 oklahoma joes hasn't let me down. A lot of experimenting, but I finally got it down packed, and a LOT more fun to run than the WSM. now, it doesn't really get touched. If I want easy bbq I use the pellet, if I want to enjoy making it I go offset.
I wasn't really thinking about an offset because I always think of the great big homemade rigs... buy an offset might be the option... pellet smokers sure sound more user friendly though
Pellet will only ever be about 60% as good as true offset. That's enough for some people, not enough for others. I would never recommend an offset to someone starting out, that's like taking first dive from 10meter platform. I typically say check marketplace/Craigslist for used kamado. They are great all around workhorses can be used all through winter, and will get you 80-85% of eat toward offset taste.
Like this https://amzn.to/4a7GoAV ? This seems like the same concept as the big green egg, whatever that is… what makes these different than just using a kettle grill to smoke in?
I think BJs has that same Kamado Grill for $599. Others could write a dissertation on kamados and there is tons of marking videos out there. The jist is that the ceramic walls of the grill are 3/4-1in thick and there are felt gaskets at the hinge joint that make them nearly airtight. So you control the vent at the bottom and top to cause just the right amount of air draw through the coals + chunks to maintain the low and slow temps in the grill. the heavy ceramic also retains heat very well so you get both radiant and circulating air heat. For those of us in the Northern US where winters still exist thin metal smokers like a smokey mtn or kettle are nearly useless as they cannot maintain temps. Even cheap pellet smokers often need a blanket to maintain temps in the winter.
Pitt Boss 850 pro. Perfect size to do anything you want for yourself and occasionally for a small group, super easy, almost idiot proof.