BBQ Smoking Oak Wood Chunks

Product Information

If you’re a foodie with a big budget but a small garden, the Big Green Egg MiniMax will prove hard to resist. It’s a unique-looking ceramic cooker that takes its design from a kamado, a traditional Japanese wood or charcoal-fuelled stove. It’s certainly got the looks, and if it’s perfect small-scale barbecuing you’re after, it’s got the brains, too. This is the point at which the hardwood discussion can become confusing, because there are so many types of oak. Post oak’s popularity has put it in high demand, but some wood suppliers may try to pass off white oak, live oak, and even red oak as post oak. Here’s how to tell the difference. Post oak Post oak bark. Photograph by Daniel Vaughn We've been smoking with BBQ wood chunks for many years and feel you should use smoke like you use salt and pepper on your food, sparingly! Read this description carefully. We will take you through how to get the best results and the most for your money. On the labor-intensive end of the spectrum, you can get a drum or pit barrel smoker, which will require hands-on tending of charcoal, firewood, or a combination thereof, or you can buy a pellet grill which you can monitor and tend from your smartphone. In between, there are basic charcoal grills that double as smokers in a pinch, pellet-free electric, and propane smokers.

During long smokes, on bullet smokers, we recommend up to 4 half chunks scattered through the fuel, or refuelling every few hours.Author's note: Traeger's newly overhauled Timberline series is now available. It's a new design for Traeger, and we haven't tried it yet, but if you're looking for a more serious investment, it is worth a look. The main choice with BBQs is whether to opt for a gas or charcoal model. Gas models (not featured in this list) are easier to light and are ready to go whenever you need them. Plus, they cook for as long as you have gas, so you don’t have to worry about topping up with fuel. You don’t quite get that proper BBQ taste, however. There's no small series of YouTube wormholes to nose your way through on the art of converting Weber's Kettle grill into a smoker. If you want to keep things compact and simple but also afford yourself a little versatility with a charcoal grill, the good old-fashioned Weber Kettle (available in 18", 22", and 26" models) allows for just enough ingenuity that it passes for a smoker when called upon. The barbecue cooks slow and steady, and the optional extra of a battery-operated spit will transform it into a rotisserie for spinning cuts of meat. Cooking capacity is smaller than some barbecues, but this is easily outweighed by affordability and great design. You can control the temperature of the grill using WiFi and a connected device, which makes for truly hands-off cooking. Though, we did have some trouble connecting when the grill was placed relatively far from the router.

Since there’s less hot air rushing upwards, food retains its moisture. Coals are surprisingly close to the grill, which means you’ll need to use a lot less charcoal. Plus, tiny holes in the grill enable the charcoal’s aroma and smokiness to seep through for a traditional barbecue taste. Vertical electric smokers are the same shape, size, and every bit as straightforward as propane smokers, but without the hassle of dealing with propane (namely, running out of it). The size lets you cook just about everything you would on a mid-sized barrel grill or smoker, and a glass window in the door is a nice touch that allows you to keep an eye on things without having to open it up and lose heat. The easiest smoker to use is an electric smoker, followed by a propane or pellet smoker. Each of these smokers maintains temperature automatically, so as long as you have your fuel in place (wood chips, propane, or pellets, respectively), you don't have to do much of anything at all. Warranty: 10-year limited on bowl and lid; 5-year limited on One-Touch cleaning system, 5-year limited on plastic; 2-year limited on all remaining partsIf you're going to buy just one grill for barbecuing, Traeger's Pro 575 is a tank built to maintain perfect temperature and last well over a decade. If the barbecue has vents, close them: This will cut off the oxygen supply to the coals, so they start to cool down. You'll want to let the coals cool for several hours before attempting to take them out. Traeger, like many other brands, falls short in the way of accessories. Camp Chef's Woodwind WiFi series, which we also recommend, is modular; you can add on grill boxes, a 28,000 BTU side-burner (great for searing, boiling, and clam bakes), a pizza oven, and much more.