smokers vs kettles

easyrub

Newbie

Original poster

Sep 18, 2007

10

10

• Sep 26, 2007

• #1

What can a smoker such as a wsm do that a weber kettle can't do or do very well.
I see all types of meat recipes for a kettle cooker.

chuck

 

peculiarmike

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Jun 29, 2006

1,564

14

Peculiar, MO

• Sep 26, 2007

• #2

A kettle can't do a long, low & slow smoke. It's a GRILL. Nothing wrong with grilling, some of my favorite eats come off a grill. But it ain't smoking.

The rest of my favorite eats come off smokers, slowly.

 

deejaydebi

Legendary Pitmaster

Nov 18, 2006

7,996

25

Connecticut

• Sep 26, 2007

• #3

You can smoke in a kettle it's just limited you have to put a small amount of the fuel and wood to one side and food on the other. It's not easy but it can be done. It's esier to control a cold smoke in one than a hot smoke.

 

lauragoodin

Newbie

Sep 17, 2005

12

10

American expatriate living in Australia

• Sep 26, 2007

• #4

A kettle and a tiny hibachi-with-a-lid are all I have, and I've smoked some mighty nice barbecue in them. I can't argue with results.

-- Laura

 

gooose53

Smoking Fanatic

SMF Premier Member

Aug 17, 2007

976

11

• Sep 26, 2007

• #5

Right now a 22 1/5 inch kettle is all I have for smoking (I have gas grill but that doesn't count) and it does a great job smoking meat. I added the Smokenator (if you look at some of my ribs pics you can see it) and I've cooked 4 or 5 hours without adding anything and able to keep the temp at anywhere between 220 and 250 degrees. My ribs look as good as anything that comes off those expensive cookers. You can also buy addons that will increase the capacity of the weber kettle as well. Just because it's small doesn't mean it can't smoke some outstanding meat!

 

fatback joe

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Jun 13, 2007

2,763

14

Hampden, MA

• Sep 26, 2007

• #6

It is pretty much the pain in the *** factor IMO. Like has already been mentioned, you can smoke on a grill (with good results even)..........but that is not what it is designed for. I smoked on a grill for a long time.........and didn't and don't miss it when I went to having a dedicated smoker.

 

hawgheaven

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

May 5, 2007

2,838

16

• Sep 26, 2007

• #7

...for those with Weber kettle grills that want to smoke with them. I was going to do this before I got my CG, but never got around to it.

The idea is to cut a piece of sheet metal to conform to the radius of the kettle body inner surface, notch the bottom to slip into the coal grate, and have the top edge almost at cooking grate level. Basically, it is a wall between the coals and the cooking area, that would help keep the immediate heat on the opposite side of the food area.

I figured I'd cut a template out of cardboard first, then use that as a pattern...

 

smokin for life

Smoking Fanatic

OTBS Member

Apr 21, 2007

985

10

Phila.

• Sep 26, 2007

• #8

I think it's all a matter of making due with what you have, I smoked ribs for a while on my grill. They weren't THAT bad, and that's what got me thinking. How good would they be if I got a smoker. " Hook set... start reeling me in" It does make a difference. Now I'm hooked!~!!!!!! My name is Michael and I'm a smoke addict.

 

fatback joe

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Jun 13, 2007

2,763

14

Hampden, MA

• Sep 26, 2007

• #9

.........then it is bigger, nicer, better, smoker.....or just more of them......one smoker for butts, one for brisket. LOL From one addict to another, Smoke On.

 

gooose53

Smoking Fanatic

SMF Premier Member

Aug 17, 2007

976

11

• Sep 26, 2007

• #10

Phil, that's what I talked about with the Smokenator. You can get them on ebay for about $40 for those that don't have a way to cut metal or don't want to bother with it. It also includes a water pan. Works really good with the kettle.

 

easyrub

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Sep 18, 2007

10

10

• Sep 26, 2007

• #11

Thanks --good information.
chuck

 

hawgheaven

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

May 5, 2007

2,838

16

• Sep 26, 2007

• #12

Ohhhh, okay... I guess great minds think alike!

Ebay, huh? I never saw anything like that on there...

 

gooose53

Smoking Fanatic

SMF Premier Member

Aug 17, 2007

976

11

• Sep 26, 2007

• #13

I got mine off of ebay.....I think. Ok, maybe I got it from the web site www.smokenator.com But I agree that great minds think alike.

 

crewdawg52

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Feb 7, 2007

1,316

13

Brighton, MI

• Sep 27, 2007

• #14

A WSM can do a long, slow cook without much fuss and it can hold alot, while a Kettle needs to be tended to about every hr or so, and you're limited to the amount that can be smoked. I have an old kettle I do all my small smokes on and it does a great job, but I cant leave it for long. Got a grate that opens on opposite sides so I can have charcoal on both sides of the kettle and the meat in the center, over a drip pan.

With the kettle, you can have a whole rack of ribs without having to roll or cut it in two.