Smoking on the grill-beginner

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nickchase

Newbie
Original poster
Jul 25, 2009
1
10
I'm a beginner here...I've got my salmon ready to smoke. Still researching the right smoker to buy. For now, what's the best way to smoke on a grill? I've checked my temperature on the grill and it will stay at 200 degrees or less. Thanks.

I've done a bit more research...the grill doesn't seem to be a great option. Any suggestions on a starter smoker?
 
you want indirect heat, so all coals or whatever you source of heat must be to one side. Then meat on the other. If you have room a water pan in between will help with spikes. 200º is a little low, but will work, just count on a fair amount of time till food is finished. 225 to 250º would be better.

Edit: Sorry, see that it is fish, so your fish would go better at 180 to 200º as you planned.
 
Like flash said make sure you build your fire on one side of the grill and fish on the other. The first question on smokers is what kind of heat source do you want fire, charcoal, or propane. I have propane a GOSM and it works great easy to lite and mantain a constance temp and there pretty cheap wally world for about 75.00 or so.
 
Glad to have you with us.

Be sure to check out Jeff's 5Day Smoking Basics eCourse, you can find it here 5 Day eCourse
 
If you want to smoke on the grill, Nick one of the easiest ways is to make an aluninum foil pouch , fill it with wet wood chips, poke a few holes in it to let the smoke out, and just toss it right on the coals when you put the fish in. It will produce quite a bit of smoke, and cleanup is easy that way.
 
Foil packet with wood chips might work.

Regarding a starter smoker, you have lots of options. All depends on your budget. I started on one of those Brinkman "bullet" smokers. Others use charcoal grills and simply pile coals on one side. Those big box stores have several "intro" smokers (some folks report great results from these and never bother buying anything else).
 
Welcome to SMF! This place will answere most any ? you might have. It is a great resource and good folks. Your grilling ? has been answered for the most part but if ya check out my Kielbasa thread under sausage you will see a photo of me doing something like what you are talking about on my Chargriller cause I didn't have the patience to wait till today when all the rest is being smoked on my smoker. LOL
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You got lots of great advice about using your grill today, so I won't be redundant.

About an entry level smoker. That's an extremely broad question. I think first you need to decide if you want charcoal, gas or electric. If the thought of checking your charcoal fire, stiring or adding coals every couple/few hours and doting over temperatures doesn't sound like fun to you, you may want electric or propane.

Have never used an electric, can't help there. I never had real good luck with my propane grill, but then again, I never put much effort into learning the "right" way to grill either (before now.)

When my propane grill died, I bought a Brinkman gourmet. It's a bullet style water smoker. It gives good results with minor modifications (about $12.00 in parts and an hour labor.) But it can still be a pain. Every time I think I have it figured out, it goes off and acts like it has a mind of its' own. Still, it's cheap, and I can compensate now that I have some experience.

What type of grill do you have? If I were going to do it over, I would buy a 22 1/2 Weber kettle, and the smokenator smoker for it. I have that set up now, and almost never touch my bullet smoker any more. As a matter of fact, I'm going to buy a propane adapter and turn the brinkman into a propane smoker. I said I'd never use propane again, but I changed my mind.

So, I guess you need to decide if you think smoking will be a hobby to you, or if you just want some good food from time to time. And how much time and effort you want to put into it. There is a corner of smoking meat for everyone, with every level of participation.
 
First let me say welcome to SMF Nickchase! Glad that you are here. I take it that you have a basic grill now? I would say indirect heat. Have the food set to the other side of the heat and make a small bag of wet wood chips with a few small holes in the alum. wrap so that the chips burn slowly. I'm thinking of a little Paprika sprinkle over the Salmon and a few lemon slices. Sounds yummy! Check the thread on the different woods to use in smoking. It will help out a lot. You will find some great people here to help you too.

Thomas
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