lean beef ideas for smoking

[LiesGuy]

When it comes to beef, we just don't like smoked brisket enough to justify what we have to spend on it here.

However, I *DO* have to smoke meat other than pork - so I want ideas for affordable cuts of beef that go really well in the smoker.

My fantasy is to smoke something and have it turn out like "pit beef" - something we have in Maryland/Baltimore area. I could actually do that myself on my kettle(and I may have to one day), but to really do it right, I'd need a meat slicer, and our house is just too small to store something like that.

Anyway, anyone have any recommendations good, cheap cuts of lean beef to smoke?

I figure my first attempt could be smoking a top round roast and to just see how I like it. Has anyone here smoked a top round roast?

 

[gmc2003]

Top round when sliced thin makes great sandwiches.

Chris

 

[TomKnollRFV]

I know people smoke chuck roast to make it into shredded beef. Not to mention you can smoke a cheap cut , hack it up for stew meat for another level of flavour for chili etc. <I actually wonder how smoked beef in a stroganoff would taste now>.

I'd say your best bet is to watch stores for sales, buy what is cheap, then go over these forums for recipes using them! <That is how I've arrived at some of my decisions!>

 

[banderson7474]

I think tri-tips are pretty lean and fun to smoke b/c and I take them to medium so it's not an all day smoking. Hardest part for me is finding them.

 

[phatbac]

I have smoked plenty of round...top/bottom/eye..makes great sammies sliced thin or a good rub and a couple hours at 225 put at about 145 IT for medium sliced roast (on the bias, across the grain). I also use it to make jerky sliced on a slicer (or partially freeze and use a sharp knife) then marinade for 3-7 days (with cure#1) and smoke for 8-10 hours at 160 degrees over hickory pellets on AMNPS.

as mentioned try a chuck roast and cook to 195 IT (or more) and make pulled beef. or i have used various sirloin tip or ball tip roasts i found on sale for sandwich meat and good eats. if you practice you can get cheap beef back ribs and make them for a 4-6 dollars a couple racks.

beef ribs (back ribs)

Brisketribs6

• phatbac
• Apr 30, 2018

here is a roast i did almost 3 years ago...

finishedroast.jpg

• phatbac
• Aug 31, 2015

firstsliceroast.jpg

• phatbac
• Aug 31, 2015

slicedtogo.jpg

• phatbac
• Aug 31, 2015

Happy Smoking,
phatbac (Aaron)

 

[SlickRockStones]

I get 8-9# beef knuckles from GFS that run $2.69#. From that we get sirloin tip roasts that if kept med rare and sliced nice and thin make great pit beef.