How to Add 'Smoke' to Your Gas Grilling

This weekend I was reading and doing some research on several Internet grilling and BBQ sites, and, as always, I ran across several articles and posts regarding:

THE GREAT GAS VS. CHARCOAL DEBATE

This is a never ending debate in the grilling/BBQ world and has been best described by Steven Raichen, author of several award-winning grilling cookbooks.

“A Great deal of ink, beer and maybe blood have spilled over the great debate:
Charcoal or Gas.”

I think it’s safe to say that the general consensus on the matter is that Charcoal/Wood grilling imparts a superior flavor to the food being grilled but who doesn’t like the consistent/instant heat and convenience of a gas grill? 

I agree that a gas grill will never give you the barbecue flavor that you get from charcoal and/or wood, but with a little effort you can get fairly close. 

Let me introduce you to the SMOKER BOX. 

A smoker box is a container that holds wood chips, restricts the air flow (so the chips don’t catch fire and burn up), contains the ash and allows the chips to smolder and produce smoke.

How do they work, or should I say how are they used?

You simply fill the Smoker Box with SOAKED wood chips and set it on the edge of one of your grill's burners. You may have to experiment to find the best location to place your smoker box in your grill. Once placed on the burner the chips inside the smoker box will begin to smolder and fill your gas grill with smoke.

A quick word or two on using wood chips: It’s very important that you soak them in water for a couple hours before you plan to start cooking.  If you don’t soak the wood chips they tend to catch fire and you get a quick burst of smoke that doesn’t do much. You want the chips to smolder and smoke.

Wood chips are available at most grocery stores and home improvement centers. There are several varieties to choose from, including fruit woods, hickory and mesquite to name just a few. Mesquite is often used when cooking steaks and other beef cuts. In a future blog I will cover what woods go best with what foods.

So you ask, "Where can I get one of these Smoker Boxes?"

They can be purchased online and at several local retailers (Target, Gander Mountain, Lowe's, etc). They are made of metal — everything from cast iron to stainless steel — and range in price depending on quality and type of metal (see picture). 

If you have a little MacGyver in you, you can build a simple Smoker Box with food cans.

The first version uses two cans. Cut the top off of a can, punch holes in the other end and set it in a larger can.  You place your soaked wood chips in the smaller can, put the larger can on top, flip it over and set it on a grate (see picture).

Here is another version. If you have a can opener that cuts a bead around the can, just rinse the can out, put the top back on, punch a few holes in the lid with a bottle opener. Fill the can with soaked wood chips, put the lid on and away you go (see picture).

NOTE: Be careful not to use cans that are lined, like those used for tomatoes. Lined cans usually have a white interior.

Last but not least is the smoker pouch, which is a one-use option.

Tear off two pieces of cooking foil about one foot in length (one piece if it's heavy duty foil).  Put one to two cups of soaked wood chips on one side as shown. Fold one half over the other and double-fold each open end to create a sealed packet.

Punch eight to ten holes in the top of the packet using a knife. Lay the packet on one corner of your grills burner/rocks.

Well, there you have it, the best of both worlds. 

With just a little effort you can take enjoy the convenience of your gas grill and not forgo the smokey goodness that comes from grilling your food over a wood or charcoal fire.