During the holiday weekend I purchased a new gas grill/charcoal smoker. I know its not the best smoker on the planet but I'm sure it will serve me and my family well.
I am a COMPLETE NEWBIE when it comes to using a smoker. Please bear with me and the 3 million neophyte questions I'm sure I will have. I'm really looking forward to leaning how to smoke meats to create tasty meals for my family and friends. I just want to do it properly.
Some of my initial questions are....
1. Is there anything I need to do to "prep" my new smoker? If so, what is the preferred method? I believe I read somewhere that this is called "seasoning".
2. When it comes to charcoal. Is there an industry standard or a type that is a little more "newbie" friendly?
3. What is the preferred/easiest method to light the charcoal? I'm sure that lighter fluid is completely out of the question.
4. When the smoker starts to "lose temperature" do I just add more charcoal to the initial charcoal?
5. Brinkman makes a "smoker box". Is this something I should purchase and put my soaked wood chips in? Or should I just add the soaked chips directly to the charcoal fire? If I do use "the box", how do I add more charcoal? Just move the box to the side?
6. Is any of the hardwood that is used in smoking more "newbie friendly" than others?
These are a few of the questions that I have been thinking about today. I'm sure as I get further along into this new way of cooking that I'll have many many more questions. ANY and ALL help, advice, and/or tutelage is GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Thanks for reading.
I am a COMPLETE NEWBIE when it comes to using a smoker. Please bear with me and the 3 million neophyte questions I'm sure I will have. I'm really looking forward to leaning how to smoke meats to create tasty meals for my family and friends. I just want to do it properly.
Some of my initial questions are....
1. Is there anything I need to do to "prep" my new smoker? If so, what is the preferred method? I believe I read somewhere that this is called "seasoning".
2. When it comes to charcoal. Is there an industry standard or a type that is a little more "newbie" friendly?
3. What is the preferred/easiest method to light the charcoal? I'm sure that lighter fluid is completely out of the question.
4. When the smoker starts to "lose temperature" do I just add more charcoal to the initial charcoal?
5. Brinkman makes a "smoker box". Is this something I should purchase and put my soaked wood chips in? Or should I just add the soaked chips directly to the charcoal fire? If I do use "the box", how do I add more charcoal? Just move the box to the side?
6. Is any of the hardwood that is used in smoking more "newbie friendly" than others?
These are a few of the questions that I have been thinking about today. I'm sure as I get further along into this new way of cooking that I'll have many many more questions. ANY and ALL help, advice, and/or tutelage is GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Thanks for reading.