Smoking with BBQ Grills
Smoking is a time-honoured cooking method that involves exposing food to flavorful smoke from burning wood chips or pellets. The smoke infuses the food with a distinct smoky aroma and taste, enhancing its flavour profile. Additionally, the slow cooking process of smoking helps to tenderise tougher cuts of meat, resulting in incredibly juicy and melt-in-your-mouth textures. However, not everyone owns a smoker. Luckily, you can actually use your BBQ grill to smoke your meats and make some of the best BBQ in Singapore using some of these techniques! Let’s take a look at how.
Types of BBQ Grills and How to Use them to Smoke
The purpose of smoking is to expose the food to flavourful smoke rather than intense heat. As such, food is cooked indirectly, away from the direct heat source. The heat should ideally be generated separately, in a separate chamber. The smoke is created from burning wood chips, chunks or pellets, which envelops the food, imparting its characteristic flavours. The food cooks slowly over an extended period, allowing the smoke to penetrate and enhance its taste.
When it comes to using a BBQ grill for smoking, it is important to know how exactly you can smoke your meats in the most effective and authentic way. Let’s take a look at the different types of grills that we can use for smoking.
Charcoal Grills
Charcoal grills are often favoured by smoking enthusiasts for their ability to impart that authentic smoky flavour. If you own a charcoal BBQ in Singapore, you can definitely use it as a smoker by setting up a two-zone fire by placing the charcoal on one side and leaving the other side empty, as this arrangement allows for indirect heat cooking, ideal for smoking. Then, by adding soaked wood chips or chunks to the charcoal, you can generate flavorful smoke.
If your charcoal BBQ is a standard 22-inch kettle, then you could even use Napoleon’s diffuser attachment to turn it into a smoker with ease. The diffuser plate and ring allow you to do indirect cooking – it simply sits on top of your charcoal grate and underneath your cooking grill to absorb the direct heat arising from the charcoal and aids in spreading it throughout the kettle for better overall consistent cooking temperatures.
Gas Grills
While primarily designed for direct heat grilling, most gas grills also offer the option to smoke as well. With multiple burners that can be adjusted independently, you can create a two-zone cooking setup for smoking. Some gas grills like the Napoleon Prestige PRO 665 and 825 even feature built-in smoker boxes or dedicated compartments where you can add wood chips or pellets to generate smoke. However, they may not offer the same depth of smoky flavour as using a charcoal BBQ in Singapore.
Electric Grills
Finally, while not commonly used, electric grills can be turned into a smoker. We’re not talking about electric smokers or pellet grills that are more dedicated to using wood as fuel. We’re talking about using a regular electric grill, like the Napoleon Pro285e. You don’t actually need fire to light the smoke of an electric grill. All you need really, is a high-temperature heat source, like the burner of an electric grill, to light the wood chips. The wood chips could be in an aluminium pocket or a smoker box, sitting just above the burner, for the wood to start smoking.
However, it is not likely that you will use an electric grill to smoke, as many people who choose the electric option do so because they might have restrictions in the building they live in about using gas or charcoal grills. Also, it is more efficient to use an electric smoker or pellet grills for smoking.
Tips for Smoking with BBQ Grills
Select the Right Wood Chips for Smoking
The choice of wood chips plays a crucial role in determining the flavour profile of your smoked food. Different types of wood, such as hickory, mesquite, applewood, or cherry, impart distinct flavours. Experiment with various wood chip combinations to find your preferred taste. You can also soak your wood chips in water for about 30 minutes before you use them, as this prolongs their smoking time and prevents them from burning too quickly.
Controlling the Temperature and Airflow
Temperature control is essential for successful smoking. For charcoal grills, adjust the airflow by opening or closing the vents to regulate the heat. For gas and electric grills, adjust the burner knobs to control the temperature. The temperature range for smoking typically falls between 107°C and 135°C. If you are new to the process, you should use a thermometer to monitor the grill’s internal temperature and ensure it remains consistent throughout the smoking process.
Monitoring and Maintaining Smoke Levels
Maintaining a steady flow of smoke is crucial for flavour infusion. Add soaked wood chips or chunks to the charcoal in a charcoal grill or place them in a smoker box or aluminium foil pouch on a gas grill. Replace the wood chips when needed to ensure a consistent smoke supply. Avoid excessive smoke, as it can result in bitter flavours. Thin, wispy smoke is ideal. So take care not to dump half a bag of wood chips in your grill, as this can definitely result in some over-smoked meats.
Choosing the Right Cuts of Meat for Smoking
Selecting the right cuts of meat is essential for achieving tender and flavorful results. Fattier cuts, such as pork shoulder, ribs, or brisket, are well-suited for smoking due to their higher fat content. The slow cooking process will render the fat, resulting in moist and succulent meat. Leaner cuts, such as chicken breasts or turkey breast, can be smoked too, but require careful monitoring to prevent drying out.
Understanding Cooking Times and Techniques
Each type of meat and ingredient has specific cooking times and techniques for smoking. Always research and follow recipes or guides to ensure optimal results. Generally, low and slow cooking is the key to tenderise tough cuts of meat. Plan for longer cooking times, as smoking can take several hours or even overnight, depending on the size and thickness of the food being smoked.
Master The Smoky Art
Smoking is definitely an art of its own, opening up a new world of flavours and culinary possibilities. Whether you opt for a charcoal grill, gas grill or electric grill for your smoking needs; The BBQ Grill Store can help you make some of the best BBQ in Singapore with the right grills and accessories to elevate the entire experience. With Napoleon, Liberty, Tramontina and Masport BBQ grills available, whether you’re hosting a large backyard barbecue or simply enjoying a small gathering with loved ones, The BBQ Grill Store is committed to providing you with the tools and expertise to make your smoking adventures unforgettable.