Last Updated on February 6, 2023
Are you ready to take your BBQ game up a notch? With just a few simple steps, you can turn any gas bbq into an amazing smoker. That’s right – no need for fancy equipment or extra costs. In this guide, we’ll show you how to turn a gas bbq into a smoker so that you can create delicious and smoky meals at home. So let’s get started on turning your gas bbq into a smoker.
Table of Contents:
What You Need to Get Started
Smoking food is a great way to add flavour and texture to your meals. But before you can start smoking, there are some materials and tools that you’ll need in order to get started.
The first thing you’ll need is wood chips or chunks. These will be used as fuel for the smoker, so it’s important to choose the right type of wood depending on what kind of flavour profile you want for your food. Hickory, mesquite, applewood, cherrywood – all these woods provide different flavours when smoked.
You’ll also need aluminium foil and a thermometer. The aluminium foil should be wrapped around the edges of the smoker lid in order to prevent heat from escaping while cooking low-and-slow foods like ribs or brisket. A thermometer will help monitor internal temperatures throughout the smoking process so that your food doesn’t overcook or undercook.
Finally, make sure you have plenty of charcoal on hand if using a gas bbq as your smoker; this will ensure that there’s enough fuel for long cooks such as pork shoulder or beef brisket which require hours upon hours at low temperatures in order to achieve maximum tenderness and flavour.
Once you have all the necessary equipment and supplies, you’re ready to start transforming your gas BBQ into a smoker. Now let’s move on to preparing the BBQ for smoking.
Preparing the BBQ
It’s time to get the BBQ ready for smoking. Before you can start cooking, there are a few steps you need to take in order to ensure your food is cooked properly and safely.
First, it’s important to clean the grill grates. You want them free of any debris or grease that may have been left behind from previous uses. Use a wire brush or scraper to remove any stuck-on bits of food and then wipe down with an oiled cloth or paper towel. This will help prevent sticking when you cook later on.
Next, preheat the grill before adding your food. Preheating helps create an even temperature throughout the entire surface so that all areas cook evenly without burning one spot more than another. To do this, turn all burners up high and close the lid for about 10 minutes until hot enough for cooking (you should be able to hold your hand over it without feeling too much heat). Once heated through, reduce heat as needed according to recipe instructions before adding food to grill grates.
Finally, if using wood chips for additional flavour during the smoking process, soak them in water beforehand for at least 30 minutes so they don’t burn up quickly once added directly onto coals/burners (or use a smoker box if available). After soaking is complete drain off excess liquid and add chips directly onto coals/burners following manufacturer’s instructions – usually just spread out across the top of charcoal bed or place inside smoker box on top of burner(s) depending on the type of bbq being used – then close lid again until smoke begins coming out which indicates chips are beginning to smoulder and release their flavours into air while also helping keep temperatures low inside bbq chamber while smoking takes place over several hours’ time period as desired by user.
Now that everything is set up correctly, you are ready to begin cooking. Follow recipes closely and enjoy delicious smoked foods right from your own backyard.
Once you have your BBQ ready, it’s time to start smoking your food. Follow the next steps for instructions on how to smoke delicious meals.
Smoking Your Food
It’s also relatively easy to do on a gas BBQ, as long as you have the right tools and know-how.
First, you’ll need wood chips or chunks for smoking. These are available in different flavours like hickory, mesquite, applewood and more. You can find them at most hardware stores or online retailers. Once you have your wood chips ready, it’s time to get started.
To begin smoking your food on a gas BBQ, make sure that all of the burners are turned off except one which should be set to low heat (around 200°F). Place the wood chips directly onto this burner and close the lid of the grill so that they can start smouldering without burning up too quickly. If you want more smoke flavour in your dish then use more wood chips but remember not to overload it otherwise it will cause flare-ups when cooking over direct heat later on in the process.
Once the smoker box has been preheated with enough smoke coming out from under its lid (about 10 minutes), place whatever type of meat or vegetables you wish into an aluminium foil tray above this burner – away from any direct flame – making sure there is plenty of space between each piece for even cooking results. Close the lid again and leave it closed until done; checking every 20 minutes or so for doneness using an instant-read thermometer if necessary (for meats).
For pork ribs:
Smoke for 2-3 hours at 225°F before adding barbecue sauce during the last 15 minutes of cook time.
For chicken wings:
Smoke for 1 hour at 250°F before tossing with oil and spices.
For salmon fillets:
Smoke 30-45 minutes at 275°F before brushing with glaze during the last 5 minutes of cook time.
For beef brisket:
Smoke 4-6 hours at 225°F before slicing against the grain once cooled down slightly after removing from grill/smoker box etc.
Finally, let everything rest covered loosely with aluminium foil while still warm so that all juices stay inside resulting in moist flavorful meals every single time.
Conclusion
Learn how to turn a gas BBQ into a smoker is an easily and cost-effectively to get the smoky flavour you love without having to invest in a separate smoker. With just a few simple steps, you can transform your existing BBQ into one that will give your food that delicious smoked taste. Whether its ribs, brisket or pulled pork, smoking on your own homemade smoker will make every meal something special. So why not give it a try? You’ll be glad you did when you turn your gas bbq into a smoker.
Paul is the type of person who never met a problem he couldn’t fix. He can always be found tinkering with something in his house, even if it isn’t broken! His tips and tricks are often shared on our site. He’s the one you call when something breaks because he has been known to improvise fixes for everything from leaky faucets to malfunctioning dryers.