How to Make a Refrigerator Smoker

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Smokehouses used to be commonplace, but today, finding one is becoming difficult. Building a simple smoker for your backyard will allow you to smoke a variety of meats and cheeses for your own use.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Non-working Refrigerator (Not side by side)
One 3 foot length of 1 1/2 inch OD metal tubing
Drill with 1 1/2 inch hole saw and ¾ inch drill bits
Hibachi or other small grill

Step1

Locate a non-working refrigerator. Those with the freezer on the bottom work best, but any refrigerator with an upper and lower door will do fine.

Step2

Remove any hardware, coils, tubing or other features from the outside of the refrigerator.

Step3

Turn the refrigerator to where the smallest compartment (usually the freezer) is on the bottom.

Step4

Use the drill and a ¾ inch drill bit to drill holes between the freezer and refrigerator compartments. Space the holes out evenly throughout the interior of the refrigerator.

Step5

Use the drill and hole saw to cut a 1 ½ inch round hole through the top of the refrigerator into the compartment below.

Step6

Use a mallet to drive the pipe halfway through the round hole, leaving a portion of the pipe extending on the inside and the outside of the refrigerator.

Step7

Start a small cooking fire in the hibachi or small grill. Place the grill in the smaller (bottom) compartment of the refrigerator. Leave the door open until the fire is hot.

Step8

Add the smoking wood of your choice to the grill. Close the door. The smoke will travel through the holes between compartments and out through the pipe at the top.

Tips & Warnings

Soaking the wood of your choice in water overnight will aid in the smoking process.
Use the refrigerator racks to lay out different meats.
Add hooks in the ceiling of the smoker compartment to hang heavier meats.
Never leave the refrigerator smoker unattended. Check frequently to make sure the fire is going and the smoke is rising.
Place the smoker in an area free of trees, scrubs or buildings to avoid accidental fire.