How to Build Your Own Charcoal Grill Smoker

Traditional charcoal briquettes are used in a charcoal grill smoker.

There are a variety of smokers that can be built at home such as an electric smoker, water smoker and charcoal smoker. A homemade charcoal grill smoker can be constructed with a few materials. A smoker takes roughly three hours to cook food as it infuses the food with flavors not typically produced with common charcoal grilling.

Things You'll Need

• Charcoal grill
• Grill lid with vent
• Bag of ready-light charcoal
• Matches
• Wood chips
• Small metal pan or
• Small porcelain bowl
• Grill grate
• Metal temperature gauge

Instructions

1. Take three handfuls of flavored wood chips and soak them in water for 45 minutes.

2. Remove the grill grate and lid from the charcoal grill and pour charcoal into the grill, to one side. The charcoal should be filled only halfway up the side of the grill.

3. Fill a small metal pan or porcelain bowl with water. Place the water pan or bowl into the grill, opposite the charcoal.

4. Ignite the charcoal and allow it to burn until hot and a grayish color.

5. Place the soaked wood chips onto the hot coals.

6. Replace the grill grate and arrange the food on the grate, on the side with the water. It's important to keep your food away from direct contact with the coals for accurate smoking. The coils of the grate should be spaced to at least 1/2-inch so you can add more wood chips to the coals throughout the smoking process.

7. Replace the grill lid and position the vent over the food. Insert a metal temperature gauge into one of the vents on the lid. Keep track of the temperature inside the smoker. The temperature should stay below 275 degrees. If the temperature exceeds 275 degrees, remove the lid until it's back within range.

8. Add wood chips to the hot coals throughout the smoking process, approximately every hour. Smoke the food for three to four hours until cooked thoroughly.

References

• SimplyRecipes.com: How To Turn Your Kettle Grill Into A Smoker