How to Build Your Own Electric Roaster-Smoker

Building an electric roaster smoker is something that almost anyone can build.

An roaster-smoker is a device for slow-cooking food that uses indirect heat at low, controlled temperatures between 200 and 275 F. You can build an electric smoker-roaster using simple materials like a metal trash can, a temperature gauge and an electric hot plate. You don't have to be an experienced metal worker to assemble a smoker-roaster, and you can build one in an hour.

Things You'll Need

• Large metal trash can
• Trash can lid
• Circular cooking grate
• Drill and drill bit
• Electric hot plate
• Wood chips
• Bowl
• Cool water
• Wood chip box
• Temperature gauge

Instructions

1. Fill a bowl with cool water and place three to four handfuls of wood chips in the water. Let them soak for 45 minutes. You can use wood chips infused with flavors like honey or mesquite, or use small chunks of oak or hickory. You can buy wood chips by the bag at a home store.

2. Drill four holes in the trash can lid roughly 1/4-inch or so in diameter. Three holes are for the smoke will escape, the fourth is for the temperature gauge.

3. Drill a hole near the base of the trash can about an inch in diameter so that the cord from the hot plate can pass through it.

4. Lay the electric hot plate on the bottom of the trash can. Switch the temperature to "High" and pull the cord through the hole near the base.

5. Put the soaked wood chips or hard wood chunks in the wood chip box and place the box on the hotplate. You can buy wood chip boxes at any home store.

6. Place the circular grill grate or rack inside the trash can. The rack should be two inches smaller than the total circumference of the trash can so that it rests snugly near the top. Put the food you plan to cook on top of the grate and cover with the trash can lid.

7. Plug in the electric hot plate and insert the temperature gauge in one of the holes in the lid. Throughout the smoking process, keep an eye on the temperature so that it doesn't exceed 250 F. If it does, remove the lid for a few minutes to allow some of the heat to escape.

8. Smoke the food until cooked through. Expect to wait three to six hours until the food is ready. Remember, smoking food is a long process, but the food will be infused with flavors that you couldn't get on an ordinary grill.

References

• Winecanine.com: The Easy Trash Can Smoker