How to use a smoker box on a gas grill

The smoker box comprises thick stainless steel and has resistance against rust, stains, and warping. It retains heat very well and adding good flavor to the food. Do you wonder how to use a smoker box on a gas grill! Don't worry anymore; we will guide you from scratch. First of all, you need to choose the perfect smoker box that suits you. We have disclosed below some of the top smoker boxes based on user's reviews.

1. Carpathen Pellet Smoker Tube 12″

2. Charcoal Companion CC4066

3. Cave Tools Wood Chip Smoker

4. GrillPro 00150

5. Weber 7576

6. Broil King 60190

Now let's learn how to use a smoker box on a gas grill.

Before you start your grilling, clean your grill grate well and always preheat your grate at high flame for some 10 to 20 minutes because this helps in heating your smoker box very quickly.
You can also make your smoker box using aluminum foil covering on a small pan or just making a ball out of your aluminum foil directly. If you are not a regular griller, then you can go for this option.
Now fill your smokebox with smoking chips or chopped dry wood pieces. The type of smoking chips you choose will depend on the food you cook. Load only half the size of your smoker box with dry wood. Hickory or pecan is considered to be the best choice to smoke red meat.
Place your smoker box directly over the gas burner and, after some time, your woods or smoke chips will get hot enough and starts to release their aroma.
Once it starts to release smoke, bring down the temperature from a high flame to a medium flame.
Place your food over the grate, close the lid and allow it to get cooked. The time for cooking depends upon the food you choose to cook.
The Smokey flavor will get distributed thoroughly and gives you a perfect taste.

Types of smoker boxes that you could find:

1. Under-grate smoker boxes

If you are a regular grill user, then under-grate smoker boxes are the best choice for you as it is reusable and made up of stainless steel so do not worry about getting rusted.

2. Over-grate smoker boxes

Over-grate smoker boxes are also stainless steel and come in different shape, which is adjustable.

3. Freestanding smoker boxes

This is used for gas grill grates, burners, and coal-based grilling. Its designs allow it to take more wood chips or pellets for every grilling session.

4. Disposable smoker boxes

These are not reusable, it is made up of aluminum foil and can be used only once. If you are not a regular griller and do not know how to use a smoker box on a gas grill, then don't panic; this method will come in handy, and you can opt for this choice.

Types of wood chips available

Hickory is an aromatic wood loved by many because that adds moderate smokey flavor.
Mesquite adds extra flavor for all types of red meat but does not use it more. It is a block of strong wood and that may spoil your food natural taste,
Apple adds mild sweetness, and it is perfect for pork, poultry, seafood.
Cherry gives you mild sweetness and gets mixed with other woods. This wood is used for grilling pork, beef.
Alder gives you a perfect smokey flavor, and it is best suited for cooking fish.
Oak is used for cooking beef or meat as it gives you a strong flavor, but you must make sure not to use more wood as the texture may overwhelm your food.
Pecan is a seasonal fruitwood. It gives a strong flavor and gets well mixed with other woods.
Pear gives you a crisp and snappy texture. It is best when used to cook poultry or fish.
Peachwood gives you a mild smokey flavor to your food, but this wood does not available in all seasons.

Things to be remembered

1. Do not add too much wood or smoke chips as it may spoil your food flavor.
2. Before cooking, check if you have enough gas left to finish your grilling.
3. Choose the type of smoker basket that suits your cooking.
4. Choose the type of smoker chip that works well for your cooking.
5. Do not overload the smoker box with a wood piece or smoker chips.
6. Soak your wood for about 30 minutes if you want your wood chip to produce more smoke.
7. Always clean your grill grate with a stainless steel grill brush.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need to soak my wood chip?
It is not necessary to soak your wood chip unless if you need more smoke. Let me explain clearly, and you may think that if you use your chip directly without washing, it may catch fire. It is true but not until you have control over your fire. Suppose you do not know how to control the flame, then better to use soaked wood chips. Wet wood gives you extra smoke than the dry one.

What alternative can I use if I don't have a smoker box?
Take a pan and cover it with aluminum foil and add the required amount of smoker chip or you can also use aluminum foil directly, dump the required wood inside your aluminum foil and roll it in a ball shape. Now you can directly use this on your grill.

How to use a smoker box on a weber gas grill?
Place a pan or your smoker box directly over the burner and fill it with the required amount of smoke woods. Turn on the flame to high and keep your food close to the wood chips. Once the chips start to release smoke, please bring it to medium flame and close it with a lid. Closer the food to the smoker box, it absorbs the smoke very well.

How to use a propane smoker?
Cover the propane smoker with aluminum foil and connect the propane tank with the smoker with the propane tank's valve being opened. Now fire it and adjust the temperature as per your requirement and add the wood chips. Burn it until you get smoke out of your damper; keep changing the water and wood for every interval.