Meat Smoking for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know Before Getting Started

18th April, 2022

Nothing beats the taste of slow-smoked meat off the smoker. If you’re new to the BBQ game, smoking might seem like an unnecessary step to cooking. However, ask any smoking expert, and they’ll tell you it brings the flavour to the next level, adding that authentic, smoky wood aroma which enriches the experience. 

Here are some tips to keep in mind before pulling out your smoker BBQ for some good old-fashioned meat smoking.

Choose the right wood for good food

There is a variety of wood chips, chunks and pellets that you can use for smoking meat. Alder wood is popular for chicken and seafood, hickory and walnut are best suited to pork and beef, while oak works pretty well with everything. Other choices include cherry, maple and pecan. 

For the best distinctive wood aroma, it’s best to use wood chunks. This is because they last longer, and the longer you have the wood, the more flavour it can give off the meat. If you’re planning for an all-day smoke session, opt for wood chunks. If you want just a couple of hours on the grill, you can go with wood chips. 

Low and slow is the way to go

To enhance the smoky flavour of the meat, we suggest smoking slowly on a low, indirect fire. You can do this by placing the meat on the opposite side of where you’re building the fire. Don’t place the meat directly above the flame.

Use water pans

Consistent temperature is important to prevent the smoked meat from drying out. With a water pan, you can keep the grill humid enough to reach and stay at a consistent temperature. Place the water pan above the coals; the evaporating vapour will keep the meat juicy. You can even mix some herbs with the water to add more flavours to the meat. 

Keep an eye on ventilation

Vents control the airflow in smoker BBQs. The smoke should be able to circulate and flow; otherwise, it stagnates inside the grill. When the smoke fills up the grill too quickly, the temperature burns hotter and the meat will taste like ash. Adjust the vents every so often to cut back on air. If the ventilation is bad, the smoke from your grill turns darker. Keeping the smoke white is the goal. 

Smoke meat like a pro with a smoker BBQ from Gasmate! 

Start your smoking craft right with Gasmate. We offer a range of smoker BBQ units that serve you well in creating mouthwatering meals. Our Charmate Tex Offset Smoker is a great choice for beginners; it allows for low and slow cooking and can handle enough food to feed a crowd.

Gasmate is an iconic Australian brand that supplies innovative portable BBQs and other outdoor kitchen products. 

Find a Gasmate stockist near you here or call 1300174876 for more info.