TIPS FOR BETTER PELLET GRILLS

Whether you are using your charcoal grill, the 8 in 1 Z Grills® Smoker, or your Gas Grill, smoking is a fantastic way to add extra flavor and fun to your meals. Here are our top tips for better smoking.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Before you light your charcoal, preheat your smoker, and get smoking, you need to determine how long your cook is going to last. You need to take into account things like what time you want to eat dinner and factor in the possibility of a stall. That is how you decide when to proceed. For long smokes like a gigantic brisket, you will need up to 16 hours if not longer, which can lead you to begin to smoke at around 4 am the day of the cook. Smaller things like fish and even ribs only take up to 6 hours, so plan accordingly.

DON'T USE TOO MUCH SMOKE

This is a blog about tips for better smoking, but the thing is, if you use too much smoke, then the food has a tendency to go bitter. You should only smoke food for about 50% of the smoking process, leaving the other 50% of the process to gently cook low and slow using your favorite medium, like charcoal. This is partially due to the fact that fat and water-soluble flavors in the rub help the smoke absorb more readily when the meat is raw. Smoke won’t penetrate into the food once the bark is formed and the food is closer to being done. There are a couple of exceptions to this rule - homemade bacon being one of them. The short time and low temperature of the cook mean that a big smoke won’t turn that delicious hunk of awesome into a bitter mess.

So, you don’t have to smoke the whole time, but what else could you possibly need to know? Quality of smoke is important too. You are looking for a gentle flow of white smoke when you are smoking. Anything darker than a light grey and you will find the smoke flavoring bitter. This is because you’ve got a fire. Black and medium-grey smoke is bad and tastes bitter.

TEMPERATURE IS ESSENTIAL. NO PRESSURE.

The ideal temperature to smoke meat is between 200°F and 275°F. The reason for this is twofold. To melt the fat in the meat, which is then redistributed throughout and to loosen the collagen, which makes the meat tender.

Controlling the temperature of your smoker or charcoal grill can sometimes be challenging. Sunlight, outdoor temperature, and wind can all affect the temperature of the unit you are using. To help with these factors, try to place your smoker in a sheltered (out of the wind but never under a covered area or indoors please) shady area and use the water pan to help modulate temperature. The Z Grills® Smoker  have controls that allow you to simply set and forget. One button start-up eliminates lighter fluid. And a digital controller maintains steady, 

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