Sometimes we want to run away from our complicated lives and retreat to a simple one. Most people agree that the smell of a smokey bar-b-q accommodates the escape quite well, taking us back to times when we enjoyed the fun, friends, family and weather.

Expert pitmasters have their smokers ready at all times for those classic outdoor summer cookouts, but not everybody, has space or the money for a professional smoking rig.

This is where the wise proverb “there’s more than one way to skin a cat” comes into play.

With a little innovation, you can enhance your meat cooking by smoking it without the use of a traditional smoker.

Charcoal Grill
If you want that mouthwatering smokey flavor for your grilled meats, in most cases, you need wood. Oak, mesquite and applewood are popular choices.

So, what do you do with the wood?

One method is to soak wood chips in water for about four hours and use the liquid to baste the meat during the cook.

After the soak, sandwich your chips between two sheets of aluminum foil and twist the ends until you end up with the shape of a pouch. Create some ventilation holes to let the smoke out. You’ll put that on top of the coals.

Cook your food on the opposite side of the heat source to get a nice slow cook at about 250°F for four to five hours.

Another alternative? Charcoal kettle grills can make great smokers for large pieces of meat. Throw some chips or dry wood chunks into the coals and cap the lid. This turns the grill into a hefty smoker. Be sure to measure only half as much charcoal as you regularly would to keep the temperature low enough to get a proper slow cook.

Gas Grill
When using a gas grill, you can use the same ventilated foil pouch as the charcoal grill. Put it on the warmer portion of the grates and your meat on the cooler side. As the wood burns, close the smoke in with the lid.

Have inverted flavor bars? There should be enough room to place pieces of wood between them while your food rests directly over it.

The result? Perfectly flavorful, tender meat that tastes (almost) as good as what would come off of a professional smoker. Now all you need to do is dig-in!

Are you always the cook at your outdoor get-togethers, or do you just like to show up and eat? If you’re in the latter category, the fine folks at David’s Soundview Catering are here to help! We can certainly help make your event more memorable when it comes to the food category. Call us today at 203-324-5724.