Something for the person who has everything…except a smoker

Putting a smoker box on a propane grill won’t turn it into a Big Green Egg, but it’s a convenient and way cheaper method to add a hint of flavor to your meat. 

All you need is a smoker box and some chips.  I bought a nice, stainless steel Weber box at Ace Hardware for $35, but you can find different brands online for half that price. 

Next is the chip decision: hickory, mesquite, applewood, cherry, or pecan?  Dad has been using hickory for a while and is a big fan.  He collects it off their property, but you can buy small bags of chips for around $6. 

There is a little prep involved.  First, you need to soak the chips in water.  The bag says a minimum of 30 minutes, but soaking at least a few hours is probably a better idea.  Soak enough to chips to fill your smoker box – about one-quarter of a small chip bag. 

The next bit of prep is putting the chip-filled box on the grill directly over a burner and letting it heat for about 20 to 30 minutes on the high setting.  There won’t be any mystery about when it’s ready.  As soon as the smoke starts, turn the burner way down or that chip smoke will turn into flames before long. 

Now, it’s time to add the meat.  You should have enough smoke for up to 30 minutes of grilling time. 

Enjoy the flavor!