Adding wood chips during the cook

swbouton

I’ve used a few recipes that ask me to add wood chips during the cook, after the plate setter has been installed and the meat is on the fire.  I can’t figure out a way to do this without removing the meat and the plate-setter, adding the chips, and having the BGE open way too long.  Is there some mysterious way you folks do this?

The recipe that brought my attention to this was for a turkey which I started to brine tonight. http://www.biggreenegg.com/recipes/smoked-turkey/

I’d appreciate your suggestions. 

Thanks,

Steve

Little Steven

Just mix your chips in with your lump. You won't see a lot of smoke but you will smell and taste it.

dlk7

I mix in chunks throughout the lump and it will smoke for over 24 hours.

Charlesmaneri

I do the same as dlk7 and never have a shortage of smoke 

SmokinDAWG82

+1, no need to add if you disperse it throughout

caliking

I use dry chunks from the start,  a few dispersed around the firebox and get the desired results. i don't add anything during the cook, because i'm not a fan of moving hot items during the cook. Usually 2-3 fist sized chunks depending on what I'm cooking and for how long. Overnight cooks get more chunks.  I'm not sure I understand the benefit of wood chips mixed throughout the lump, but I'm no expert and there are many things I don't understand

Botch

I do often add chips to the coals with the platesetter in place, before the grill/meat goes on.  I slide the tip of a garden trowel between the outer bowl and the platesetter, at about a 60-70 degree angle, and then carefully pour the chips onto the trowel from a 16-oz plastic Iowa State University beer cup purchased in October 1979 at the Kansas/ISU game (it was cloudy and cold).  I'm sure a New Mexico State University cup will work as well.  

Botch

I wanted to add that, I usually don't use up that much lump during a cook, and there's a lot of unburned chips left when I start the next cook (why I've never mixed the chips throughout the lump).  But then, I've never exclaimed "OMFG there's some maple in my pecan chicken spatchcock!" either.  

FWIW...  

EagleIII

In a pinch when I felt I was out of smoke, I added a couple chunks of wood through the bottom vent and pushed them further in with the ash rake.  That way - you don't have to open the dome and believe it or not, the chunk has no problem catching and pushing smoke up through the lump and into your meat.

Mickey

Just what was said is 100% correct. BUT, for those of us always riding the short yellow bus to school: Just drop the chips (chunks will  not fit) down the side and then use a tool to scrape them into the fire pit off the side. I use my GridLifter or Mini ash rake tool. Lots of things work. Think long screwdriver.

swbouton

Thank you all for your help.  I do appreciate it.