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Terminology question

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ETBee
ETBee Posts: 46
in EggHead Forum
If I cook something indirect with no wood chunks - am I grilling it, baking it, or smoking it?  What is the difference between just cooking something and smoking it?
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  • Village Idiot
    Village Idiot Posts: 6,959
    edited November 2012
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    My thoughts (YMMV)

    If you cook indirect without chunks, you are baking (or roasting).
    If you cook direct with a hot fire, you are grilling
    If you cook low and slow, indirect, with wood, you are smoking.

    __________________________________________

    Dripping Springs, Texas.
    Just west of Austintatious


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  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
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    Agree with VI...except sometimes I think people associate temp with smoking regardless of whether or not additional wood is added. For example, 275 or under is "smoking temp".

    I struggle with the difference between roasting and baking. One thought is it is just a matter of what you are cooking. A hunk of beef at 350 is roasting; an apple pie at 350 is baking.

    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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  • gdenby
    gdenby Posts: 6,239
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    SmokeyPitt said:
     I struggle with the difference between roasting and baking. One thought is it is just a matter of what you are cooking. A hunk of beef at 350 is roasting; an apple pie at 350 is baking.
    Yes, the terms seem to be just a language convention. Nobody roasts a pie. But I do associate baking w. somewhat higher temperatures. A pizza can be baked at 600, but a piece of meat will be broiled or seared.

    And other things become confusing. BBQ is always cooked in the presence of smoke, But smoking, more strictly speaking, is always done at a lower temperature than 'Q.


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  • Griffin
    Griffin Posts: 8,200
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    Would indirect with smoke at over 350 be smoke roasting?

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

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  • Mighty_Quinn
    Mighty_Quinn Posts: 1,878
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    Smoasting
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  • Village Idiot
    Village Idiot Posts: 6,959
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    Griffin said:
    Would indirect with smoke at over 350 be smoke roasting?
    No.  Technically that's called "burning your gasket".   :))
    __________________________________________

    Dripping Springs, Texas.
    Just west of Austintatious


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  • Griffin
    Griffin Posts: 8,200
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    What's a gasket?

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

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  • Village Idiot
    Village Idiot Posts: 6,959
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    So, you been doing some smoke roasting, huh?

    __________________________________________

    Dripping Springs, Texas.
    Just west of Austintatious


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  • Griffin
    Griffin Posts: 8,200
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    Yes, but I think some pizzas and steaks took care of the gasket.

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
    edited November 2012
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    Ah, English - the hardest language to learn (or so it has been said). 
    I agree with VI, keep it simple. 
    "If you cook indirect without chunks, you are baking (or roasting).
    If you cook direct with a hot fire, you are grilling If you cook low and slow, indirect, with wood, you are smoking."
    The question remains regarding roasting and baking - If an oven or an egg, set-up for indirect no smoke, has a stable temp of 350, and you put in a pie, cookies, lasagna or a potato with the skin on, we usually say we are baking. Put in some cut up potatoes or vegetables, peeled or un-peeled with some oil and herbs, poultry or a piece of meat and we are now roasting.  Great question. 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • SmokinDAWG82
    SmokinDAWG82 Posts: 1,705
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    I cook on mine!
    LBGE
    Go Dawgs! - Marietta, GA
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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 32,741
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    i do low and slows direct raised grid all the time, with or without wood i would tend to think its smoking as long as theres some lump
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • hogaholic
    hogaholic Posts: 225
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    In my convection wall mount oven, baking means the heat is generated from below the food.  Using the roasting setting results in heat from the burners both below and above the food.
    Jackson, Tennessee. VFL (Vol for Life)
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  • burr_baby33
    burr_baby33 Posts: 503
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    I keep it pretty simple.  Every night I just go out back, fire up the egg and cook dinner.  Not sure what to call it.
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  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414
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    both use dry heat to accomplish the task of cooking.  The Joy of Cooking defines roasting as a subset of baking. Baking works through using convection to cook food. Roasting uses the same application of heat, but not entirely through convection, as little convection occurs in solids.

    Reluctant Gourmet explains the difference as: " You generally roast food that has structure already, solid foods such as meats and vegetables. You generally bake foods that don’t have much structure until they are baked: cakes, breads, pies, casseroles, crème brulee, etc."

    As long as it's tasty, I'll partake.
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  • gte1
    gte1 Posts: 379
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    So what am I doing when I do my ribs @350 indirect with wood?
    George
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
    edited November 2012
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    Best definition I have ever heard is that if the item has a fairly solid form it is roasted. If it doesn't have a fairly solid form it is baked. Roasting usually uses some fat as well. Think "baked potatoes" vs "roasted potatoes"

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • Deckhand
    Deckhand Posts: 318
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    Cooking "raised direct" (high in the dome) combines grilling and roasting/smoking.  Definitely not the sear associated with "grilling" but you can get a nice brown surface on your chicken or burgers.  Results similar to "smoking" with a big drum smoker without an indirect piece.
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  • Hi54putty
    Hi54putty Posts: 1,873
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    I call it all "Egging"
    XL,L,S 
    Winston-Salem, NC 
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    I call it "pairing".

    When cooking direct, I prefer a extra hopped IPA or a dry Japanese brew like Kirin or Sapporo.

    Cooking indirect, a sipping bourbon or diet coke and bourbon are preferred.

    Pizza (hot indirect) takes a lot of concentration - requires an insulated mug, lots of ice and either a rum or vodka based concoction.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • SmokinDAWG82
    SmokinDAWG82 Posts: 1,705
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    nolaegghead said:
    I call it "pairing". Cooking indirect, a sipping bourbon or diet coke and bourbon are preferred.
    I must partially disagree NOLA, Indirect cooks take much longer and therefore should start early with a Bloody Mary or two, the bourbon drinks don't start until you reach the stall!
    B-)
    LBGE
    Go Dawgs! - Marietta, GA
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    SmokinDAWG82 said:
    nolaegghead said:
    I call it "pairing". Cooking indirect, a sipping bourbon or diet coke and bourbon are preferred.
    I must partially disagree NOLA, Indirect cooks take much longer and therefore should start early with a Bloody Mary or two, the bourbon drinks don't start until you reach the stall!
    B-)
    I'll concede the bloodys are a good idea - at least if it's in the AM.... :D
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • SigP
    SigP Posts: 25
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    Beer in the morning -- Bourbon in the afternoon.
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