When do you add the wood for smoke

RandyC · February 2018

my current process is to get the charcoal in a small mound and put the smoking wood around the perimeter of the coals. Then I light my starter blocks and when the fire is hot enough in the center I smooth out the mound and let the temps stabilize for about 30 minutes before adding place setter and meat. My question in Regards to this method is whether or not a lot of the wood will have already burned up before I ever put the meat on the grill.

can you guys tell me how you do it?

thanks

evie1370 · February 2018

I wait till I am ready to shut the dome-fire has reached a good spot depending on what temp I am aiming for. Then I add the wood, add plate setter and grid and let the temperature stabilize. That usually takes about 30 minutes. I have never burned through my wood by the time I put the meat on the grill. If you are concerned about that I would layer wood chunks in with the charcoal-I have done that on very long cooks-like a brisket.

Carolina Q · February 2018

I place 2-3 chunks here and there, nestled into the lump. Light the lump in several places near the smokewood. Then, I add the furniture (PS, grid, etc), set my vents for the target temp and close the dome. Come back later with the food.

Don't understand why you would wait to add the furniture. You get to temp and then you put a cold chunk of ceramic in there? Let it all (except the meat) come to temp together.

xfire_ATX · February 2018

Carolina Q said:

Don't understand why you would wait to add the furniture. You get to temp and then you put a cold chunk of ceramic in there? Let it all (except the meat) come to temp together.

I bring it all up together so I add any wood flavoring at the start as it will all be hot and covered up later.

Tspud1 · February 2018

Short cook or long cook? Mix at all levels for long or wait until it's going good for short cooks and throw on top level

Hans61 · February 2018

I mix chips into the lump about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way to the edge. I’ll also usually add one chunk just off to the side of the fire before adding plate setter. I like to mix 2 different types of wood usually

Teefus · February 2018

When I get the temp stabilized I'll lift the plate setter and throw a few fist size chunks of wood in the lump. One right in the burning coals and a couple off to the side a bit to burn later in the cook.

dmourati · February 2018

+1 nestle in the lump.

bgebrent · February 2018

Tspud1 said:

Short cook or long cook? Mix at all levels for long or wait until it's going good for short cooks and throw on top level

This is what matters. Long cook spread it out. Short cook, put it around the top of the fire.

When do you add the wood for smoke

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