How to turn your gas BBQ into a Smoker

Here’s how to turn the humble gas BBQ into a wonderful smoker in order to create some mouth-watering smokey flavoured lip-smacking food.

Gas BBQ

Lots of folk in the UK are cooking outdoors on gas BBQ’s and there’s nothing wrong with this. OK, so a purist will always prefer to cook on charcoal, and getting a smoke ring on the food usually requires proper charcoal or wood combustion.

However, lots of people like the ease and simplicity cooking on gas gives, there’s a controllability of temperatures that gives many people comfort in their cooking and it’s a lot less prep, so you can get out there and cook outdoors more often.

In my view, any way that makes people feel comfortable and get cooking outdoors is great.

Get Smoking

Ok so you’ve got a gas BBQ/Grill? You can use it as many do; just as a grill, cook a few sausages and burgers. Or you can move into the dark and smoky world of hot smoking.

So what to do if you don’t have a charcoal BBQ or smoker? Well you can turn your gas BBQ into a hot smoker with three easy steps.

How to turn your gas grill into a smoker

1. CLOSE THE LID
2. TURN DOWN THE TEMPERATURE (USE 1 BURNER ON LOW 120-160DEGC)
3. USE A SMOKE BOMB…     A WHAT??…

A smoke bomb will take your gas BBQ to the next level, and is so easy to create.

Lay a sheet of foil down, pop in a handful of smoking chips, such as oak, apple, cherry, beech or birch that have been soaked in water for a few hours in the middle.

Add sprigs of fresh woody herbs, such as thyme or rosemary, and fold over the edges of the foil to make a packet.

Pierce the top of the packet with a knife or pointed implement, and place close to the gas burner on the BBQ, this should start to smoulder away and give your food a lovely smoky flavour.

Try hot smoked salmon or mackerel or any of the classic BBQ ribs or chicken. Why not give it a go this summer, and show me what you create. You can even use these smoke bombs on a charcoal BBQ too.