Our barbecue hub has everything you need to know about good backyard smoking. From mouth-watering BBQ recipes to grill how-to guides, as well as reviews of the latest and best smoker equipment.
Our in-depth how-to guides show you every technique you need to know to master low and slow cooking, and our detailed guides to equipment will show you every bit of gear you need to turn from pit amateur to smoker pro!
What Is Beef Shank? [Buying, Prep & Cooking Guide] - Beef shank is a lean cut of meat that yields an intense flavor when smoked, braised or cooked sous vide… ...
Hickory vs. Mesquite: BBQ Smoking Woods Compared - Hickory and mesquite are popular barbecue smoking woods with intense smoky flavors and thick blue smoke. But which one should… ...
Smoking Meat for Beginners: 7 Quick Tips - Barbecue is one of the world’s purest forms of outdoor cooking. And the good news is that BBQ can be… ...
How to Cure Meat at Home - Meat curing at home is a lot easier than you think. Learn how to prepare pork sausage or ham for… ...
What is Beef Brisket? - Beef brisket is one of the best cuts of meat for barbecue. With a deep and intense flavor, it is… ...
8 Best American BBQ Styles [Types of Barbecue Explained] - American barbecue is one of the cornerstones of cuisine in the USA. But with four main regional styles, as well… ...
How to Season an Electric Smoker - Seasoning your electric smoker is the best way to protect your backyard barbecue cooker from rust, bacteria, and grime. Learn… ...
How to Smoke with Pecan Wood Chips - Pecan smoking wood is one of the barbecue world's most popular wood chip choices thanks to its mildly sweet aroma.… ...
How to Shred Pork [4 Best Ways to Pull Meat] - Pulled pork is one of life's most delicious pleasures, but you need the right techniques and tools to shred meat… ...
8 Best Woods for Smoking Salmon (Alder, Apple & More) - Find out the best flavored smoking woods for one of the best BBQ fish out there: Salmon. Alder, hickory, maple,… ...
What is the Maillard Reaction? - The Maillard Reaction gives browned meat its unique and delicious flavor. Discover what it is and how it can improve… ...
What is Brisket Bark? How to Get it Right - Brisket bark is the perfect finish to any smoked beef. Learn the meat science behind it and how to develop… ...
What is Tri-Tip Steak? [Cooking, Smoking & Grilling Guide] - Beef tri-tip is a delicious cut of meat that has an ever-growing army of fans. But what exactly is it,… ...
What is Pork Loin? [Everything You Need to Know] - Pork loin roast is a lean and tender cut of meat that's beautiful fresh off the grill or smoker. Find… ...
8 Primal Cuts of Beef [Everything You Need to Know] - Beef is unlike any other meat and, with over 60 possible cuts to choose from, it can be daunting to… ...
Pork Butt vs Pork Shoulder: Which One is Best? (3 Big Differences) - Find out the big differences between pork butt and pork shoulder, and the best ways to cook them. BBQ pork… ...
How to Dry Brine Meat [Turkey, Brisket, Steak, Chicken] - Dry brining is the best way to improve the quality of your cooked meat. Using just salt, we can lock… ...
6 Best Types of Beef Ribs (Short, Back, Chuck, Plate, & More) - Smoked beef ribs offer an incredible amount of meat, fat, and bone marrow, making them the perfect choice for your… ...
4 Best Cuts of Beef for Jerky (and How to Make It) - Ready to make your own homemade jerky? Get the lowdown on everything you need to know for choosing the best… ...
How to Use a Pellet Grill [Easy Smoker Tips & Tricks] - For wood pellet newcomers, pellet grills and smokers are an excellent way to get into barbecue. Learn how to get… ...
Money Muscle: What Is It, How to Carve It, and Smoking Ideas - The pork 'money muscle' is tender and beautifully marbled with fat, that will give you melt-in-your-mouth flavor unlike anything else.… ...
Chicken Tenderloin vs Breast: What’s the Difference? - We all know chicken breast and tenders, but with contrasts in size, shape, and price, there's more separating the two… ...
What is the BBQ Stall? - The BBQ stall is a problem familiar to every pitmaster. Knowing how to overcome it is the key to perfect… ...
How to Make Wood Chips for Smoking - Wood chips are the perfect fuel for your barbecue smoker. But can you make your own? Learn how to make… ...
How to Cold Smoke Salmon [Brine, Cure & Recipe] - Cold smoked salmon is the perfect way to enjoy one of our favorite plates of fish. Made with a salt-water… ...
BBQ Tip: How Much Pulled Pork Do You Need per Person? - Say 'pulled pork' to any BBQ meat fan and you'll be met with a drooling crowd. While it's fun to… ...
8 Best Types of BBQ Smokers [Offset, Pellet, Propane & More] - Transform your backyard barbecue with our meat smoker guide. From charcoal offset smokers to electric and propane gas cookers, here's… ...
5 Best Wood Pellets for Smoking (Rated & Reviewed) - Barbecue wood pellets elevate food and meat to a new level, infusing them with a range of delicate flavors. From… ...
5 Best Woods for Smoking Prime Rib - For the perfect barbecue rib roast, you need the right smoking wood. But which hardwood will give the right aromas… ...
How to Use an Electric Smoker (7 Easy Steps) - Take your smoking game to the next level. Find out everything you need to know for using an electric smoker.… ...
6 Best Woods for Smoking Ham - For the perfect barbecue whole ham, you need the right smoking wood. But which hardwood will give the right aromas… ...
5 Best Woods for Pulled Pork (BBQ Smoking) - Wanting to take your BBQ pork to the next level? Here are 5 of the very best types of wood… ...
Pork Cushion [What Is It, Where to Get It, and How to Smoke It] - Pork cushion is a delicious cut of meat that's perfect for smoking. We delve into everything you need to know… ...
New York Strip Steak vs Ribeye - What are the differences between New York strip and ribeye steak? Here's everything you need to know about two of… ...
Smoke Ring: How to Get it Right - A good smoke ring is a badge of honor for barbecue fans and pit masters worldwide. Find out how to… ...
How to Build a DIY Offset Smoker - Build your own offset smoker with our full how-to walkthrough. Replicate the perfect barrel smoker design and custom fit with… ...
What is Texas-Style BBQ?: Everything You Need to Know - Texas barbecue is unlike any other food culture. Find out what makes it special with our Texas BBQ style guide,… ...
Wet Wood Chips vs Dry: Stop Soaking Your Wood Chips - Why you should stop soaking wood chips for smoking. Everything you need to know about water absorption, smoldering, heat-up time,… ...
4 Best Woods for Smoking Turkey (and 3 to Avoid) - Everything you need to know about wood for smoking the perfect turkey at your next barbecue. A whole turkey is… ...
Tri Tip vs Brisket (4 Big Differences) - Tri tips and briskets are considered to be among the best cuts of beef for smoking. Here's everything you need… ...
What is an Offset Smoker? Everything You Need to Know - What is an offset smoker and how does it work? Find out everything you need to know about the traditional… ...
Prime Rib vs Ribeye - What are the characteristics of prime rib vs ribeye? Knowing the difference between different cuts of meat when you are… ...
How to Build a Cold Smoker - Want to smoke your own fish and cheese in your backyard? Learn how to build your own DIY cold smoker… ...
How to Store Wood Pellets (6 Storage Tips & Ideas) - Natural wood pellets are one of the best fuels for delicious barbecue, but what’s the best way to store them?… ...
Cold Smoking vs. Hot Smoking Meat: Everything You Need To Know - What are the differences between cold and hot smoking, and when should you use each method? Our backyard cooking guide… ...
Minion Method: Low and Slow Cooking Made Easy - Need a sure-fire way to get your charcoal to last for hours? The Minion Method is one of the best… ...
How to Cut Brisket in 5 Easy Steps - Find out everything you need to know with our step-by-step guide to cutting the perfect brisket. Brisket is one of… ...
4 Types of Pork Ribs [Baby Back, Spareribs & More] - Not sure where to start with your next rack of smoked BBQ ribs? From baby back to spareribs, here’s everything… ...
Should You Smoke Brisket Fat Side Up or Down? - How does meat placement affect barbecue? Does it even matter? Find out everything you need to know with your guide… ...
How to Insulate Your Smoker - Are you looking for a way to use your BBQ smoker through the winter? Learn how to insulate your smoker… ...
7 Best Woods for Smoking Ribs (BBQ Tip) - Cooking with smoking woods is the best way to make your barbecue ribs tender and smokey every time. From mesquite,… ... Cold Smoking Guide: Best Tips, Techniques & Gear - Make perfect home-smoked cheese and salmon every time with our full guide to cold smoking. Tips, techniques, and the best… ...
8 Best Offset Smoker Mods You Can Get Today - Check out these easy upgrades you can get for your offset smoker today. From ways to improve its heat distribution,… ...
How to Build a Rotisserie Smoker - Looking for a new backyard DIY barbecue project? Learn how to build your own rotisserie BBQ smoker with our step-by-step… ...
Do You Soak Wood Chips for an Electric Smoker? - Soaking wood chunks for barbecue is a popular stage of electric smoker preparation for many outdoor cooks. Is it just… ...
BBQ Tip: How to Inject Meat for Smoking - Injecting a good marinade into BBQ meat before smoking it is one of the best ways to infuse your food… ...
5 Best Turkey and Chicken Injection Recipes (BBQ, Smoking, Grilling) - These best marinade injection recipes will help you get the best out of your smoked turkey and chicken this holiday… ...
Beef Brisket Injection: Best Recipe & Guide - Injecting marinade into your brisket is one of the best ways to improve the moisture, texture, and flavor of your… ...
How to Keep Meat Warm: 8 Easy & Safe Ways - Stop your barbecue beef, pork and chicken going cold. From slow cookers to outdoor grills, here are eight quick and… ...
7 Best Cuts of Beef to Smoke (& How to Cook Them Perfectly) - Smoked beef is one of the definitive American barbecue meats. From brisket to chuck roast, short rib to flank steak,… ...
5 Best Woods for Smoking Chicken [Pecan, Hickory, Applewood] - Barbecued chicken is best when smoked over the right woodchips. It’s the best technique to improve the flavor profile of… ...
How to Smoke Cheese [Cold Smoking Guide] - An easy way to make your own smoked cheese at home. Beautifully smoked in applewood on your BBQ smoker before… ...
BBQ Tip: How to Season an Offset Smoker - Got yourself a brand new offset smoker? Before you start ramping up the fire you'll need to give it a… ...
How to Smoke Ribs on a Gas Grill - Ready to cook one of the best loved BBQ meats out there? Perfectly smoked ribs are fall-off-the-bone delicious and packed… ...
6 Best Ways to Reheat Pulled Pork - Pulled pork is a pillar of smoked barbecue food. But how do you make sure that the next day's leftovers… ...
13 Best Meats to Smoke at Your Next BBQ (Infographic) - From best woods, to cooking times, to target temperatures, here's everything you need to know to choose the best meats… ...
When to Wrap Brisket [BBQ Tip] - From when to do it to how, here is everything you need to know about wrapping smoked BBQ brisket. If… ...
Propane vs Electric Smoker [6 big differences] - Wondering whether you should get a propane smoker or an electric smoker? Decisions, decisions, decisions. Knowing what you can expect… ...
Offset Smoker Tuning Plates [Best Plates & Installation Guide] - Upgrade your offset smoker with tuning plates. Find out why this is one of the best smoking mods you can… ...
BBQ Tip: How to Tell When Jerky is Done (5 Easy Ways) - Beef jerky is one of the best camping and hiking snacks out there, and is also a great addition to… ...
How to Use a Propane Smoker - Propane gas smokers have unlocked backyard barbecue for a new generation of pitmasters. Master your smoker's ignition, temperature control, airflow,… ...
How to Use a Charcoal Grill as a Smoker - Ready to take your BBQ game up a level? Follow this step-by-step method to turn your regular charcoal grill into… ...
Goat vs Lamb: Which One is Best? (3 Big Differences) - Goat meat has been surging in popularity over the past few years, with some calling it a healthier alternative to… ...
How to Trim Spare Ribs - Want to cook the perfect spare ribs? It all starts with the preparation. Here’s how to trim spare ribs the… ...
7 Best BBQ Sauce Alternatives for Ribs - Found yourself short on BBQ sauce, or simply just want to try something else on your BBQ ribs? Here are… ...
BBQ Tip: How to Season a Vertical Smoker - Seasoning helps you protect your smoker against damage and rust. Read my step-by-step guide on how to season your new… ...
Can I Smoke Frozen Meat? [Burning Questions] - If you've left everything to the last minute then you might need to smoking your beautiful cut of meat straight… ...
Pork Belly vs Bacon: 7 Big Differences - Pork belly and bacon are both often derived from the belly of the pig, which has led to confusion over… ... How to Regulate Temperature in Your Smoker (10 Easy Steps) - When it comes to outdoor smoking, there's nothing more important than good temperature control. Getting your choice of meat and… ...
How to Season a New Smoker (BBQ Tip) - Ready for your next cook-off with your flashy new BBQ gear? Before you get going you're going to need to… ...
BBQ Tip: Can You Smoke Meat at 150°F? - What's the lowest temperature you can smoke meat at? Find out how you should be smoking pork, ribs, brisket, and… ...
The Snake Method: How to Transform Your Charcoal Grilling & Smoking - If you’re new to low and slow BBQ smoking and unsure where to start, then learning the Snake Method is… ...
Smoker Water Pans (How to Use Them & Why They Work) - Adding water to your smoker might seem counter intuitive, but using a water pan is one of the best ways… ...
How to Build Your Own DIY Pellet Smoker - Whether you’re new to meat smoking, or are a seasoned pro who wants to take on the ultimate DIY challenge,… ...
How to Clean an Electric Smoker (7 Easy Steps) - Electric smokers are easy to use and reliable, but clearing them up can be a whole different story. Learn how… ...
BBQ Tip: How Long to Brine Pork Shoulder (7 Easy Steps) - Get your pork meat prep right. From brining recipes, to brining times, here's everything you need to know for brining… ...