Food and Drink BBQ/Grill/Smoker Experts: I Need Your Advice

Mama Hip Rockets · 08-09-2011, 08:20 PM

I just bought the Char-Griller 5050. It is a combination gas/charcoal grill. It also has an option to add on a side smoker.

In the user manual, it says that I can use a water pan on half the charcoal side of the grill to smoke meat in about a third of the time that it would take in the side smoker. I've never smoked meat before, so I'm curious to know how similar/different these methods would be.

Has anybody tried the indirect heat method with a water pan on a charcoal grill? How does it compare with the slower smoking, taste-wise? Is it good enough, or should I just shell out the extra $50-$75 for the side smoker?

Here's the grill:

And a picture with the optional side smoker attached:

http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CG4Q8wIwAg

Exoter175 · 08-09-2011, 10:19 PM

Get the side smoker, with the Water Pan you're not going to get nearly the same penetration with the smoke, or anywhere near the same richness into the meat.

That being said, Water Pan setups aren't bad to play with if say, you have a Weber and no other options. But if you're planning to smoke meats, get a true smoker and adjust your heat/smoke settings and play with your chip flavors.

08-09-2011, 10:26 PM

I prefer the side fire box but that's just me. I know there are guys who produce some quality meat with a water pan.

Mama Hip Rockets · 08-09-2011, 11:03 PM

Thanks for the input, guys. Any other BBQ vets who chime in will be appreciated also.

MOhillbilly · 08-10-2011, 07:19 AM

offset smoking box is a must have for smoking/BBQing. Ive used the water pan method many times its great for birds but i wouldnt use it for loin,ribs,brisket ect. Just never had any luck gettin the meat as tender as it should of been.

tooge · 08-10-2011, 07:27 AM

I've used both. In fact, I just sold an offset and my old faithful brinkman vertical so I could by a weber smokey mountain 22inch. I've only smoked on it maybe 5 times, but it is the most consistent heat (225 to 260 for 8 hours easy) and turns out the best food I've ever made. Offsets (side box) do just fine also. You will have a hot side and a less hot side on them and that can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on how much food you are smoking and what types of meat. You will have to tend the fire a bit more on an offset also. Even a good 3/8ths steel unit will need stoking every 3 hours or so.

tooge · 08-10-2011, 07:33 AM

Oh, btw, the weber smokey mountain would be considered a vertical or water pan smoker.

MOhillbilly · 08-10-2011, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tooge

I've used both. In fact, I just sold an offset and my old faithful brinkman vertical so I could by a weber smokey mountain 22inch. I've only smoked on it maybe 5 times, but it is the most consistent heat (225 to 260 for 8 hours easy) and turns out the best food I've ever made. Offsets (side box) do just fine also. You will have a hot side and a less hot side on them and that can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on how much food you are smoking and what types of meat. You will have to tend the fire a bit more on an offset also. Even a good 3/8ths steel unit will need stoking every 3 hours or so.

How much did you throw down for your smokey mnt?

seclark · 08-10-2011, 07:40 AM

i agree w/most of these guys...go ahead w/the side smoker. i'm looking at pretty much the same type of setup. all three parts will come in handy.
sec

KCUnited · 08-10-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

How much did you throw down for your smokey mnt?

KC BBQ Store has them for $399, but I've seen them online for around $350. For the 22.5, that is.

Mama Hip Rockets · 08-10-2011, 08:15 AM

Thanks for the input, everybody. I think I will go out and buy the side smoker today. You guys sold me.

seclark · 08-10-2011, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurman merman

Thanks for the input, everybody. I think I will go out and buy the side smoker today. You guys sold me.

your meat will thank you.
sec

tooge · 08-10-2011, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

How much did you throw down for your smokey mnt?

I sold my side smoker for $600 and my vertical water pan smoker for $150 then turned around and bought the 22" WSM for $399. Winning!

Mama Hip Rockets · 08-10-2011, 08:48 AM

Tips for smoking would be appreciated too. I'm planning on getting some ribs today for my first smoking experience. Any advice from our resident experts on what to do/not do while smoking the meat would be wonderful.

**Predarat** · 08-10-2011, 08:48 AM

Another vote for the side box.

08-09-2011, 08:20 PM
Mama Hip Rockets You don't faze me, Gobble. Join Date: Dec 2005 Casino cash: $10005644	BBQ/Grill/Smoker Experts: I Need Your Advice I just bought the Char-Griller 5050. It is a combination gas/charcoal grill. It also has an option to add on a side smoker. In the user manual, it says that I can use a water pan on half the charcoal side of the grill to smoke meat in about a third of the time that it would take in the side smoker. I've never smoked meat before, so I'm curious to know how similar/different these methods would be. Has anybody tried the indirect heat method with a water pan on a charcoal grill? How does it compare with the slower smoking, taste-wise? Is it good enough, or should I just shell out the extra $50-$75 for the side smoker? Here's the grill: And a picture with the optional side smoker attached: http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CG4Q8wIwAg
Posts: 13,675

08-09-2011, 10:19 PM	#2
Exoter175 Banned Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Olathe Casino cash: $10003166	Get the side smoker, with the Water Pan you're not going to get nearly the same penetration with the smoke, or anywhere near the same richness into the meat. That being said, Water Pan setups aren't bad to play with if say, you have a Weber and no other options. But if you're planning to smoke meats, get a true smoker and adjust your heat/smoke settings and play with your chip flavors.
Posts: 2,327

08-09-2011, 10:26 PM	#3
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	I prefer the side fire box but that's just me. I know there are guys who produce some quality meat with a water pan.
Posts: n/a

08-09-2011, 11:03 PM	#4
Mama Hip Rockets You don't faze me, Gobble. Join Date: Dec 2005 Casino cash: $10005644	Thanks for the input, guys. Any other BBQ vets who chime in will be appreciated also.
Posts: 13,675

08-10-2011, 07:19 AM	#5
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	offset smoking box is a must have for smoking/BBQing. Ive used the water pan method many times its great for birds but i wouldnt use it for loin,ribs,brisket ect. Just never had any luck gettin the meat as tender as it should of been. __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

08-10-2011, 07:27 AM	#6
tooge MVP Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Liberty, MO Casino cash: $3974112	I've used both. In fact, I just sold an offset and my old faithful brinkman vertical so I could by a weber smokey mountain 22inch. I've only smoked on it maybe 5 times, but it is the most consistent heat (225 to 260 for 8 hours easy) and turns out the best food I've ever made. Offsets (side box) do just fine also. You will have a hot side and a less hot side on them and that can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on how much food you are smoking and what types of meat. You will have to tend the fire a bit more on an offset also. Even a good 3/8ths steel unit will need stoking every 3 hours or so.
Posts: 14,978

08-10-2011, 07:33 AM	#7
tooge MVP Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Liberty, MO Casino cash: $3974112	Oh, btw, the weber smokey mountain would be considered a vertical or water pan smoker.
Posts: 14,978

08-10-2011, 07:40 AM	#9
seclark MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: nemo Casino cash: $1709900	i agree w/most of these guys...go ahead w/the side smoker. i'm looking at pretty much the same type of setup. all three parts will come in handy. sec __________________ "Mr. seclark. Wrong for gravy, wrong for jelly, wrong for biscuits." -rj "If every Planeteer who was disliked by another Planeteer stopped being a Planeteer we wouldn't have any Planeteers." -rj
Posts: 13,399

08-10-2011, 08:15 AM	#11
Mama Hip Rockets You don't faze me, Gobble. Join Date: Dec 2005 Casino cash: $10005644	Thanks for the input, everybody. I think I will go out and buy the side smoker today. You guys sold me.
Posts: 13,675

08-10-2011, 08:48 AM	#14
Mama Hip Rockets You don't faze me, Gobble. Join Date: Dec 2005 Casino cash: $10005644	Tips for smoking would be appreciated too. I'm planning on getting some ribs today for my first smoking experience. Any advice from our resident experts on what to do/not do while smoking the meat would be wonderful.
Posts: 13,675

08-10-2011, 08:48 AM	#15
Predarat Run Chiefs fans, run!! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Casino cash: $9973863	Another vote for the side box.
Posts: 10,776