You can enjoy restaurant-style smokey food, all thanks to vertical charcoal smokers. Do you know how to use a vertical charcoal smoker? It can be a little complicated if you are a beginner and don’t have an instruction menu.
Moreover, Using a charcoal smoker requires knowledge about its working. A vertical charcoal smoker is best for outdoor trips and gatherings. It is very convenient and portable. The taste of smoky food will make your day full of unforgettable delight.
The food cooked in a charcoal smoker tastes as good as wood-fired smokey food. Temperature control in these smokers solely depends on the amount of charcoal you add. Wood can also be added for more restaurant-style smokey-flavored food.
This smoker has an amazing feature to control the airflow and there are vents at the bottom of most vertical charcoal smokers. Some smokers have vents on their tops but this feature is found in a few.
If you are a newbie, check out our other article on the best smoker grill for beginners.
Using a vertical charcoal smoker can be tricky. So, in this article, we’ll let you know about a few steps that might help you in operating the vertical smoker without any agony. You can follow these steps to learn about the basic working principle.
Complete Guide to Using Vertical Charcoal Smokers
A vertical charcoal smoker works by heating food at a constant temperature for many hours. Maintaining a consistent temperature can be tricky at first but you’ll get used to it after a few attempts. You just have to be patient and wait for the right time to enjoy the fruit of your patience. Here is the step-by-step procedure on how to use a vertical charcoal smoker.
1. Clean Your Smoker
The most basic step before starting any task is to clean the unit thoroughly. Cleanliness is the first step to getting great results.
Because there is always gunk left on smokers after use. If it is not cleaned before usage then it can affect the quality of food by falling on meat. Make sure to clean it thoroughly, especially from the edges, hinges, and lid of the vertical charcoal smoker.
2. Fill Water Pan with Cold Water
The water pan is the area in the smoker right above the firebox. The water pan in the vertical charcoal smoker is to maintain the yummy texture and softness of the meat. It makes the meat chewy and maintains its nutrition of meat. The water pan is also to control the temperature in the charcoal smoker.
The water pan is removable in a charcoal smoker and you have to fill it in after an hour. To get smokier and spicy food you can also add spices to the water to get its aroma and flavor in the meat. Place the bowl securely in its assigned place in the vertical charcoal smoker.
Read Also: 15 Best Pellet Smokers
3. Add fuel and Light Up the Smoker
Adding fuel to initiate the burning procedure solely depends on your preference. There are also many other options to choose from such as you may use gas, wood, and charcoal as per the design of your smoker. Let it heat up completely for a few minutes before adding it to the base of the smoker.
Burn the coal till it starts turning into ashes and then place it at the base of the smoker.
4. Add Meat to the Cooking Area of the Smoker
The Cooking Chamber is the area in which the smoker puts your meat for cooking.
Be careful while putting the meat so that it will not touch the walls of the smoker. Otherwise, if the food is touching the walls of the smoker it will absorb the dust attached to the walls of your smoker. To let the food completely absorb smoke and heat, place the meat pieces so that they don’t touch each other.
Read Also: Top 8 Best Pellet Smoker Grill Combo
5. Reassemble the Smoker
Now it’s time to check whether everything is in its place or not. Check the firebox, water pan, and cooking chamber, and at last close the lid tightly and keep monitoring the temperature. Add wood chips or coal as required.
6. Control the Temperature of Smoker
The best temperature to cook food in the Charcoal smoker is nearly 200 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. It can vary according to the type of food you are cooking. Monitor the temperature of the smoker via the thermostat that is placed outside the smoker.
The vertical Charcoal smokers which have a built-in temperature control system make it very easy for one to control temperature.
7. Wait for your food to be ready
Congratulations, you have completed all the steps. Now leave the rest to the smoker and after 90 minutes your yummy rich smoky flavored food will be ready to enjoy.
The smoker can take more time too depending on what you are cooking. As an example, if you are preparing a rack of ribs it may take five to six hours. So, the cooking time depends on what you are cooking.
Final Words
Vertical Charcoal smokers are best because of their portability and the deliciousness of cooked food. The more time the food takes, the more delicious and juicy it will be. You’ll appreciate your efforts and surely wait.
Make sure to buy a well-built charcoal smoker because it can maintain temperature for hours. The well-built vertical charcoal smoker retains heat for a longer time and will give you the best-cooked food.
The number of racks in a vertical charcoal smoker also affects the working of this smoker. The more the number of racks the more you can prepare food. If you need any information about how to use a vertical charcoal smoker feel free to ask questions in the comment section.
Wish You Good Luck!