Let's learn how to set up your gas grill for great low and slow cooking with smoking. A useful technique you need to master your gas grill.
Introduction
I initially wrote this for my How to Grill Baby Back Ribs, but now publish it separately so I could refer to it for other recipes. While I use a Weber Summit that is very hot and versatile, I have generalized the instructions.
Let's talk about your grill. You must know your grill. If you can get or have the instructions for your grill from the manufacturer, follow those instructions.
🌡️Grill Temperature
You are going to need to experiment a little with your grill set up. You need to know how to get a steady low grill surface temperature in an area reserved for indirect heat.
If you are a beginner please check A Beginners Guide to Grill Temperature on a Gas Grill where I give a more complete discussion of grill temperature which is basic for any success grilling.
Also, be sure you have enough gas. I have natural gas, so I'm good. If you are not so lucky, have a second tank.
I used grill surface thermometers for years. They only cost about $10 and will last most of the grilling season until you can't read it anymore. Amazon, Home Depot, or Lowes will have them. I have one I have bought over the years linked below. I now use a fancy Thermoworks remote monitor, also linked below.
For me, I have four main burners that run front to back. If I only turn one burner on high, the grill surface temperature in the indirect (not over the burner that is turned on) is right at 225.
With the two outside burners at medium, I have a steady 250. Turning on the smoker side burner kicks the temperature up about 50 degrees while on.
So how do I know these things? I played with it. If you have 2 or 3 burners, start with one burner on high and see what you get in the indirect area. Some grills will have vents, and you can experiment with them too.
If you have one burner, you're going to set a large pan on top of your grates and cover it with a rack of some type. Do not put any weight on top of your burners directly with the rack and meat. Ever....
So now you have played with your grill enough to know it. Doesn't it feel good already?
Drip Pan
Things you cook indirectly usually are full of fat and can make a mess of your grill.
Usually, you will just place a thin disposable aluminum pan under the grates on the indirect side.
If there is no room between the grill grates and lava rocks or flavor bars for a thin aluminum pan, then you will put the pan on top of the grates in the indirect area with a rack or grate on top of that. NEVER PUT ANYTHING DIRECTLY ON THE BURNERS.
I needed to notch the pan a little to get it to fit. Do NOT allow the pan to support the grill rack and put pressure on the things below. This would be dangerous.
Mine is on top of burner guards called flavor bars. You may have lava rocks or something similar. Usually, you should add water to the drip pan for added moisture in the grill. NEVER PUT ANYTHING DIRECTLY ON THE BURNERS.
Again, if you can get the instructions for your grill from the manufacturer, follow those instructions. Let's be careful and safe here.
🔥Smoke
You want to smoke, right? If you're lucky, your grill has built-in a smoke box like I do. If not, you have a couple of choices.
If you just want to try it once, you can make a pouch of heavy-duty aluminum foil with some holes and place it on a burner on high until it starts to smoke and then turn it back down.
If you are going to do this more than once or twice, pick up a cast-iron smoker box (again Home Depot, Lowe's or Amazon) for about $15. I had the same one for 20 years.
Everybody has a favorite wood for smoking. I almost always use hickory and occasionally apple.
Traditionally, many suggest soaking wood chips. Most experts have now stopped this as an unnecessary step.
Some will still argue that soaked wood chips will smoke longer and, if not soaked, may catch on fire. I have not had a problem with this unless I'm smoking at a high temperature.
🛒Shopping
Here is an affiliate link to some of the equipment discussed. An affiliate link is one where I get paid a small amount if you buy through that link. My opinion of this product is not influenced by that small amount. It is provided for your convenience. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
NEW! Thermapen One from Thermoworks
Happy Smokin'
DrDan
Editors Note: Originally published July 28, 2014, and updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Janet
This is a well designed blog. Love the navigation, readability and great tips
Don
I'm really glad to have found your blog. I' m a long time outside cook and have tried every type of grill and smoker around. A long time ago I had a propane grill that I threw in the trash and said I'd never try that again but they have improved so much since then and now I have a 5 burner Cuisinart with smoker tube and removable grill. I just gave my son the Pit Boss pellet grill that I have been using the last few years. As I am waiting for one of my grandsons to come help me get it out of my truck and put it together I realized I didn't know much about grilling and smoking on a gas grill so I found your site and now I' m an expert. lol Your blog is so informative and i"m so glad to have found it before I even had it out of the box.