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Although there are exceptions, most cooking grates found in grills and smokers are made of either cast iron or stainless steel. Both materials can provide a safe and effective surface on which to cook food. But cast iron and stainless...

Also known as a barbecue mat, a grill mat is an innovative grilling accessory that can be used in many different ways. Consisting of a large and flat sheet of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), it offers a nonstick surface on which you...

With the exception of small travel-sized grills, most grills have a warming rack. Found above the main cooking grate, it's a versatile feature that can help you grill delicious food. But many people are unfamiliar with the warming rack, let...

Electric smoker vs wood smoker – compare the key differences, benefits, and which one suits your cooking style.

Do you struggle to prevent your skewers from burning to ash when grilling kebabs? You aren't alone. This is a common problem encountered by countless home chefs. As your charcoal or cooking wood burns, it may ignite your skewers. When...

Whether you are grilling or smoking, you'll need a bed of hot charcoal to cook your food. You can still add cooking wood or smoking chunks for better flavor, but charcoal will provide the heat required to cook your food....

Tenderness is equally as important as flavor when smoking meat. If your smoked meat isn't tender, it will have a not-so-pleasant chewy texture, making it difficult to consume. By following these six smoking tips, however, you can increase the tenderness...

Because they are typically stored outdoors, grills and smokers are susceptible to rusting. It may not happen overnight, but if you leave your grill or smoker outside for long enough, it may eventually rust. It's frustrating when you discover rust...

When choosing cooking wood, you should consider whether it's a hardwood or softwood variety. According to NPR, there are approximately 60,065 identified species of trees in the world. While no two species are exactly the same, they can all be...

After purchasing a grill or smoker, you'll need to choose an appropriate area on your patio to place it. You shouldn't place your cooking device just anywhere on your patio. To create a safe and enjoyable cooking experience, you must...

The secret to smoking a delicious pork shoulder is using the right smoking chunks. Also known as a pork butt or Boston butt, pork shoulders contain natural marbling that, when smoked, provide flavorful moisture. But you need to use the...

All grills have a primary grate on which to cook food. Some grills, however, have one or more additional cooking grates or surfaces attached to the side. Known as side burners, they allow you to cook other foods and side...

If you're planning to cook fish in a grill or smoker, you should consider using a cedar plank. Also known as planking or plank cooking, it works particularly well for fish. Whether you're cooking salmon, tuna, trout, tilapia or mahi-mahi,...

Whether you're grilling or smoking, you must take precautions to prevent your food from sticking to the grate. It's a problem that nearly every home chef has experienced: You're trying to grill or smoke meat, but when you attempt to...

When choosing charcoal for your grill or smoker, you generally have one of two options: lump or briquettes. Both types can offer more than enough heat to cook delicious foods, but they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Some...

You can smoke meat on nearly any grill or smoker, but few cooking devices offer the performance and versatility of the Big Green Egg. Originally released in the 1970s, it features a Japanese kamado-style design consisting of a large egg-shaped...

You don't have to restrict your outdoor culinary activities to using either charcoal or wood chunks for smoking. You can use both to smoke delicious meats and veggies, with the charcoal providing the heat and the smoking chunks providing the...

Your smoker will likely accumulate dirt, ash and charred debris over time. Aside from affecting your smoker's aesthetics, this can affect the flavor of your food. If you smoke meat in a grime-covered smoker, some of the compounds in the...

If you're serious about smoking delicious meat, you should consider investing in a smoker box. This otherwise small accessory will enhance the flavor of your meat by exposing it to more smoke. Whether you're planning to smoke meat in a...

With its high protein content and long shelf life, jerky is the perfect on-the-go snack. While you can always purchase jerky from a grocery store or convenience store, you can actually make it yourself using a standard grill or smoker....

Regardless of what type of meat you intend to smoke, you need to control the temperature. If it's too hot, your meat may dry out. If the temperature is too low, your meat may fail to reach a safe temperature....