How well do WSM methods translate to offset?

[David Games]

A friend just got an offset smoker at a yard sale and was asking me for advice because she has had stuff from my WSM several times in the past few months. All my 'expertise' is what I have learned on this website since I got my WSM last June. Not sure how well this will translate to the offset. I think she said it is a Charbroil.

Does she need to be using wood logs or will charcoal & wood chunks work? Should she use minion method or does she need more heat than that?

 

[Bill Farmer]

I used to have a Charbroil silver smoker. If it is like the charbroil silver smoker, then I suggest she can use lump charcoal and wood chunks the size of your wrist. I used to do the minion method with my silver smoker. The way I did it was I got a metal coffee can(with bottom cut out), placed it in the firebox, pored RO Lump around the coffee can. Lit a chimney of charcoal when it was ready dumped it into the can and then used a pair of pliers to pull out the can, the charcoal went through the open bottom. I would place chunks of wood at different intervals from the lit coals.

 

[Bill Farmer]

Here is a good link with mods for offsets: http://www.amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/offset_smokers.html http://cobbsite.com/stuff/mods_to_my_silver_smoker.pdf
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/75110/horizonal-offset-smoker-mods

 

[Lew]

Fire control on a cheap offset is different than on a WSM, so that wouldn't translate. As for fuel, she should use charcoal & wood chunks. I would agree that she should read about smoker mods. In addition the links above, have her Google "silver smoker mods". I also had a Silver Smoker, and after modding, it was a great cooker, it just used a lot more fuel.

Your expertise on rubs, sauces, temps, cooking times, etc. will translate nicely.

 

[Brian_S]

Need to do some of those mods from bill's post. Problem with cheap offsets is hot and cool spots through out.

Just did a few for a buddy and is much improved smoker

 

[David Games]

I helped her do a couple slabs of baby backs. I had to leave before they were finished, but she said they turned out really good.

A major difference is the charcoal didn't last very long at all. She really only got about 3 1/2 hours or so out of the initial quantity of charcoal that would have been good for an all night smoke on the WSM. I guess to use one of these you have to keep adding pretty healthy doses of charcoal throughout the smoke.

 

[Dave Russell]

Good posts above, and as someone that started their bbq journey on the aforementioned Silver Smoker, I'd add that over smoking is MUCH easier on a offset, especially a small one.

 

[Bill Farmer]

David, she will use alot more lump. That is the nature of the beast.

 

[j biesinger]

David, she will use alot more lump. That is the nature of the beast.

I ran a cheap one once and quickly found that offsets are a totally different beast. I needed a much larger fire and a ton more fuel to keep up a decent cooking temp.

 

[David Games]

For a first try, we used Kingsford blue yesterday. Why the recommendation for lump vs kingsford blue? Does it burn hotter and you need the extra heat on the offset?

 

[Bill Farmer]

less ash. and in my opinion better flavor for the meat.

 

[GB King]

If she got 3+ hours out of a firebox full of KBB she is doing real good for a cheap offset. I had a Silver Smoker and with the charcoal basket I built, I ussually got around two hours max on the initial burn and had to add wood every hour after that. Then I bought a much bigger, heavy duty offset and now I get about four hours on a basket of mixed wood and lump.