smoking on weber egg? need ideas!


 
P

Pinny

TVWBB Super Fan
Hey,

I posted a month ago that I'm going to vermont for a week with the family and I need ideas for how to cook with limited equipment. Noone replied so I'll try again now that it's more urgent.

Specifically, there's no way I can fit the whole WSM in my car, but I can fit either just the egg part (top and bottom) or a Weber SJ platinum (or parts from each - ie: the SJP lid fits the WSM base).

We want to smoke chicken and ribs, and grill burgers, corn, potatoes. So we need grilling and smoking ability.

Here are my thoughts, but please, PLEASE tell me what you think.

I was thinking as for the smoking to take the WSM base, do a MM start, skip the charcoal ring, and first put down the bottom (handleless grate), cover the center of grate with foil, then above it put the top grate upside down (so the handles will hold it up) and put the chicken on top of that. The foil would act like an empty foiled water pan. This should be similar to cooking in the actual full size WSM. Especially if I replaced the WSM lid with the SJP lid - then I would have an incredibly compact smoker - ie: the WSM base is shorter than the SJP base (and must get better airflow) and the SJP lid is shorter than the WSM lid. If this would work my wife would be thrilled - it would leave her room for frivilous things like clothing and diapers for the kids.

As for the grilling, I was thinking same setup just with a normal start - and maybe put corn on the bottom grate (closer to the heat) as it takes forever to cook and the burgers/hotdogs on the top grate. They would still only be a couple inches from the fire and would probably still cook ok. (Otherwise I could just cook them first on the bottom and then put corn afterwards on both grates - that may be better as corn takes alot of space to cook.)

Anyhow what do you guys think? Any other suggestions. We go away Sunday morning and I don't know if I'll have internet access up north.

Thanks,
Pinny
 
Hi Pinny,

I'm not any where near as experienced as others, but here's my thoughts for whatever they are worth. I have exactly the same as you, just a WSM and SJP. If I couldn't take the whole wsm, I'd take the SJP only, and adjust my meals accordingly. Out of what you said you want to cook, the only thing that might be a little tough on the SJP are the ribs, depending on how many you want to cook. People have low and slowed ribs on the SJP with no problems before, but you are probably limited to just 2 slabs at most and you will probably need to cut them in half to pack them tight on 1/2 of the SJP. The trick being, you want to do the same with your coals, as in MM the start, but just pile them all up on 1/3 of the charcoal grate, minion the start with fewer lit coals (6-8 maybe), and then cook your ribs on the opposite side, indirect. I've smoked steaks, burgers, and chicken all on my SJP without any issue. You might just want to take a hatchet and hack the wood chunks down into a bit smaller chunks, say 1" or 2" cubes. Remember, you can high heat the ribs too, if temp control starts to become an issue.

Any charcoal grill can become a smoker with some wood
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It will just be more work to keep your temps where you want them, and of course a big, long, cook on the SJP would be way harder to do than the WSM. Use your imagination with the SJP, apply the tricks you have learned with the WSM, and you will have a lot of fun with that little bugger.

Todd
 
Or, we could approach this challenge from the total opposite direction...let's increase your capacity.....for cargo!

If you have a vehicle with a hitch, you could get a hitch rack. I just bought this one, Hitch Rack and plan to try it for the first time next week on a camping trip. I don't plan to stow the wsm on it (people do with good success though), but it will fit both my biggest coolers, freeing up a lot of valuable space in the bed of my pickup.

Last year I rented a 5'x8' Uhaul trailer which stored everything we took and allowed me to load the pickup bed with a lot of firewood.

Or if you don't have a hitch, maybe one of those car top carriers would store enough of your wife's stuff, clothes, etc to get the wsm in. I love camping with the wsm.

I feel your pain, believe me, I have a wife that waits to the last minute to do anything which equals a hurricane going through the house. And we have an infant, and anybody that's had kids can attest to how much stuff you have to bring for them
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Have a great time!
Todd
 
Todd, why the SJP base over the WSM base - the WSM base is more compact (shorter legs). Great suggestion about getting a hitch. I'm gonna go to Pepboys sunday morning and see if they have anything reasonable I can take before the trip.

George, yeah I hope it doesn't rain. The weather has been quite annoying up north the last week or two (raining on and off). I can't get a Q 220 - I just bought a Q 300 back in January. Can that be dissassembled from the cart? I don't think so - it doesn't really have legs.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">why the SJP base over the WSM base </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, I guess I don't really have a great answer to that. Hey, if the SJP lid fits over the wsm base the way you like it to, knock yourself out I guess
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That's imaginative for sure. And heck, it would probably burn hotter anyway, assuming you didn't do any of the air flow mods to the SJP yet.

What works, works. Good luck!!

Todd
 
Pinny,
You can use the SJP for both grilling and smoking. Another way to smoke is to light some coals and then spread them completely around the sides (the base of the charcoal grate)and use wood chips insted of chunks. Just sprinkle them on the hot coals and you're in business. This method should provide more space for your meat. To moniter temps you can stick a thermometer through the lid vent.

I must admit that this method will require closer monitering than some others however since space is at a premieum it just my be a good alternative.

What ever you decide I wish you the best of luck and a great trip.

Joe
 
If I had to smoke and grill things, and owning both the WSM and a SJP. I would, without a doubt choose the SJP over the WSM egg setup. Not enough room between the coals and grate with the egg setup to smoke properly IMO. To grill with minimal coals yes, to smoke, no. SJP is better suited, but still the clearance is limited. Take some foil, and some small meatloaf foil pans along for the smoking cooks. If I had a car I'd get the hitch rack setup and just use the WSM as a grill and smoker. But then again I have a pickup truck which makes it easier for me, no hitch rack setup needed. You might laugh, but a blanket and some twine/bungies through both windows and you can transport the mid section on the roof of your car. HTH
 
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