How To Smoke Meats Without A Smoker

Learn how to smoke meats without a smoker and impress all of your guests.

No smoker? No problem!

It’s summer, and that means fixing a big plate of delicious barbecue ribs for friends and family. You know, the kind of ribs with a mouthwatering smoky flavor, tender enough to fall right off the bone.

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But what if you don’t have a smoker? Good news: You don’t need one to enjoy great ribs. You just need to get a little creative with your culinary skills.

Choose your wood chips

First thing’s first: You’ll need wood chips. Made from Applewood or Pecan wood, add tons of smoky flavor to your ribs. To prep them, soak the wood chips in water for at least four hours. Save some of that liquid for later to baste the meat while cooking. No matter what heat source you use, the chips bring the smoke, which brings the flavor.

Tip: Ribs have a reputation for being messy, but we think they’ve met their match in our Home Made Simple Multi-purpose Cleaner. Available in rosemary, lemon and lavender scents, this multisurface spray is great for countertops, dining tables, patio furniture and more. Spray goodbye to dirt, grime … and dribbles of barbecue sauce.

How to smoke meat on the grill

When using a grill to cook ribs, you’ll need to handcraft an aluminum foil bag for your chips. Simply place the chips on a sheet of foil, and then place another sheet on top and twist the ends into a bag shape. You’ll need to poke a few holes for venting so the smoke escapes. If you’re using a charcoal grill, make sure to place the coals on one side and the ribs on the other.

Cook over indirect heat so as not to overcook the meat. The same principle applies for gas grills – only use the burners not directly under your ribs. For the actual smoking process, low and slow is the name of the game. “Low” means a cooking temperature between 225 and 275 F. “Slow” refers to cooking time: between four and five hours. Use a probing meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is 175 F on beef ribs before finishing up.

How to smoke meat in the oven

For the oven, you’ll need a roasting pan that has a raised grill to keep the ribs out of their juices. Line the bottom of the pan with foil and then add your soaked chips, topping with the grill. Place your meat on the grill, and then tent a sheet of foil on top of the pan. Once again, think low and slow while cooking: 225 to 275 F for four to five hours. And make sure to baste as much as possible to prevent the meat from drying out.

The combination method

For meats other than ribs, you can combine the grill and oven methods! This is ideal for tough cuts of meat like brisket and pork shoulder. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Season the cuts of meat with a good coating of salt, pepper, paprika and cumin

  2. Place the meat on the grill over high heat until the outside is nice and charred

  3. Transfer the meat to a roasting pan and bake at 250 F for four to five hours until it’s fork tender

Tip: When it’s time for the post-meal wash-up, reach for a powerful option you can feel good using. Our Home Made Simple Dish Soap is formulated without phosphates, dyes, parabens, phthalates or gluten – but still packs a powerful clean.

Smoke flavor shortcuts

If you’re in a rush and still want to add a little smoky flavor to your ribs, you can always conjure some spice and sauce magic. Spices like smoked paprika and cumin add that smoky flavor to ribs without all the work. Finally, feel free to cheat a little by using all-natural liquid smoke. We won’t tell!

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