Charcoal Grill : Use the Indirect method by arranging charcoal briquets on each side of the charcoal grate. Place a heavy aluminum foil pan between the piles of briquets; add 2 cups water and any flavorings. Allow 30 minutes for coals to heat up (they should have a light coating of grey ash). Place soaked wood chunks or chips/twigs directly on prepared coals and allow to smoke fully before beginning cooking. Place food on top cooking grate over the water pan. Cover grill. Add 5 to 7 briquets to each side every hour; replenish water and seasonings as needed.
Gas Barbecue: Many gas barbecues can be equipped with or are sold with a smoker attachment. The smoker attachment makes it easy to turn your barbecue grill into a hot smoker. You can also improvise with a foil pan. Before preheating your grill, simply fill the water pan on the smoker attachment with hot tap water. Place presoaked wood chunks or chips/twigs in the other compartment, or in a foil pan directly on the Flavorizer Bars over the lit burner. (Use a separate pan for water if you are using a foil pan for the wood pieces.) Begin cooking after preheating and when grill is fully smoking.
Smoker : Always position smoker on a level, heatproof surface away from buildings and out of traffic patterns. It's best to find a place away from the house, since smoke aromas can linger for hours.
To prepare the smoker, heap charcoal in the center of the cooking grate, ignite the coals, and when coals have a light coating of grey ash, spread them evenly across the inside of the charcoal chamber. Check recipe for number of charcoal layers needed. If you are using the water pan, place it on the lower bracket of the center ring and fill it with hot tap water. Add seasonings to water, if desired.
Place soaked woods on the coals through the door on the front of the smoker. Keep all vents partially closed for smoke-cooking. Place food on the top and/or middle cooking grate, depending on recipe and food quantity. Arrange food in a single layer on each grate, leaving space for smoke to circulate around each piece. Add 12 to 14 briquets and as many wood chunks as needed to fire, and replenish water and seasonings.
Use a meat thermometer to make sure smoke-cooked foods are done but not overcooked. Smoke-cooked foods look different than other grilled or oven-prepared foods. They may be pink or red when completely cooked (apple wood especially will make chicken look red, for example).
Use tongs and barbecue mitts to add charcoal, turn meats, refill the water pan, or adjust vents.
Do not use charcoal infused with starter fluid-it can add an unpleasant taste to your smoked foods.
Experiment with different woods and meats until you find the right combination for your tastes.
Start with a small amount of wood to see how you like the flavor, then add more for more intense smoky taste. (Just don't overdo it; too much wood smoke over long periods can make food taste bitter.)
Try combining woods as you get more experienced for unique and flavorful results.
Keep a smoker's notebook while experimenting . Jot down ingredients, wood amounts and combinations, and results so you can repeat successes. (Unless, of course, you want to keep your best recipes a secret!)
Hickory
Pungent, smoky, bacon-like flavor.
Pork, chicken, beef, wild game, cheeses.
Pecan
Rich and more subtle than hickory, but similar in taste. Burns cool, so ideal for very low heat smoking.
Pork, chicken, lamb, fish, cheeses.
Mesquite
Sweeter, more delicate flavor than hickory. Tends to burn hot, so use carefully.
Most meats, especially beef. Most vegetables.
Alder
Delicate flavor that enhances lighter meats.
Salmon, swordfish, sturgeon, other fish. Also good with chicken and pork.
Oak
Forthright but pleasant flavor. Blends well with a variety of textures and flavors.
Beef (particularly brisket), poultry, pork.
Maple
Mildly smoky, somewhat sweet flavor. Try mixing maple with corncobs for ham or bacon.
Poultry, vegetables, ham.
Cherry
Slightly sweet, fruity smoke flavor.
Poultry, game birds, pork.
Apple
Slightly sweet but denser, fruity smoke flavor.
Beef, poultry, game birds, pork (particularly ham).
Peach or Pear
Slightly sweet, woodsy flavor.
Poultry, game birds, pork.
Grape vines
Aromatic, similar to fruit woods.
Turkey, chicken, beef.
Wine barrel chips
Wine and oak flavors. A flavorful novelty that smells wonderful, too.
Beef, turkey, chicken, cheeses.
Seaweed
Tangy and smoky flavors. (Wash and dry in sun before use.)
Lobster, crab, shrimp, mussels, clams.
Herbs & spices (bay leaves, rosemary, garlic, mint, orange or lemon peels, whole nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and others)
Vary from spicy (bay leaves or garlic) to sweet (other seasonings), delicate to mild. Generally, herbs and spices with higher oil content will provide stronger flavoring. Soak branches and stems in water before adding to fire. They burn quickly, so you may need to replenish often.
Vegetables, cheeses, and a variety of small pieces of meat (lighter and thin-cut meats, fish steaks and fillets, and kabobs).