Grills, Smokers, and Meat–Oh My!
I started my foray in outdoor cooking on a small Smokey Joe table-top kettle grill branded with a Homer Simpson cartoon. It was great for a small roast or a chicken, but not for the the real-deal rack of ribs or whole packer brisket. After my wife and I bought our first home in NJ, I graduated to a big-boy off-set smoker that I got from the local big-box hardware store (let’s call her Ole Bessie). Of course, I got what I paid for and had trouble regulating temperature, keeping it sealed, and had to babysit it like a hyperactive toddler trying to put a key in an electrical outlet.
Fast forward 10 years, 2 kids, a couple new jobs, and a move to Minnesota. Ole Bessie made the big move to Suburban Minneapolis and shortly found herself collecting leaves and dirt underneath my deck. I converting my 6-burner natural gas grill to use as a smoker by placing a foil packet of wood over the far left burners while placing the meat to the far right of the cooking grate. I’d get a great even and consistent cook, however little of the delicious smokey flavor we all enjoy.
By chance, I met a gentlemen from North Carolina during one of my daughters basketball league practices, who is an enthusiast at outdoor cooking too. He highly recommend an Ugly Drum Smoker! A what?!!? Yes, a homemade smoker built out of one of those 55 gallon drums you may have seen in various mafia or cartel shows! I read up online and built one for myself and am proud to say, I have found my favorite smoker! So how’d I do it?
How to?
I used the plans described from the Smoking Meat Geeks article on building an Ugly Drum Smoker (UDS). It is straight forward to follow and very easy to do. I did deviate from their plan a little.
Jake’s TIPS and modifications
- You can buy a used 55 gallon drum from ebay or craigslist however I preferred to buy a brand new one. If you live in the Twin Cities, I purchased one for about $55 from the Consolidated Container Company (Item Number MFGOH5501). Make sure to get an Unlined drum.
- Step drill bit for about $11
- Instead of building a firebox with expanded metal, I purchased one online which ended up being close to the same price of the materials to build your own. About $40.
- I installed a grommet for my temperature probes. About $11
- If you don’t have a temperature probe, I use the XR-50 from Maverick. About $90 (I had this already).
Learn how to smoke your own brisket here.
