Diy 55 gallon drum smoker

Being broke like myself we can all still appreciate the taste of home smoked meat. Over time, I may add some bells and whistles to it. But for starters, here is how I made a low cost, no weld 55 gallon drum smoker.

POP Projects is a collection of new and classic projects from more than a century of Popular Mechanics. Master skills, get tool recommendations, and, most importantly, build something of your very own. After a few years of cooking with smoke , I got good at it. Then, after a few more years, I fancied myself a magician, shrouding my cheap cuts of meat in the mystery of secret-recipe dry rubs, brines, sauces, and blends of flavoring woods. I wanted to own every step of the process. My landlord said no to raising livestock in the apartment, so that left building the smoker itself to express my rugged individualism. Online research led me to the ugly drum smoker, which rightfully enjoys a cult following.

Diy 55 gallon drum smoker

Last Updated: October 30, Can I interest you in a smoker you can easily build yourself which will be designed well enough to smoke food for upwards of 10 hours without the need for constant maintenance? For your money, you can't get a better smoker than by building your own Ugly Drum Smoker from a 55 gallon drum. The UDS is a true set-it-and-forget-it style of smoker built from a 55 gallon drum. Despite its raw appearance, for those who value function over form, the UDS delivers. Its efficient and produces exceptional BBQ. While it looks like an offset smoker turned upright, it's better than most offset smokers. The UDS' vertical cooking environment allows for efficient heat circulation, similar to a convection oven. This contrasts with offset smokers, which often let heat and smoke pass over the top of the meat, potentially impacting the flavor and BBQ texture. The UDS also much better at maintaining steady temperatures. I find myself using my drum smoker more often than my traditional smokers, mostly because I have two of them, and well, I'm often at camp, and nothing travels better than the UDS.

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Being broke like myself we can all still appreciate the taste of home smoked meat. Over time, I may add some bells and whistles to it. But for starters, here is how I made a low cost, no weld 55 gallon drum smoker. So I acquired this empty drum from a friend that was just rusting away in his garage. Cut the "lid" about 3" from the top assuming you don't have a removable lid. I used a sawzall. Once it was removed I hammered the lid edges outward so that way it would fit over the rest of the drum.

Diy 55 gallon drum smoker

Football season is over so why not start a new project? This idea came about when I saw just how amazing the full packer brisket is. I've been smoking brisket flats which turn out great but they just aren't the same as the full packer brisket.

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Then throw in a 5lb bag of lit charcoal for a dry run to season the inside. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Drill three 1 inch holes evenly spaced, about 3 inches off the bottom. Building it is like barbecue itself, turning modest ingredients into something truly satisfying. The UDS also much better at maintaining steady temperatures. Participated in the Leftovers Challenge View Contest. Cut the "lid" about 3" from the top assuming you don't have a removable lid. In the future, I might build a larger charcoal basket but for now it'll work. To do this load your newly created charcoal basket it should hold almost a full 20lbs bag of charcoal with charcoal mixed with a few wood chunks for flavor. Some drums are treated with epoxy to prevent rust, but meat smoked in such a barrel is toxic. This will prevent air from flowing back in and fueling the fire, which will eventually extinguish itself due to a lack of exposure to oxygen. Reed Young.

Do you want to smoke food? No more spending money on expensive store-bought smokers, Do it yourself and save some money. This DIY guide will show you how to make a smoker home with everyday household materials.

EDIT: this is not enough air flow. Mark the hole locations for the air intakes, grill supports, and thermometer. Building it is like barbecue itself, turning modest ingredients into something truly satisfying. Place the handle assembly on the lid. This walkthrough takes you through everything you need and how to assemble your very own UDS. It had unused organic oil in it. My charcoal and wood will be in a chimney charcoal starter. I got " metal caps from Menards for. I have done the burn out on my barrel. Load the grill with meat, and settle in for the long haul with some good company. To remove any oil and exterior paint I needed heat. Standard grill grate I prefer the KISS method keep it simple, stupid. Of course, every rib smoking expert will have a slightly different technique that they prefer, but there is one method that is a tried-and-true favorite by beginners and experts alike.