Smoker Box

A utensil used for providing a smoke flavor to grilled foods as they cook. A Smoker Box holds the wood chips that are to be placed over a charcoal or gas fire for the smoked flavor. Prior to grilling, the chips are soaked in water for a minimum of 30 minutes, which preserves the wood so when it is exposed to fire it smokes rather than burns. In addition to water, other liquids can be used to infuse the wood chips with the flavors of various foods, such as wine, whisky, beer, or fruit juices. However, many chips may already contain a flavor that has been infused into the wood, so adding additional flavors may not be necessary unless desired. After soaking, several handfuls of chips can be placed in a Smoker Box which will typically range in size from 8 to 12 inches long and 4 to 6 inches wide. When grilling over charcoal briquettes, the Smoker Box is placed directly on the briquettes. If the Smoker Box is to be used on gas or electric grills, the Box is placed directly on the heat source, just below the grate on the grill.