How To Smoke A Brisket Without A Smoker

Smoking brisket is a terrific way to take a tough cut of beef and turn it into something tender and juicy. The high heat of a grill won't tenderize the meat, but other methods like braising or putting it in the slow cooker overnight will. However, the latter techniques will not impart any of that smoky BBQ flavor. 

The problem with traditional smokers is they are not something you can generally rush out and purchase on a whim, as they can cost up to several hundred dollars. But there is an affordable device that will allow you to smoke a brisket or anything else your heart desires (cheese, nuts, fish, etc) right on top of your grill or stovetop. A stovetop smoke box allows you to slowly barbecue meat on your gas or charcoal grill, or right inside your house if it looks like it could rain. 

The mechanism consists of three parts — a base that holds the wood chips and acts as a drip pan, a metal rack to set your food on, and a lid to keep in the smoke. The best part about stovetop smokers is they cost a fraction of what a conventional one costs, with many selling for around $20. By utilizing some basic smoking techniques, you can have a juicy brisket with a delicious smoky flavor in a matter of hours without ever having to leave the house.

A smoking box uses an external heat source like your grill to smolder the wood chips or pellets, and just like an outdoor smoker, the wood chips maintain a low temperature while the food cooks. As the wood fuel smolders, it fills the box with smoky vapors, which the lid works to trap. The box also serves as a buffer from direct heat to maintain a cooking temp between 200 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The most admirable perk about using a stovetop smoker is that you can use it indoors, bearing in mind that you need a fully functional hood in your kitchen to remove any fumes that escape the box. All you need to do to prepare the smoking box is add wood chips to the bottom, place your food on the rack, and then turn your stove to medium heat. 

How long it takes to smoke a brisket depends on how large a cut you are working with, but after several hours, you will have a juicy brisket with a BBQ flavor that will taste like it came from a pitmaster. A quality rub will add some character to your beef, but what exactly the smoky flavor tastes like will depend on the type of wood chips you cook with.

Because a stovetop smoking box cooks similarly to a standard outdoor smoker, the wood chips you use to heat your meat play a crucial role in the flavor you're shooting for. Smoking brisket with hickory chips is a classic way to cook brisket as it contributes an intensely sweet and spicy taste. If you are going for sweet and earthy tones with a strong BBQ essence, mesquite chips are probably what you want. Pecan chips, on the other hand, impart a distinct nutty taste that accents the natural savoriness of the beef. There are also fruit tree chips, like cherry and apple, which will give your brisket a subtle, sweet flavor. Something else to consider is mixing your wood chips for an entirely unique aroma with your smoked brisket. Combining cherry wood chips with hickory can mellow out the intensity of the hardwood and impart a complementary tartness. 

When using a stovetop smoker box, you only need a small portion of wood chips compared to a conventional smoker (just a small pile under your drip tray) so you will have plenty left over to experiment later and find the flavor that's just right for you over time.