At Spragg's Meat Shop, we love a good smoked meat! There is something special about cooking 'low and slow,' and it's not just the flavour (although that is pretty great too), it's also the experience and the effort that goes into the process. Smoking meat is an adventure that isn't comparable to any other cooking method.
With that in mind, we wanted to get into some of the essentials of smoking your own meat at home for some epic BBQ dinners!
Know Your Tools
The Barbecue – If you don't own a smoker, all hope is not lost; you can smoke meat on a gas grill! Check out this video for some great tips on smoking meat on the BBQ.
While smoked meat on a gas grill will definitely work, if you plan on whipping up some BBQ on the regular, then we seriously suggest you consider upgrading to a smoker.
The Smoker – At Spragg's Meat Shop, our personal love affair is with the Smoker. A meat smoker allows you to cook food at a 'low and slow' temperature in a controlled, smoky environment. There are many different types of meat smokers suitable for different needs and tastes. If you're ready to take your BBQ game to the next level, check out this guide to 7 types of meat smokers to learn more.
The Grill – Smoking meat on a campfire has to be one of the most satisfying activities! Check out this guide to smoking meat over the fire while camping (or glamping!). Just be sure to follow any local campfire restrictions.
The Traeger – This is where the love for smoking meat is taken to new heights! These babies are the original Wood-Fired Grill from Mt. Angel, Oregon. Traeger grills are the perfect tool for any lover of the world of outdoor cooking! If you're intrigued - Learn more!
Pick Your Meat
It's a big world out there when it comes to meat options for your smoker! However, there are some cuts that don’t quite agree with a smoker, like burgers. Those are best left to be cooked on a grill.
We recommend stocking your fridge with fresh, local meats from Spragg's Meat Shop and checking out this amazing list of the best smoked meat options with tons of recipes. In our household, Greg is the designated smoker professional and loves to toss a Boston Butt into the smoker. In a few hours, you have delicious, melt-in-your-mouth pork.
Get That Sauce (BBQ that is!)
Sure, you could always pick up some fabulous ready-made BBQ sauce options right from Spragg's Meat Shop, but if you're feeling adventurous, here is an awesome list of 20 homemade BBQ sauce recipes from cola-and-coffee to a curry-apricot BBQ sauce. Whichever you choose, the main point we are trying to make here is - BBQ sauce!
If you're inspired by the smoker, then you simply must come give us a visit to stock up on some fantastic ingredients for your BBQ, grill, smoker (or Traeger!).
And if this blog made you hungry, visit our Calgary or Rosemary location today for all your fresh local meat needs or go online to shop our curbside pick-up boxes.
Happy eating!
SPRAGG’S MEAT SHOP CALGARY
9675 Macleod Trail SE
Calgary, AB, T2J 0P6
P: 403.255.1232
E: calgarystore@spraggsmeatshop.com
SPRAGG’S MEAT SHOP ROSEMARY
438 Centre St
Rosemary, AB, T0J 2W0
P: 403.378.3800
E: meatshop@spraggsmeatshop.com