Offset smoker question

[TheFied]

I have a standard offset smoker, firebox on the left and smoker part on the right. Picture below.

I went over to a friend's house the other day and he was grilling out. He has an offset smoker, very similar to mine. Except he was grilling (not smoking) on the smoking part (on the right). When I grill, I use my firebox side (on the left) as I have a grill that goes over that as well. I never put wood or coals in the smoker part. When I'm grilling, the smoker part is unused.

This got me thinking -- do other people do this as well? I have a thick metal tray in my firebox side and I don't really want to put hot coals or wood on the firebox side since I don't have a tray there. But maybe I'm doing it the opposite of most people.

 

[RichUT]

Unless I am grilling something very small, I use the larger chamber, as my smoker is the only grill I own. I scoop everything out of the bottom after each use, but I dont see the harm in using the larger chamber as a grill.

 

[Sooner-Tuf]

I have grilled in the firebox of my offset smoker before but only if I am making a few burgers or something small. I don't build fires in my smoke chamber because I don't want to clean it out and I have a large grill also.

But honestly often when making steaks I will just build an extra hot fire in the firebox of my offset and grill in the smoke chamber. There is no flare ups that way and the steaks still come out just as fine. You probably can't use the far end of the smoke chamber when you do this though.

 

[hornian]

I've done both. It really just depends on the amount of meat I'm going to cook.

 

[TheFied]

Wow, didn't realize people built fires in the large part of the smoker.

I have made fajitas for 25 people (over 10 pounds) on the fire box part. I had to cook it in a few rounds but it came out great. Inner-sting (as Keith Moreland would say).