20 Ways to Make Your Smoker Hotter: Increase Temperature and Performance


Are you having trouble getting your smoker to heat up to the target temperature? Maintaining a consistent temperature in a smoker can be a challenge, especially if you’re using a smoker that isn’t well insulated. In this article, we’ll discuss some simple strategies you can use to help your smoker reach and maintain a higher temperature. We’ve got you covered with a range of tips and techniques that will help you get the most out of your smoker.

To maintain a high temperature in your smoker, it is important to start with a large enough fire and use a charcoal starter to keep adding lit coal. During startup, make sure to open all the vents to increase airflow and eliminate the water pan to allow more heat to reach the food. Some other tips include removing the water pan, avoiding opening the lid, limiting spritzing, using lump charcoal, making sure the wood and coal is dry, and don’t use poorly sealed smokers. If weather is a factor, consider insulating your smoker with a thermal jacket or placing a brick in the cooking chamber to absorb heat, or create a DIY wind break to protect the smoker from the elements. It is also important to clean the charcoal basket to ensure that the fire burns efficiently.

Quick Tips To Make Your Smoker Hotter

TipDescription
Make sure the vents are openThe vents on your smoker allow air to flow in and out, which helps to regulate the temperature inside the smoker. If the vents are closed or partially closed, it can be harder to get the smoker up to temperature.
Start with a big fireIf you don’t build a big fire, your smoker will struggle to maintain temperature.
Use dry, seasoned woodWet or green wood can produce a lot of smoke, but it doesn’t burn as hot as dry, seasoned wood. Using dry wood will help to keep the temperature inside the smoker higher.
Use a chimney starter to light the charcoalA chimney starter is a metal cylinder that you fill with charcoal and light from the bottom. The chimney starter helps to evenly distribute the heat and get the coals burning faster, which can help to increase the temperature inside the smoker.
Use dry charcoalMake sure your charcoal is dry, otherwise it won’t burn hot.
Use lump charcoalLump charcoal burns hotter than briquettes.
Protect your smokerPlace your smoker in a protected area away from the wind and the cold.
Use a fire starterIf you’re having trouble getting the coals lit, you can use a fire starter to help get them going. Fire starters are small blocks or cubes made of wood and other materials that burn hot and long, and they can help get the coals lit faster.
Add more fuelIf the temperature inside the smoker is starting to drop, you can add more fuel (like charcoal or wood) to help keep it hot.
Stop opening the lidEvery time you open the smoker, you let out heat and let in cold air, which can make it harder to maintain a consistent temperature. Try to minimize the number of times you open the smoker while it’s cooking.
Don’t spritz too oftenIf you spritz or mop too often, heat will escape.
Remove the water panSome smokers have a water pan that you can fill with water to help keep the temperature inside the smoker low and stable. However, if you use too much water, it can actually cool down the smoker.
Use hot waterIf you must use a water pan, refill with hot water rather than cold.
Don’t put so much food in the smokerIf you fill the smoker with meat, it will absorb a lot of heat and drop the temp.
Use a duel-probe digital thermometerA good thermometer means you won’t have to keep opening the lid to check the meat.
Remove and ashClear ash from the fire basket to prevent the coals from being suffocated.
Insulate your smokerIf it’s cold, insulate the smoker with a thermal jacket or make a DIY windbreak.
Don’t use cheap smokersA poorly sealed smoker with thin metal will struggle to maintain heat.
Buy a better smokerCeramic kamado grills, WSM’s, drum smokers, genuine offsets, and insulated pellet grills retain heat extremely well.
Add a brickSome people place a brick in the cooking chamber to absorb heat.
Clean the fire basketBefore each cook, clean the fire basket to allow good airflow.

1. Open the vents to increase airflow

The vents on your smoker allow air to flow in and out, which helps to regulate the temperature inside the smoker. If the vents are closed or partially closed, it can be harder to get the smoker up to temperature.

The vents on a smoker allow air to flow in and out of the cooking chamber. This airflow helps to regulate the temperature inside the smoker by providing oxygen to the fire, which is necessary for the fire to burn.

If the vents are closed or partially closed, the airflow into the smoker is restricted. This can make it harder to get the smoker up to temperature because there isn’t enough oxygen reaching the fire. Without enough oxygen, the fire may struggle to burn as hot, which can make it more difficult to maintain the desired temperature inside the smoker.

On the other hand, if the vents are fully open, there is more airflow into the smoker, which can help the fire burn hotter and maintain a higher temperature. However, if the vents are fully open and the temperature inside the smoker gets too high, you may need to adjust the vents to allow some of the hot air to escape and help regulate the temperature.

2. Start with a big fire

When using a charcoal smoker, it’s important to start with a large fire with lots of coals. This is especially important when you’re trying to get the smoker up to temperature in the beginning, as it takes time for the coals to burn down and reach their optimal temperature.

If you start with a small fire, it can be more difficult to get the smoker up to temperature because there isn’t enough heat being generated by the coals. This can lead to longer cook times and potentially uneven cooking.

On the other hand, if you start with a large fire and lots of coals, you’ll have more heat available to help get the smoker up to temperature faster. Once the fire is going, you can adjust the vents to regulate the airflow and help maintain the desired temperature inside the smoker.

3. Use dry seasoned wood

Using dry, seasoned wood in a smoker can help to maintain a high temperature because it burns more efficiently than wet or green wood. When wood is dry, it has less moisture content, which means it can burn hotter and longer. This can help to keep the temperature inside the smoker consistently high, which is important if you want to maintain your target temp.

On the other hand, wet or green wood has more moisture content and can produce a lot of smoke. However, it doesn’t burn as hot as dry wood, which means it might not provide as much heat to the smoker. This can make it harder to maintain a high temperature inside the smoker, which can affect the quality of the smoked meat.

4. Use a charcoal starter

using a chimney starter to light the charcoal in a smoker can help to increase the temperature inside the smoker by providing a more efficient and even heat source. This can help to get the smoker up to temperature faster and produce better results when smoking meat.

According to Meathead Goldwyn, the founder of AmazingRibs.com, a chimney starter is a “simple and efficient way to light charcoal.” It works by heating the coals from the bottom, which helps them to ignite faster and burn more evenly. This can help to increase the temperature inside the smoker and get it up to the desired level faster.

Malcolm Reed, the founder of HowToBBQRight.com, also recommends using a chimney starter to light charcoal because it “gives you a nice, even bed of coals that are all lit and ready to go.” He adds that a chimney starter is a “quick and easy way to get your coals lit and ready to go in your smoker or grill.”

5. Use dry charcoal

Using dry charcoal is important for getting your smoker up to a high temperature. Wet or damp charcoal will not burn as hot as dry charcoal, so it is important to make sure that the charcoal you use is dry and ready to burn. To keep your charcoal dry, keep it sealed and away from moisture.

6. Using lump charcoal

Lump charcoal is made from hardwood that has been burned down to just the carbon. It burns hotter than briquette charcoal, which is made from a combination of sawdust and other materials that are held together with binders. Using lump charcoal in your smoker can help to increase the temperature and give you more control over the heat.

7. Keep your smoker protected from weather

Protecting your smoker from the weather is important for maintaining a consistent temperature. If your smoker is exposed to wind, rain, or other elements, it can be difficult to maintain a stable temperature. Consider keeping your smoker covered or in a sheltered area to help protect it from the elements.

8. Use fire starters to light your smoker

Using fire starters can make it easier to get your smoker up to temperature. Fire starters are small, easy-to-use items that can help you get your charcoal lit quickly and efficiently. They can be especially useful if you are having trouble getting your smoker started on a cold or damp day.

9. Add more charcoal if the temperature drops

If the temperature in your smoker drops, you may need to add more charcoal to maintain a consistent heat. This can be especially important if you are cooking a large cut of meat or if you are cooking for an extended period of time. To add more charcoal, simply remove the lid and add the desired amount of fuel to the fire.

10. Stop opening the lid of your smoker

Opening the lid of your smoker can allow heat to escape, which can make it difficult to maintain a consistent temperature. To help keep your smoker hot, try to minimize the number of times you open the lid. If you do need to check on the food or make adjustments, be sure to close the lid as quickly as possible to minimize heat loss.

11. Don’t spritz too often

Spritzing the food in your smoker can add moisture and flavor, but it is important not to do it too often. Every time you open the lid to spritz, you allow hot air to escape, which can make it difficult to maintain a consistent temperature. To minimize heat loss, try to spritz only when necessary and be sure to close the lid quickly after each spritz.

12. Remove the water pan

If you are trying to get your smoker as hot as possible, removing the water pan can help. The water pan is typically used to add moisture to the cooking environment, but it can also act as a barrier to heat. Removing the water pan can allow more heat to reach the food, which can help to increase the temperature in your smoker.

13. Use hot water to refill the water pan

If you decide to use a water pan in your smoker, it is important to use hot water when refilling it. Hot water will help to maintain a consistent temperature in the smoker, while cold water can cause the temperature to drop. To refill the water pan, simply remove it from the smoker, empty any remaining water, and refill it with hot water.

14. Don’t put too much food in the smoker

Overloading your smoker with too much food can make it difficult to maintain a consistent temperature. When there is too much food in the smoker, it can block the flow of heat, which can make it hard to get the smoker up to temperature. To ensure that your smoker stays hot, be sure not to put too much food in it at once.

15. Remove ash from the charcoal basket

As the charcoal in your smoker burns, it will produce ash. Over time, this ash can build up and block the flow of air, which can make it difficult to maintain a consistent temperature. To keep your smoker running smoothly, be sure to remove the ash from the charcoal basket regularly. This will help to increase airflow and keep the temperature consistent.

16. Use a thermometer to monitor your smoker

Using a thermometer can help you keep track of the temperature of your smoker and the food you are cooking without having to constantly open the lid. This can be especially useful if you are cooking a large cut of meat or if you are cooking for an extended period of time. By using a thermometer, you can avoid having to open the lid and lose heat every time you need to check on the progress of your food.

17. Don’t buy cheap poorly sealed smokers

If you are in the market for a new smoker, it is important to invest in a model that has good seals and insulation. Cheap smokers often have poor seals and insulation, which can make it difficult to maintain a consistent temperature. To get the best performance from your smoker, look for a model that has good seals and insulation, such as a drum smoker, a WSM, a Kamado grill, or an insulated pellet grill.

18. Buy a well insulated smoker

A well-insulated smoker can help to maintain a consistent temperature and improve the overall performance of your smoker. Some good options for well-insulated smokers include drum smokers, WSM’s, Kamado grills, and insulated pellet grills. These models are designed to keep heat in and the elements out, which can help to improve the efficiency and performance of your smoker.

19. Add a brick to absorb heat

Adding a brick to your smoker can help to absorb and retain heat, which can help to keep the temperature of your smoker consistent. To use a brick in your smoker, simply place it in the firebox or on the cooking grates. As the brick absorbs heat, it will help to maintain a consistent temperature in the smoker.

20. Clean the fire basket to increase airflow

Cleaning the fire basket in your smoker can help to increase airflow and improve the performance of your smoker. As the charcoal burns, it can produce ash and other debris that can block the flow of air. By cleaning the fire basket regularly, you can help to ensure that your smoker is running efficiently and that the temperature remains consistent.

My Favorite Meat Smoking Tools

Thanks for checking out this article. I hope you learned a few things. Here are some of my favorite tools I use when smoking brisket that may be useful to you. These are affiliate links, so if you decide to purchase any of these products, I’ll earn a commission. But in all honesty, these are the tools I recommend to my family and friends who are just starting out.

Meat Thermometer: There are dozens of fancy thermometers on the market, but I still use my trusty TP20. For around $50, I have a high-quality meat thermometer with two probes, and can track the temperature of my smoker with one probe, and my meat with the other probe. The ThermoPro TP20 is an Amazon Best Seller because it’s the easiest thermometer to operate, is durable, highly accurate, and comes with pre-programmed meat settings.

Instant Read Thermometer: Arguably, the second most important tool you need is a fast and accurate instant-read thermometer. These tools play an important role in the latter stages of the cook when the meat needs regular checking in multiple areas. I use the ThermoPro TP19 because it can do everything a ThermaPen can do, but for a fraction of the cost. You can check out the TP19 on Amazon here.

Wireless Thermometer: The latest thermometers on the market have no wires and can be controlled by wi-fi via your phone. Airprobe 3 is the best of this technology.

Butcher Paper: Wrapping brisket in butcher paper has become a huge trend in barbeque thanks to Aaron Franklin. Wrapping your brisket in paper will give you a nice brisket bark. However, you can’t just use any old paper, it has to be unwaxed, food grade paper. You can find it on Amazon here.

Advanced Thermometer and Automatic Temperature Controller: Once you’re ready to take things seriously, the FireBoard 2 Drive is a six-channel Bluetooth/Wi-Fi thermometer that can monitor up to 6 pieces of meat, control and graph your cook sessions on your smartphone, and attaches to an an automatic blower that will convert your charcoal smoker to a set-and-forget. This is one of the most advanced meat thermometers on the market. You can check it out on the FireBoard website here.

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Damien

Author and founder at Meat Smoking HQ

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