In the culinary world, a few mutual relationships exist that benefit food — and whoever is eating it! One of the most popular of these would be the relationship between flavor & smoke, and when it comes to grilling not many pairings can match this special relationship. While most people see smoke as a byproduct of fire, those who are wise to the tricks of the trade know that smoke is huge flavor in and of itself. The specific flavor that smoke can impart to your food varies by wood types and also by the climate in which the wood grows.

Today smoking foods on your grill can be accomplished using several different method; you don’t have to actually own a smoker. Smoker boxes are a great way to add smoke flavor to your next grilling session by using wood chips or pellets. Smoker boxes come in all shapes and sizes but certainly aren’t the only way to add flavor to your food. Let’s take a look at a few new smoke and flavor products we’ve designed to help you get started.

Marinade & Sauce Bottle

Marinating your meat is excellent way to in enhance flavor when grilling. Consider marinating as a flavor pre-game if you will. Marinating can be done anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours ahead of time, with either a few simple ingredients or with a long list of carefully calculated flavors. So how can this process get any easier? We’ve taken all the guesswork out of marinating with our glass Marinade & Sauce Bottle. The bottle has up to 10 ounce measurements and features five tasty marinade recipes printed on the outside. All you have to do is portion the ingredients into the bottle, shake, and pour the marinade into a bag or container with your meat.

The Cast Iron Smoker / Humidifier

Smoking is immensely popular with larger and naturally tougher cuts of meat like brisket, ribs, and shoulders – but what about smaller cuts of meat? Although not the most common choice, smaller cuts of meats like steaks, chops, or chicken breasts can also shine when smoked. Often smoking involves a larger, more complicated setup and hours of smoking at very consistent temperatures. The Cast Iron Smoker / Humidifier proves you don’t need a large setup and allows you to strategically place additional smoke directly next to your food.

This portable cast iron smoking device features a reservoir to contain your favorite liquid (beer, wine, juice, or water) so that your meat stays moist while it cooks. Not only can you infuse smoke flavor, but you can retain more moisture and add additional flavor with a tasty brew or fine wine. Pair your liquid with a dry rub that compliments it and prepare to be amazed!

V-Shaped Smoker Box

The one thing you’ll always hear people say is that “propane grills just don’t flavor foods as well as charcoal grills.” This may have been true in the past, but these days I can faithfully say it’s not. There are a endless options that enable your gas grill to behave like a charcoal grill, but for right now we’ll just talk about one of the best options, the V-Shaped Smoker Box.

These smoker boxes were designed specifically for gas grills. With a V-shaped bottom, they fit perfectly underneath the grill grates, nestled between the flame tamers of two burners. They accommodate wood chips or pellets, and one version has a reservoir to add liquid (shown below). If you’re a fan of smoking food with pellets, one includes a refill tube so that you can replenish the pellets without removing the grill grate or smoker box. These boxes are available in long or short versions, in stainless steel or a non-stick porcelain coating.

Smoking and infusing flavor into your food can seem a little daunting or time consuming at first, but with some experimentation and the right tools to make the task simple, it may end up part of your regular grilling routine! Stay tuned for more tips and tricks on how to maximize flavor on your backyard grill.

Daniel Replogle

Daniel does business development and marketing at The Companion Group. When he isn’t writing you can find him rock climbing or doing ceramic artwork.