How to Make a Refrigerator Smoker

Smoking meat is a cooking method that has been used to prepare or preserve meats for hundreds of years, and is still practiced today by outdoor cooking enthusiasts all over the world. Meats that are cooked in smokers tend to hold a great deal of moisture and often feature unique tastes.

1. Find a suitable refrigerator. Your goal in this step is to find a refrigerator that is large enough to prepare your desired amounts of food and is safe to cook with at temperatures exceeding 300 degrees Fahrenheit. It is extremely important that the refrigerator is not built from materials that might release toxic substances at high temperatures.


2. Install a hot plate. The hot plate will be the heat source for your refrigerator smoker and is easily installed by drilling a hole in the bottom of the refrigerator, passing the plate's electrical cord through the hole, and by arranging the plate at the center of the bottom of the refrigerator.


3. Prepare the cooking surfaces. You have some choices for this step, but the simplest method is to place metal racks where the previous shelving was installed. Ensure that the metal racks are cleaned and that any harmful or flammable substances are removed from the metal.


4. Allow for ventilation. Drill 3 to 6 holes into the bottom and top of the refrigerator, as this allows fresh air to enter the smoker and will also provide an exit for some of the smoke to leave through.


5. Place a tray for the wood chips. The wood chips provide the smoke that plays a major role in flavoring meat. A metal pan placed directly on the hot plate will serve as an excellent tray for the chips.