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The Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24″ is the larger of their two vertical gas smokers. Many BBQ gas smokers have limited cooking temperature range and can’t get down and hold low and slow temps of 225⁰. But Smoke Vault’s 18,000 BTU burner can be dialed down to 160⁰ and cranked up to 400⁰! Vertical gassers are often narrow making it a challenge to do ribs. With two 21.5″W x 14″D smoking racks The Vault will accommodate slabs of ribs laid flat and there is enough head room to use rib racks on both shelves for big gatherings. It also comes with an additional, nickel-plated mesh jerky smoking rack.
We’ve always wanted a residential gas smoker that can be converted to natural gas and Camp Chef granted our wish. It would seem like a no-brainer for manufacturers to offer NG conversion for a cooker designed to burn overnight and beyond, but here again, it is a feature unique to Smoke Vault.
The small 31.5″ x 29.5″ footprint of the Grilla Pellet Smoker makes it ideal for use where BBQ space is limited, including on a condo patio. Click here for our review on this unique smoker.
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There is also a water pan, steel wood chip tray, removable porcelain base tray for easy clean up and push button ignition. Three adjustable damper valves, one on top and one on each side, help control smoke and heat. The Vault is built solid and you can easily find it for well below list price by clicking our Where to Buy Links below. Even so, you can find a hundred vertical gassers for less money, but if you have the extra dough, this big beauty is worth it.
Manufacturer:
Camp Chef’s tag line is “The way to cook outdoors”. They began in 1990 to address the cooking needs of campers, outdoors-men, and nature lovers. The initial product line grew to include patio cooking. The Camp Chef catalog is impressive and comprehensive. Grills, ovens and smokers are often integrally designed with add ons such as lidded grill boxes, griddles and their new pizza oven. They offer a vast array of cookware, tools and utensils, lanterns, firepits and other cooking items designed or adaptable to outdoor applications.
Built around SnS Grill’s patented Slow ‘N Sear charcoal kettle accessory, this 22-inch kamado is a premium ceramic grill that brings true 2-zone cooking to a kamado. Click here for our article on this exciting cooker.
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Published On: 12/18/2013 Last Modified: 11/3/2021
All of the products below have been tested and are highly recommended. Click here to read more about our review process.
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It’s hard to beat a Weber kettle, but Napoleon holds its own and adds some unique features to make their 22″ Pro Cart a great alternative! Click here for more about what makes this grill special.
The Good-One Open Range is dramatically different from a traditional offset smoker, placing the heat source behind and under the smokebox instead of off to the side. Click here to read our complete review.
Introduce big, bold flavor to your BBQ and grilling creations thanks to the Meathead’s Amazing line of pork, red meat, and poultry rubs as well as a KC-style BBQ sauce. Click here to read more and to purchase.
The PK-360, with 360 square inches of cooking space, this rust-free, cast aluminum charcoal grill is durable and easy to use. It is beautifully designed, completely portable, and much easier to set up for 2-zone cooking than any round kamado. Click here to read our detailed review of the PK 360 and get a special AmazingRibs.com price!
When you make rubs at home we recommend you add salt first then the herbs and spices because salt penetrates deep and the other stuff remains on the surface. So thick cuts need more salt. We put salt in these bottled rubs because all commercial rubs have salt and consumers expect it. You can still use these as a dry brine, just sprinkle the rub on well in advance to give the salt time to penetrate. For very thick cuts of meat, we recommend adding a bit more salt. Salt appears first in the ingredients list because the law says the order is by weight, not volume, and salt is a heavy rock.
Sprinkle on one tablespoon per pound of meat two hours or more before cooking if you can. Called “dry brining,” the salt gets wet, ionizes, becomes a brine, and slowly penetrates deep, enhancing flavor and juiciness while building a nice crusty “bark” on the surface. Sprinkle some on at the table too!
Are they hot? No! You can always add hot pepper flakes or Chipotle powder (my fave) in advance or at the table. But we left them mild so you can serve them to kids and Aunt Matilda
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