I love all smoked meats but to be honest I also still prefer a grilled burger over a smoked burger, not that I dislike smoked burgers but it’s just my preference. Try making other items and see what she likes and dislikes, example ribs, chicken, turkey, sausage, pulled pork, steaks, brisket. My wife likes some smoked bbq meats but also prefers grilled for others, try them all out and see if you two overlap on a few items …. And if not that’s ok too. ✌🏻
To be fair, it was the pork belly burnt ends because they are one hell of a special treat,
But the daily driver is thick pork chops on the smoker, nice rub, close to 2 hours, learning that the difference between medium rare and well done was only 245/250-260 and paying close attention near the end. Until the smoker we had never had medium rare pork chops. I cannot go back.
Start with lighter tasting woods, things like pecan apple or cherry. Maybe try different things to see. I would experiment with things from salsa and cold smoked cheese and veggies to a pork butt for either pulled pork or maybe tacos. Does she already like tacos? A pork butt seasoned up well for tacos and be fire and it’s not the traditional bbq sauce slathered smoked item
That was probably a big part of it. Mesquite is the opposite end of the spectrum it’s got a heavy flavor.
Here is a chart I found that shows “lighter” vs “heavier” woods.
https://images.app.goo.gl/4iDTS7fkTqfS1mT7A
This could be it. They apple, almond, or cherry. I've never smoked burgers, but if I did I won't start off low, 225 is very low. I would run my smoker to 275-300F and let it sizzle close to the fire box. Pretty much grilling it to medium rare or any burger but with wood... or pellets.
2 things have worked for me:
- don’t force it. Make food how she likes it, over time she may get more curious about the smoked stuff. Be prepared emotionally for the possibility smoked food is not something she will ever like.
- pro tip: bring some kind of smoked food to a gathering where they will appreciate it. I brought some pulled pork to a family reunion and everyone raved about it for days. Seeing my cooking praised publicly like that seemed to make her more open minded about it.
Dry rub and apple juice on some thick ribs from Costco.
220 for seven hours, spray with apple juice every 25-35 minutes
File for divorce
Finish with thick hickory sauce for the last two hours
Pairs well with tall lager
My wife doesnt like certain strong flavored woods (hickory mainly) try different types of wood a milder one like pecan apple or cherry. My wife didn't really like smoked flavor just gotta give it time play with flavors.
They won’t. I’ve been married to an “I don’t like the smokiness” woman for 12 years and sometimes you simply need to love someone for who they are. Despite their faults.
i did a lot of reverse seared steaks. she started to love those so much that anything i put on smoker she would get excited about.
Tri Tip reverse seared won her over.
Do you enjoy it when she cooks things you don’t like and has you eat them?
Play around with recipes, smoke amounts, and products to your heart’s content, but it’ll serve you far better to just acknowledge and respect your wife’s boundaries on this one. You can always Q for the boys.
Honestly, trying to “make” someone enjoy food that they’re just not into is a bad idea. Probably time to reevaluate what you’re really trying to do here, if you come at this from a place of just genuinely trying to make stuff your wife enjoys rather than trying to force something on her she doesn’t want it’ll make a lot more sense. For example:
My partner is vegetarian so smoked meats are obviously a no go. I have tried many things that wasn’t something I would do for myself but I thought SHE might like and have had several hits. Successes include smoked tofu, smoked cheeses such as feta/halloumi, smoked tomatoes and garlic that then went into a smoky tomato soup, etc. Bottom line is - look at what she actually likes and then make that stuff, don’t just make what you like and try to push it on her if she’s not feeling it. I personally don’t like olives, if I had a partner constantly trying to make me eat olives it would drive me nuts, could be the same deal.
Not the same situation, but my wife loves smoked sirloin tri-tip. I usually use applewood chips, subtle smoke taste because it is on the smoker like 90 minutes. If she is a fan of mushrooms, smoke those in a pan and smoke them along with the meat…delicious flavor bombs!
My wife doesn’t like to eat meat very often, but she does like bacon. When I smoke pork, I use a simple rub (kosher salt, pepper, lowry’s) and smoke it over cherry wood. This gives it a bacony flavor. This helped the transition to eating more smoked meats.
Something more traditional that shines as bbq - chicken thighs are great, pulled pork, ribs etc. Ive noticed burgers and sausage are harder sells for most people who dont really care about the process. (Honestly I prefer burgers grilled too). Trial and error.
She likes mine. Key was to use hickory. Mesquite was just way too stringy apple was another good starter one.
Note my kids including 2 1yo love the meat i make in the smoker.
I just don't think pellet grills are good at burgers. Sure there are "no flips" but that's actually more like smoked meatloaf on a bun. I have never found any value in cooking bacon on the pellet grill either. I'd rather have burgers off my charcoal grill every day of the week.
Spatchcock a chicken is a great cook if you can get the skin right and crispy.
Try a turkey breast.
Smoked cream cheese. Season with everything bagel seasoning and serve with pita chips.
What flavor pellet?
I use a stick burner with post oak. For pellets I think oak, apple, or pecan would work. Probably would avoid cherry or mesquite.
I love all smoked meats but to be honest I also still prefer a grilled burger over a smoked burger, not that I dislike smoked burgers but it’s just my preference. Try making other items and see what she likes and dislikes, example ribs, chicken, turkey, sausage, pulled pork, steaks, brisket. My wife likes some smoked bbq meats but also prefers grilled for others, try them all out and see if you two overlap on a few items …. And if not that’s ok too. ✌🏻
I’m the same way. I love smoked foods like ribs, pork shoulder, and brisket but for me burgers need to be grilled. Not everything needs to be smoked.
Honestly, and I'm still trying to learn this, make it how she would like it. Fewer arguments and hurt feelings.
Smoked potatoes have worked for me, gives people the option to top it with whatever they want aswell
To be fair, it was the pork belly burnt ends because they are one hell of a special treat, But the daily driver is thick pork chops on the smoker, nice rub, close to 2 hours, learning that the difference between medium rare and well done was only 245/250-260 and paying close attention near the end. Until the smoker we had never had medium rare pork chops. I cannot go back.
This is the way…
Maybe some smoked sides like mac & cheese? What was the feedback exactly? Too much smoke?
I think man n cheese and ribs will be good transition items She’s just never had anything smoked aside from ribs before, she wasn’t used to the taste
Start with lighter tasting woods, things like pecan apple or cherry. Maybe try different things to see. I would experiment with things from salsa and cold smoked cheese and veggies to a pork butt for either pulled pork or maybe tacos. Does she already like tacos? A pork butt seasoned up well for tacos and be fire and it’s not the traditional bbq sauce slathered smoked item
Gotcha, maybe mesquite was too much
That was probably a big part of it. Mesquite is the opposite end of the spectrum it’s got a heavy flavor. Here is a chart I found that shows “lighter” vs “heavier” woods. https://images.app.goo.gl/4iDTS7fkTqfS1mT7A
Appreciate this!
This could be it. They apple, almond, or cherry. I've never smoked burgers, but if I did I won't start off low, 225 is very low. I would run my smoker to 275-300F and let it sizzle close to the fire box. Pretty much grilling it to medium rare or any burger but with wood... or pellets.
2 things have worked for me: - don’t force it. Make food how she likes it, over time she may get more curious about the smoked stuff. Be prepared emotionally for the possibility smoked food is not something she will ever like. - pro tip: bring some kind of smoked food to a gathering where they will appreciate it. I brought some pulled pork to a family reunion and everyone raved about it for days. Seeing my cooking praised publicly like that seemed to make her more open minded about it.
Dry rub and apple juice on some thick ribs from Costco. 220 for seven hours, spray with apple juice every 25-35 minutes File for divorce Finish with thick hickory sauce for the last two hours Pairs well with tall lager
My wife doesnt like certain strong flavored woods (hickory mainly) try different types of wood a milder one like pecan apple or cherry. My wife didn't really like smoked flavor just gotta give it time play with flavors.
Throw a chicken on! Pulled pork!
They won’t. I’ve been married to an “I don’t like the smokiness” woman for 12 years and sometimes you simply need to love someone for who they are. Despite their faults.
i did a lot of reverse seared steaks. she started to love those so much that anything i put on smoker she would get excited about. Tri Tip reverse seared won her over.
Do you enjoy it when she cooks things you don’t like and has you eat them? Play around with recipes, smoke amounts, and products to your heart’s content, but it’ll serve you far better to just acknowledge and respect your wife’s boundaries on this one. You can always Q for the boys.
Honestly, trying to “make” someone enjoy food that they’re just not into is a bad idea. Probably time to reevaluate what you’re really trying to do here, if you come at this from a place of just genuinely trying to make stuff your wife enjoys rather than trying to force something on her she doesn’t want it’ll make a lot more sense. For example: My partner is vegetarian so smoked meats are obviously a no go. I have tried many things that wasn’t something I would do for myself but I thought SHE might like and have had several hits. Successes include smoked tofu, smoked cheeses such as feta/halloumi, smoked tomatoes and garlic that then went into a smoky tomato soup, etc. Bottom line is - look at what she actually likes and then make that stuff, don’t just make what you like and try to push it on her if she’s not feeling it. I personally don’t like olives, if I had a partner constantly trying to make me eat olives it would drive me nuts, could be the same deal.
Not the same situation, but my wife loves smoked sirloin tri-tip. I usually use applewood chips, subtle smoke taste because it is on the smoker like 90 minutes. If she is a fan of mushrooms, smoke those in a pan and smoke them along with the meat…delicious flavor bombs!
My wife doesn’t like to eat meat very often, but she does like bacon. When I smoke pork, I use a simple rub (kosher salt, pepper, lowry’s) and smoke it over cherry wood. This gives it a bacony flavor. This helped the transition to eating more smoked meats.
Something more traditional that shines as bbq - chicken thighs are great, pulled pork, ribs etc. Ive noticed burgers and sausage are harder sells for most people who dont really care about the process. (Honestly I prefer burgers grilled too). Trial and error.
Yeah, doing chicken thighs tomorrow.. going to make some dry rub and some with a spicy bbq sauce
I haven’t run into this one but if my wife didn’t like BBQ I would have definitely gotten a new one.
She likes mine. Key was to use hickory. Mesquite was just way too stringy apple was another good starter one. Note my kids including 2 1yo love the meat i make in the smoker.
If you're using lump, skip the additional smoke wood all together. It'll be a lighter smoke flavor for sure but it'll still be there.
I just don't think pellet grills are good at burgers. Sure there are "no flips" but that's actually more like smoked meatloaf on a bun. I have never found any value in cooking bacon on the pellet grill either. I'd rather have burgers off my charcoal grill every day of the week. Spatchcock a chicken is a great cook if you can get the skin right and crispy.