I also wanted to call out one of the strange things I noticed during the test. In other words, dogs seem to be very attracted to the large knobs on the Woodridge control panel. The three dogs who came to my house during the smoking session sniffed it with their noses, perhaps to see the smell of meat and others touching it. They can’t turn on the grill, but if they’re as naughty or curious as me, they can ruin you while you set the temperature.
smoke
Coming from the world of propane grills, the size of the Woodridge Pro really hit me. It’s easy to smoke two full-size pork belly. I’m hoping for it soon. Just as it is, my usual Costco pork belly loads half of the smokers.
It’s not easy. Set the temperature, leave the hopper filled, and everything else is automatically managed. Instead of worrying about vents and fan speeds and fuel, I usually hang out in my backyard, work, play with my dog, and concentrate on the meat.
Photo: Brad Bourg
I’m willing to do all the extra steps that make the meal truly amazing. I marinate and simmer beforehand, rubbing the recipe from a friend and making pickled ones instead of buying onions. It sounds simple, but you can easily skip if you’re lazy. Knowing that I have a chunk of delicious meat for smokers, I motivate them to go the extra mile.
As a result, I have made and contributed to some of my best meals over the past few months. We had the soft pork berry tacos coated with a soft, refined flavored spice strainer from my neighbor. The juicy pork chop features a coppa sandwich on a friend’s homemade focaccia. Meanwhile, I enjoy gorgeous leftovers like fried rice, smoked egg salad, and simple sandwiches. Not only the grill, but Woodridge has become a part of my kitchen and cooking, cooking faster and more seamless than I could have imagined.
