If you’re a fan of smoky and juicy meat with a mouth-watering flavor, then you’ll definitely want to try smoking tri tip. As an enthusiastic meat lover, I have experimented with various methods and found my personal favorite way to smoke tri tip. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing with you the best method to enjoy tender and delicious tri tip that is sure to please every palate. So, take out your smoker and get ready for a flavorsome journey!
The Best Method to Enjoy Mouth-Watering Tri Tip: My Personal Favorite Way to Smoke It
Introduction
Tri-tip is a cut of beef coming from the bottom sirloin, also known as the Santa Maria steak. It is commonly found in the western United States and is a staple of California BBQ. The best way to enjoy this delicious cut of meat is by smoking it. Smoking meat brings out its natural flavors and creates a juicy, tender, and flavorful texture that will leave your taste buds dancing. In this article, we will show you how to smoke a tri-tip using the Weber Kettle and hickory wood. Try it out at home, and you’ll never want to cook it any other way.
The Tools You Will Need
Before we dive into the method, let’s make sure you have all the tools you need to smoke a tri-tip:
- A Weber Kettle with a Vortex
- Hickory wood
- Charcoal
- A meat thermometer probe
- Brown sugar
- Garlic
- Paprika
- Black pepper
- Salt
The Rub
The rub is an essential part of any smoked meat. It gives it flavor and that beautiful bark that everyone loves. For a tri-tip, we recommend using a rub that includes brown sugar, garlic, paprika, black pepper, and salt. Combine these ingredients and rub them all over the tri-tip before placing it on the smoker.
Smoking the Tri-Tip
Now that you have everything ready let’s get started with the smoking:
Step 1: Set Up the Weber Kettle
Fill the Vortex with charcoal and light it up. Once the charcoal has turned white, place some hickory wood on top of the charcoal to add that critical smoky flavor. Place the cooking grate over the Vortex.
Step 2: Prepare the Tri-Tip
Rub the tri-tip with the seasoning rub that you prepared before. Make sure it is well coated on all sides.
Step 3: Monitor the Temperature
Place the tri-tip on the cooking grate and close the lid. Set your meat thermometer probe to monitor the internal temperature of the meat. It is essential to monitor the temperature to ensure that the tri-tip cooks evenly. Maintain a temperature of 225-250 degrees Celsius by adjusting the top and bottom vents.
Step 4: Smoking with Hickory
Smoke the tri-tip with hickory wood for half an hour, this is to give it the essential smoky flavor.
Step 5: Monitor the Internal Temperature
Once the tri-tip reaches an internal temperature of 110 degrees Celsius, sear the outside over direct heat by removing the cooking grate and placing the tri-tip directly over the Vortex for a few minutes. Flip the meat for even searing.
Step 6: Finish Smoking
Once both sides have been seared and the internal temperature has reached 130 degrees Celsius, your tri-tip is ready. Let it rest for a few minutes before slicing.
Conclusion
Smoking tri-tip on a Weber Kettle is easy and straightforward. It is an excellent way to get that authentic BBQ flavor and will leave your guests asking for more. Smoking with hickory gives it a fantastic smoky flavor, and searing it over direct heat gives it that crispy crust that is so pleasing to the palate. With this recipe, you will have a mouth-watering tri-tip that will be the centerpiece of your next BBQ party.
FAQs
- How do you know when a tri-tip is done?
The internal temperature is the best way to tell when a tri-tip is finished. Aim for a medium-rare to rare temperature of 55-60 degrees Celsius.
- Can I use a different type of wood to smoke the tri-tip?
Yes, you can use any type of wood that you prefer. Hickory, apple, and oak are all great options.
- Why do you need to sear the tri-tip?
Searing the tri-tip over direct heat caramelizes the outer layer of the meat, creating a crispy and flavorful crust.
- Can I smoke a tri-tip in an oven if I don’t have a Weber Kettle?
Yes, you can smoke a tri-tip in the oven. Set your oven to 225 degrees Celsius and place the tri-tip on a baking sheet. Follow the same smoking and searing process in the oven as you would on the grill.
- What are some other recommended BBQ channels on YouTube?
Smoky Ribs BBQ & Southern Cuisine, T-ROY COOKS, HowToBBQRight, and Malcom Reed are all excellent channels for BBQ recipes and techniques.
