How to Use a Smoke Tube for Smoking Meat

on Mar 03, 2025

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How to use a pellet smoker tube is a question I get over and over.

Whether you’re a pitmaster in the making or an expert meat smoker, a smoke tube is an absolute must for making the best smoker recipes on a pellet grill or electric smoker.

A piece of meat on a grill with a smoke tube.

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This step-by-step guide will show you how to smoke your favorite meats, cheese, and more using a pellet smoker tube, perfect for any grill type and simple to use.

Whether you’re firing up a gas grill, getting the charcoal glowing on your Weber grill, or plugging in the electric smoker, here’s how to use a smoke tube to up your grilling game.

This is how I use a pellet smoker tube on my Traeger grill, every time I make a great smoker recipe!

What is a Smoke Tube?
Why You Should Use a Smoke Tube
How to Use a Smoke Tube
What’s the Best Flavor of Pellets?
Easy Smoker Recipes

What is a Smoke Tube?

A smoke tube is a rugged stainless steel tube designed for pellet grilling and adding smoky flavors to your food. Suitable for gas grills, charcoal grills, and electric smokers, this simple device is filled with wood pellets or chips.

I use my pellet smoker tube whenever I fire up my pellet grill. It is an indispensable smoker accessory for making great food such as this delicious smoked salmon, our whole smoked turkey, and even this tasty smoked pork loin recipe.

A smoke tube will make almost anything you make on a pellet grill taste better.

Once lit, it produces smoke through its tiny holes, turning your grill into a smoke generator. Whether you’re using a pellet tube smoker for that extra smoke flavor or a cast iron box for hours of smoke, the result is deliciously smoked food right in your backyard.

I often tell people that I’m addicted to smoking. (Food that is!!!) And I couldn’t do it without using one of my smoke tubes.

If you’re ready to become the king (or queen) of the grill, take this Pro Tip: With a pellet smoker tube, you can add that irresistible extra smoke flavor to your meals, making every bite a smoky sensation.

Why You Should Use a Smoke Tube

If you have an electric smoke or a wood pellet smoker and you’ve wondered why you’re not getting a lot of good smokey flavor on your smoked food, you need to use a smoke tube.

The reason is, in most instances, those types of smokers do not produce a sufficient amount of smoke to penetrate your meat and give it that smokey flavor you are seeking.

Even if you have one of the higher-end Trager grills with the “Super Smoke” feature, you won’t get the amount of smoke you will get from one of these little gadgets. Besides being easy to use, you can get a smoke tube for under $15 from Amazon, or at your favorite hardware store, or wherever smokers are sold.

Smoking a whole chicken on a pellet grill with a smoke tube. — Using a smoke tube on my pellet grill is something I do with every smoke.

If you’re old school and use an offset wood smoker, you’re probably okay with not using a smoke tube because this type of smoker is the real deal. It will produce enough smoke from the pieces of wood used to smoke the food.

How to Use a Smoke Tube

Here’s how to make the smoke tube work with any grill.

What you Need to Use a Smoke Tube

A Smoke Tube – You can pick one of these at your favorite hardware store, Lowes, Home Deopt, or get one from Amazon.
A Pinch Bowl – You’ll use one of these small bowls to soak a small amount of pellets in alcohol.
- Do not use a plastic pinch bowl for this. I prefer stainless steel pinch bowls because they’re won’t shatter if they hit the cement should they fall. Alternatvely, glass works well too, if you’re. not a clutz like me!
Some smoker pellets – I’m often asked what is my favorite flavor of pellets. For fish, I personally like hicory,
Isopropyl Alcohol – This is just plain rubbing alcohol.

Fill the Smoke Tube

Start by filling the stainless steel tube or smoker box with your choice of wood pellets. The type of wood pellets you choose can range from hickory to apple, offering a variety of pellet flavors to experiment with.
- A cup of pellets is usually enough for shorter cooks, while a larger quantity may be needed for slow BBQ and long cooking sessions.

A smoke tube for a pellet grill with a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a pinch bowl.

The Best Way to Light a Smoker Tube

Fill a pinch bowl with pellets and pour some rubbing alcohol over the pellets. Let them soak for five minutes. Then, drain alcohol from the pinch bowl and light the pellets.
- Allow them to burn for five minutes, then blow the flame out. Do not leave the burning pellets unattended!

Lighting a pinch bowl of wood pellets. — **Light the pellets.**

A pinch bowl of wood pellets burning with a yellow flame. — **Light the pellets.**

Transfer Smoldering Pellets to Smoke Tube

Now, pour the smoldering pellets into the top of the smoke tube. If the pinch bowl is hot, use BBQ gloves.

It is important to let the flame burn for a few minutes before blowing it out. This allows the pellets to ignite correctly, ensuring you get enough smoke from the smoke tube.

Find the Sweet Spot: Place your smoke tube in the cooler part of the grill, away from direct heat, if you’re using gas or charcoal grill. This smoking area ensures the wood pellets smolder and don’t catch fire, providing consistent smoke without burning the unburned pellets.

Many people will tell you to use a butane torch or blowntorch to light the end of the tube. I like my method better. For one thing, you don’t have to dig out your blow torch and “play with fire.” Secondly, lighting a smoke tube has become a part of my routine for getting the meat ready to put on the smoker.

While I’m preparing the pellets for the smoke tube, I’m also getting some warm water ready for the water pan and doing the final prep work for the meat or fish that is about to be transformed into something smokey and delicious.

A pellet smoker tube on a grill with some salmon fillets.

Smoke Your Food: Whether it’s cold smoke cheese, favorite meats, or other delicious items, now’s the time to let the smoke do its magic. For larger items or long cooking sessions, make sure to check the smoke tube periodically to ensure it’s still smoking, adding a handful of pellets if needed.

Enjoy the Results! After achieving the desired amount of smoke, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. A pellet smoke tube can transform your grilling game, making every meal a smoky sensation.

What’s the Best Flavor of Pellets?

There are many varieties of flavors and brands of wood pellets for your smoker. For most people, it comes down to convenience, price, and personal preference.

I suggest you try different flavors and brands of pellets and find out what works best and tastes best to you.

Smoking Pellet Flavor Guide

Protein	Pellet Flavor	Flavor Profile & Best Uses
Fish & Seafood	Alder	Mild, slightly sweet; excellent for salmon, trout, seafood.
Fish & Seafood	Apple	Subtle sweetness, great for light fish like tilapia and cod.
Fish & Seafood	Cherry	Fruity with tartness, good for salmon.
Poultry	Hickory	Bold and smoky, best for dark meat or wings.
Poultry	Maple	Slightly sweet, works well for balance.
Beef	Mesquite	Bold and intense, ideal for brisket.
Beef	Hickory	Strong, classic BBQ flavor, perfect for ribs or steaks.
Pork	Apple	Lightly sweet, enhances pork’s natural flavors.
Pork	Cherry	Fruity with tartness, great for ribs and ham.
Lamb & Venison	Oak	Balanced smokiness, great for lamb or bison.
Bacon	Maple	Classic sweet-smoke flavor, great for bacon.

Download this free Smoking Pellet Flavor Guide Here.

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