The Ultimate Outdoor Cooking Debate: Smokers, Grills and Griddles

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The age-old debate of smoker versus griddle takes center stage as John and Dolores Berry share their strong opinions about which cooking method reigns supreme for different foods. Dolores passionately defends her preference for smash burgers on the griddle – thin, crispy, and stacked double with melty cheese – while insisting steaks belong exclusively on the pellet grill. Meanwhile, John reminisces about how their preferences have evolved through years of outdoor cooking experimentation.

The conversation takes a creative turn as the hosts recount some of their strangest cooking experiments, from peanut butter-infused burgers to glazed donuts wrapped around sausage. Not every experiment was a hit (smoked s'mores were decidedly awful), but their baked beans mixed with apple pie filling has become an unexpected crowd-pleaser at family gatherings.

A fun hypothetical scenario follows: if stranded on a desert island with only five barbecue items, what would you bring? Dolores chooses steak as her protein accompanied by garlic, butter, beer, and keto cookies for dessert. John, thinking more practically about a weekend's worth of meals, selects a large brisket with seasonings, beans, and bread to stretch their provisions.

The Berry were family then tackles persistent barbecue myths, debunking several outdated beliefs that many grillers take as gospel. Does a smoke ring actually indicate better flavor? Is soaking wood chips before smoking necessary? Can a flat top griddle produce juicy meat? Their experienced-based answers might surprise you and challenge some of your own cooking assumptions.

As the Okie Smokin' Podcast celebrates reaching 1,000 YouTube subscribers, John and Dolores invite you to join their passionate community of outdoor cooking enthusiasts. Whether you're Team Smoker or Team Griddle, there's something delicious cooking in every episode. Subscribe now and add your voice to the conversation!

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