The DIY Grill Anyone Can Make: All You Need To Start Are Terracotta Pots

A smoker doesn't need to set you back hundreds of dollars. In fact, with a little ingenuity, a couple of terracotta flower pots can become a miniature backyard grill. More specifically, they can become a covered smoker that does even more to trap heat and let wood chips bring seriously smoky flavor to your food. 

To make this work yourself, first fit a wide terracotta pot with a metal grate inside the rim. You need to find a grate that fits securely, or use a grinder to custom-cut one out of a large metal grate sheet. Add charcoal to the bottom of the pot and place a handful of suitable wood chips over the hot coals, then put a cooking grate above them. Wood chips can bring different flavors to the food — applewood offers a milder, sweeter aroma, while hickory gives a stronger, more savory smoke. From there, arrange the food on the grate and cover everything with a second pot turned upside down to trap the heat and smoke.

Terracotta pots are great for plants, but this hack proves they certainly have other uses too. That being said, don't assume every pot in your garden can be swapped in. Some pots are glazed (to make containers better for thriving indoor plants), and the glazes might not be food safe. Terracotta can also crack when exposed to sudden temperature changes, so check for damage before each use.

For a more elaborate version of this terracotta smoker, your two pots can be fitted with a few extra parts for adjustable airflow and a built-in thermometer. Alongside the pots and metal grates, you'll need adhesive gasket tape, a U-hook, four nuts, four washers, a power drill, a thermometer, and a brick. The idea with this version is to make the upper pot easier to lift while also giving you a way to monitor the temperature inside.

You'd first need to line the rim of one pot with gasket tape to help the pots fit together. Then, drill two holes near the base of the pot for the U-hook. Secure it with the nuts and washers, and drill a separate hole for a thermometer. The second pot then becomes the base, with two air vents drilled near the bottom to help feed oxygen to the charcoal. Position one grate inside to hold the coals and wood chips, and then use the brick to raise the second grate above them for the food.

This more elaborate version works better because charcoal actually needs oxygen to keep burning. Just be wary that drilling can crack terracotta. And, of course, let the pots cool fully before you clean your smoker and store it somewhere dry.