In a pit-type slow cooking apparatus, smoldering fuel elements are held on a substantially balanced seesaw support near and above a heating element in the bottom of the pit or enclosure. Food is supported at elevations above the smoldering solid fuel. As the fuel is slowly consumed without open burning or flaming, seesaw movement of the fuel support affords alternate cooling and heat exposure periods for the solid fuel to promote slower and more controllable burning.

The present invention is a grill intended for use in outdoor cooking. A burner assembly and a grid are enclosed in a housing that is arranged for even distribution of heat through the grid, and the grill is selectively usable to barbecue meat with or without wood flavoring or to steam meat and other food.

A pit barbecue apparatus embodies a fuel supporting tray or pan beneath which is positioned an electrical heating element. At an upper level of the pit enclosure, a food support grill is located, above which is a chimney. Heat from the heating element causes the wood fuel to smoke and smolder but not to blaze. The elevation of the fuel tray is self-regulating through bimetal support elements.

A charcoal-water smoker and cooker in which water separates the coals formed by charcoal briquettes and the meat, vegetables or other items being cooked and which includes a generally cylindrical body supporting a water pan and one or more supporting grilles with a base pan supporting the main body and also supporting a charcoal liner or pan for receiving a quantity of charcoal briquettes with the upper end of the main body being closed by a dome having a combined handle and heat indicator incorporated therein at the apex thereof. The main body is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed handles which enables the main body along with the water pan, grilles and dome to be lifted off of the base pan and charcoal liner in order to enable the charcoal to be replenished if necessary. The water pan and grille or grilles are supported interiorly of the main body by vertically spaced radially inwardly extending supporting clips.

An apparatus for converting a kettle-type food cooker into a food smoker includes an upright cylindrical housing having an open top and bottom with a grill support at its upper end and a water pan support at its lower end. The housing is positionable between a fuel-holding base and a cover for the food cooker in a vertically stacked arrangement to define a smoking chamber. The grill support and pan support both include brace members extending across the interior of the housing. The lower brace member has a downwardly offset central portion and a cross bracket for removably receiving and supporting the water pan. The housing also includes an access opening at its lower end, and a movable door to cover the access opening and permit the supply of fuel to be replenished.