Planning on doing a garbage can cookout on the 4th. Have never done one before. After searching online a bit it looks mainly like all I need is a galvanized garbage can with lid, cement blocks, grate, and the food.
Figured I better check on here with all the good info always on here. Anyone experienced doing these? Any tips/recipes?
ever hear of galvanic poisoning ???
I would want to put that can through several fires before I thought about cooking on it.
I have been sicker than a dog from welding on galvanized metals,NO FUN !!!
even in one hundred degree weather I was coldernell and couldnt get warm.
the puking was no fun either,not until after I was over it was I told that whole milk will take it out of your system but it takes a while.
please dont cook on galvanized metal until its been burnt off,you dont want that stuff in your food.
it could be you already thought of it and are prepared for it,but I had to put this out there.
Scrub the inside with vinegar/dish soap solution and rinse. Do this a couple times. Then when dry punch some holes on the sides along the bottom for ventilation and then put already burning charcoal in it along with some wood for smoking and lay the cover on loosely. Do the smoke thing three or four times. I treated my can for smoking this way and haven’t had any issues at all. I’ve done several cans the same way over the years.
Read about burning the can first to get rid of the chemicals. I like the idea of scrubbing before hand and burning with coal in it seems like a good precaution. Going to put a bunch of veggies, sausage and brats in it. Says to put water in bottom of can to steam the food. Assuming you drilled the holes high enough the water doesn’t pour out of the can or did you drill holes just to use as smoker?
My can I actually cut the bottom out so the can will set on a grill. For your purpose I suppose you could eliminate the holes if the heat source is not immediately inside the can. The two biggest issues is to thoroughly scrub all the oil coating off the inside of the can and then getting a smoke coat on the metal inside. I never allowed any food [stuffed sausages] to come in direct contact with the metal inside the can either.
Whoa!
Sounds like trouble.
buy a can cooker
Pete s thanks for the heads up I had never seen the can cooker seems like a heck of an idea. Looks FDA approved and aluminum I was starting to lean towards brats on the grill after reading more about galvanized cans
Now I just got to find one in Stock Home Depot has to be ordered
Fleet farm.
Quick check on internet says galvanised metal is not safe to cook on no matter what you do to it. Do not take the risk.
I would NOT do it!!
Ever thought why you don’t see a galvanized one for sale on the retail market?
Picked up the can cooker original 4 gallon size. Worked well. Hardest part was achieving buying it. Mills Fleet Farm Had it $30 cheaper than cabelas. The wife ran to get it and they showed it in stock, but it took about 40 minutes to find it. Only one there was in the ware house.
Had 5 families over so I was crossing the fingers that my maiden voyage with it would turn out good and it worked slick.
Put in corn, red potatoes, carrots, cabbage, onions, sausages and brats. sprinkled old bay seasoning and poured a Budweiser on top of it all. Put it over an open fire for an hour only leftovers we had were some potatoes.
Sounds delicious!
Good work!
Only good use I have heard for Budweiser. 
Slipbob- Did it clean up easy?
cleaned up real easy. bought a small rack with it sold as an accessory by same company. rack sits on the bottom of can keeping food off the bottom. before putting food in it I sprayed the inside with pam.
Next going to try making ribs in it. Have never made ribs other than the Lloyds from grocerys store you just toss in the oven.
My BIL’s dad does this with old cream cans from the farm. I’ve never tried it, but I’ve heard the results are delicious.
Have used the can cooker 2 times now and plan on busting it out Sunday again. One of the better things I’ve purchased lately. If you’ve thought of getting one snag it. Throwing sausages, brats, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, corn, onions, old bay, and Budweiser in it again.
throw in some more goodies and ya could call it Bouja!!!!!!! 
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