Smoking and the use of smokers is the process of cooking food on indirect heat using the smoke to flavor the food. Smokers are used for nearly all meats like beef, pork, chicken and seafood.
Some fantastic examples are -
- Brisket
- Salmon
- Pork Ribs
- TurkeyLamb
Why is Smoking so widespread? The process of smoking is low and slow. With the lower heat, it will need to cook for a longer period. This will ensure that what ever you cook will be juicy, succulent and will fall apart.
Where to start with Smokers and Smoking?
The major options when it comes to smoking are charcoal, electric or gas. Which option is acceptable for you depends on how involved you plan to be in the process and where you plan to smoke.
With a charcoal smoker, you will need to pay more attention to the smoker on a regular basis as you will need to watch the temperature and add or remove coals depending on the temperature. With an electric smoker, you can set it and merely check it at the conclusion of the cooking time.
One of the bigest factors to consider when using a smoker is whether to use wood chips, pellets or briquettes. You will want to check your specific smokers educations as to which is recommended but in most cases the use of wood chips is easiest and readily available.
There are many types of BBQ Smoker woods available-
- Apple
- Alder
- Cherry
- Hickory
- Maple
- Mesquite
- Oak
- Pecan
Hickory is one of the more accepted woods, followed by Mesquite. The choice is yours as all of these woods produce their own characteristics which also depend on the meat you are smoking. We will talk about the different woods and meats of future postings.
To marinade or rub, what is the best? This is really up to your tastes. And trying both would be a excellent and enjoyable experience.
You will require 2 to 4 hours per inch of meat if you decide to marinade. If you go the dry rub route, it can take 24 to 48 hours in the fridge. But it’s worth the wait.
We will talk more about equipment, woods, marinades, etc. in coming post so please sign up for our mailing list so we can keep you informed about new posts.
