Questions tagged [smoking]

Questions about the practice of applying smoke to foodstuffs, often meat, in order to add flavor and/or preserve.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
34 votes
1 answer
5k views

What is the value of the "Texas Crutch"?

In US barbecue tradition, the so-called Texas Crutch is the act of wrapping large cuts of meat like beef brisket or pork shoulder in aluminum foil or butchers' paper during the smoking process. What ...
Preston's user avatar
  • 3,825
18 votes
4 answers
6k views

Could you smoke a sauce?

I want to add smoke flavour to a somewhat runny pepper sauce. I thought of letting it simmer on the barbeque and also have some wood chips in water to provide lots of smoke. Keep the lid of the pot ...
Neil Meyer's user avatar
  • 4,888
15 votes
1 answer
12k views

Can one become ill from consuming food smoked with wood that contains a common fungus?

If someone used common wood (oak, hickory, etc) from the woodpile, which had been sitting in the rain and weather for some moderate time and, consequently, may be harboring some common fungi, could ...
Randy's user avatar
  • 355
13 votes
4 answers
63k views

Is it possible to oversoak wood chips for smoking?

I wanted to prepare for a long day of cooking and get the wood chip soak out of the way. My barbequed brisket recipe calls for soaking the (hickory) wood chips for 30 minutes. If I soak the wood ...
Jeff Axelrod's user avatar
  • 4,929
12 votes
3 answers
17k views

What are safe, effective practices for smoking salmon in a commercial smoker?

We have been smoking salmon in an electric smoker (a Master Built) for about 6 months now, using a dry rub brine recipe containing salt, brown sugar, garlic and other flavorings (sometimes brandy, ...
mamadalgas's user avatar
  • 1,372
11 votes
3 answers
751 views

Soft bones in smoked chicken

For lunch today, a coworker and I went to a neighborhood southern-style BBQ joint. I usually wind up with fried catfish and he fried chicken, but today we both sprung for the smoked goods, and I found ...
Ray's user avatar
  • 6,154
10 votes
6 answers
52k views

Smoked a chicken and the skin came out like boot leather

I recently decided to smoke and entire chicken so I dropped it in and kept the smoker around 225-250 for about 4 hours. I went in and sprayed it down with a little apple juice and vegatable oil every ...
Brh's user avatar
  • 1,596
10 votes
1 answer
599 views

What does a Thai Scented Candle impart?

Amazon Link There is a traditional cookie that is pretty much just a thick sugar cookie that is baked and then put in a covered bowl with the candle overnight. I ran into it because I was looking at ...
Jolenealaska's user avatar
  • 58.5k
10 votes
1 answer
382 views

Is very slow smoking of meat allowed commercially in the US?

Many Portuguese sausages, especially in the Trás-os-Montes region, are prepared by smoking for weeks or even months. Examples include chouriço, salpicão, paio, etc. I don't seem to be able to find ...
Cory Schillaci's user avatar
9 votes
15 answers
288k views

How to smoke chicken without it coming out tough?

We bought a smoker and it has been fabulous for doing ribs. However, when we've tried to do chicken in it, it comes out "leathery" and tough. I have had smoked chicken at other people's homes that was ...
Ann MacDonald's user avatar
9 votes
5 answers
6k views

Ways to bar-b-que and smoke Kangaroo

Kangaroo is an unusual meat for most of the world. From reputation, it's quite hard to cook right as it tends to dry out: Kangaroo meat is very low in fat, usually less than 2%. This is lower than ...
Brian Ballsun-Stanton's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is there a way to quantify smoke in meat while cooking?

I've observed across multiple meats and cuts of meats that the other impact of smoking varies greatly. Additionally, while actually smoking my perception of the flavor is overloaded and doesn't return ...
Phil's user avatar
  • 1,220
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is smoking with 'barked' wood dangerous?

I have been told that smoking with fruit wood that has bark on it is poisonous. I also have been told that there is nothing wrong with using 'barked wood'- that it is only a matter of personal taste. ...
PaulRWA's user avatar
  • 91
9 votes
1 answer
14k views

How do you smoke water?

Roux mention in this answer smoking water. How do you do this? What does it taste like? How do you use it? Sounds fascinating!
yossarian's user avatar
  • 19k
8 votes
7 answers
6k views

How can I get the smokey flavour in Hor Fun?

I made Hor Fun (not the linked recipe in specific) the other day for my girlfriend who loves the dish. However, her critique was that it lacked the distinctive smokey flavour of the dish. When it's ...
Aequitas's user avatar
  • 653
8 votes
4 answers
61k views

How do I prevent smoked brisket from being chewy?

Last night I smoked my first brisket. I used a charcoal smoker which was given to me. I followed the advice given to me by the previous owner coupled with some quick reading from the manual and ...
ahsteele's user avatar
  • 2,598
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

How much time do I need to achieve a smokey flavor in bbq?

What is the minimum amount of time that I need to smoke food (in particular meat) in a smoker to achieve a noticeable smokey taste (assuming I have plenty of smoke)? Is there a maximum time after ...
yossarian's user avatar
  • 19k
8 votes
4 answers
5k views

How would I go about home smoking a ham joint?

I love the flavour of smoked meats, such as ham, and have wondered if it would be achievable to to do some smoking in a domestic environment? Would I need to hot-smoke, or cold-smoke? what would the ...
Rowland Shaw's user avatar
7 votes
7 answers
48k views

Gas grill: soaked wood chips vs. dry wood chips

I have a gas grill and want to get some good smoke flavor in a pork shoulder I am cooking. I've done some looking around for the best way to use wood chips and have found conflicting ideas about if ...
BLeB's user avatar
  • 227
7 votes
2 answers
3k views

How do you handle the fires caused by adding wood chips to coal?

I've been using wood chips in my BBQ (adding them to the coal) and I enjoy the flavor they add but I have a tough time cooking with them because: They cause flare ups I have to close the lid to smoke ...
gMale's user avatar
  • 191
7 votes
4 answers
7k views

Smoked a brisket that was edible but not great. What would you do differently?

I smoked my first brisket last weekend and even though it wasn't terrible it was a little dryer and rougher than I would have liked. Here is the smoker I used: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/...
Dave's user avatar
  • 173
7 votes
6 answers
5k views

home-made smoker

Well it's winter where I live, which means that I haven't been able to cook outside for quite a while and I'm starting to miss the taste. So I was thinking of building an indoor oven smoker. I think ...
boxed-dinners's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

Smoke after cooking = grease?

I really really really hate grease. I have a small house, my kitchen is next to my living room separated by a tiny hallway. I close the doors when I cook and generally don't have a problem. But when I ...
Andrew Barton's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
5k views

How important is humidity when smoking a brisket?

Recipes for smoking brisket typically recommend a temperature of 225 F. My weber smokey mountain has a water pan to help regulate the temperature. But what if I am able to maintain that temperature ...
cspirou's user avatar
  • 645
7 votes
1 answer
246 views

How to eat a spruce tree

Big farm to table dinner coming up. I'm showcasing the vegetables that are readily available this season. There is a beautiful spruce tree on the farm that I'd like to incorporate into a brisket. I ...
Joseph O'Neal's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
5k views

Is using treated wood safe for smoking meat?

I have some broken hickory drum sticks that I was going to throw out; but could these be useful for smoking meat? I would assume the wood is treated.
Smashery's user avatar
  • 585
6 votes
1 answer
4k views

Are any kind of wood-chips good enough for smoking?

I was watching a Heston Blumenthal Show called "Cooking like Heston" the other day, the episode was on potatoes and he made doughnuts using them. one of the things he did to prepare the potatos for ...
Memor-X's user avatar
  • 163
6 votes
4 answers
82k views

How long does it take to smoke a chicken?

I have tried to smoke chicken twice now and both times have taken at least 6 hours. I put the chicken (about 6 lbs) in my smoker with about 40 coals and add some wood. I also periodically add coals ...
Brian's user avatar
  • 61
6 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is it safe to smoke a 20lb turkey?

I just spatchcocked a 12 lb turkey, smoked it in temperature around 225-275 F (107-135 C) for about 3 hours. I did it in a kamado joe classic 3 with SloRoller. It came out amazing. Fully cooked, ...
Iancovici's user avatar
  • 385
6 votes
4 answers
48k views

Using my own wood for smoking?

I have some apple and fig wood from trees that were pruned yesterday. The pieces range from sticks the diameter of your finger to about 3" in diameter. How can I use these? Do they need to dry? For ...
Edward Falk's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
3k views

Smoking whole chicken without skin

I smoked a whole chicken with the skin on it and it did not have a smoky taste. My question is whether removing the skin will improve the depth of the smoke flavour the next time I smoke a whole ...
Jack's user avatar
  • 61
6 votes
1 answer
241 views

Will smoked-then-fried foods impart smoke flavor to cooking oil?

I am preparing for a chicken wing cooking competition later this month. One way I've been making wings lately is starting with a ride in the smoker to par cook and add a hint of smokey goodness (think ...
Preston's user avatar
  • 3,825
6 votes
3 answers
5k views

When smoking, is temperature consistency more important than exact temperature?

I am smoking ribs in a charcoal smoker. The smoked rib recipe that I am following instructs smoking the ribs at 225°F. My smoker is maintaining a temperature of 215°F. I can add more lump ...
ahsteele's user avatar
  • 2,598
5 votes
2 answers
5k views

Why did my smoked boneless chicken breast come out dry and without apple flavor?

I have a Pit Boss Lexington grill. The lowest temperature setting is smoke which is about 50-160 degrees. The setting above that are marked in degrees. I was using trager apple pellets. I had a ...
Jess's user avatar
  • 59
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

Dry and Tough Rumproast

Me and my friends have been cooking a 2kg=4.5 pounds piece of rumproast in a bbq smoker. We cooked it at about 250°F for about 3 hours. After that we, wrapped it in tin foil, raised the ...
user3633438's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
21k views

Is charcoal or the smoker at fault for low temperature smoking?

I recently received a charcoal smoker for my cake day. I attempted to smoke pork ribs, here are the steps I followed. Cured the smoker with 2 Lbs of charcoal. (6 hours) Cleaned the smoker. Prepped ...
Patrick J Abare II's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
551 views

What's the difference when smoking in a spherical grill and in a smoker?

When smoking in a spherical grill like the Weber One-Touch, will the result be different then when a real smoker is used? What is the difference?
Witek's user avatar
  • 153
5 votes
3 answers
14k views

What is the charcoal snake method and how does it work?

I've read in places about using something called the charcoal snake method for slow smoking in a kettle bbq. What is it and how does it even work? Here's an example picture.
aug's user avatar
  • 965
5 votes
3 answers
426 views

Would smoked chicken work well in paella?

I am not a chef, I just like to cook. Tomorrow I am making paella for a bunch of people, and I am leaning towards following this recipe. I was wondering, however, if it would be okay to swap the two ...
Matt Cashatt's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

Do I need to cook smoked beef before eating?

I bought some beef from the supermarket that said "smoked beef" on the label and nothing else. It was contained in the fridge, not the freezer section. I'm not sure how to prepare this for eating. I ...
PrashanD's user avatar
  • 217
5 votes
3 answers
8k views

Why do brisket recipes move to the oven to finish?

In the Cooks Illustrated BBQ brisket recipe and many others I've seen, they call for moving the brisket from the grill where they are being smoked to the oven to finish. I'm wondering why the recipes ...
Jeff Axelrod's user avatar
  • 4,929
5 votes
2 answers
693 views

Electric smoker and a charcoal smoker

Got a electric smoker recently. Are there any differences that one should consider in terms of recipes when using an electric smoker? Or are there any processes that one must take additional steps ...
chrisjlee's user avatar
  • 3,019
5 votes
5 answers
2k views

What do I need to get started with American style Barbecue?

With summer on the way here in the UK, I'd like to start trying some American style BBQ - ribs, pulled pork, brisket etc. as well as perhaps the odd steak and even pizza - with a relatively limited ...
ElendilTheTall's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
222 views

I have some mesquite smoked brisket and would like to minimize the smoke flavor

I have some mesquite smoked beef brisket that is pretty smokey. Is there anything I can do to neutralize that strong flavor?
Sue's user avatar
  • 53
5 votes
3 answers
3k views

What is a "raw smoked" gammon (or ham)?

In many recipes I've come across the term "raw smoked gammon" (sometimes also "raw smoked ham"). English is not my primary language, so such terms are sometimes difficult. This site has an answer on ...
Vilx-'s user avatar
  • 197
5 votes
1 answer
7k views

Smoking a blade steak

I live in Australia where smoked BBQ isn't really common. I asked the butcher what he'd recommend for smoking and he suggested a blade steak (I believe it was). It weighs about 1.5kg / 3.3 pounds. I'...
NRaf's user avatar
  • 600
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is there a more exact temperature for cold smoking?

In researching cold smoking a product there is quite a large gap between 80-100* . Does anyone use a more exact temperature? Does it vary because of the product? Any little hints to give the smoking a ...
Burdon on society's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Injecting Jack Daniels into pork

I have been smoking meats for a while now, and was recently given a marinade injector. I searched through a few forums, and found a few people really like mixing apple juice with Jack Daniels for ...
Flotolk's user avatar
  • 155
5 votes
2 answers
162 views

Keep bbq off the smoker warm or reheat?

This might sound like a dumb question, but I am wondering what is the best way to serve brisket if it is ready a couples of hours before serving? How do you get the best result and keep it juicy? I ...
ESD's user avatar
  • 153
5 votes
1 answer
3k views

Smoking dried peppers?

I have a load of dried jalepeno so wish I'd made into chipotle peppers instead - is it possible to rewind time? I was thinking of soaking them then doing a low temp smoke on my grill. Will that get ...
Nate Anderson's user avatar