Smoking

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AJS-

Original Poster:

15,366 posts

237 months

Friday 28th February 2014
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Recently bought a barrel smoker/bbq a bit like this one



And it's brilliant.

You put a small fire at each end, meat in middle, lid down and it cooks through nice and slowly, with a good smokey taste.

Tried chucking a load of peppercorns on the fire last night to cook steak and it was good. Nice, subtle peppery flavour. I've also tried adding star anise to give a bit of zing to some pork chops I smoked.

Any other suggestions for things I could try?

Wanted to get some duck breasts at the weekend so looking for something to smoke that with.

escargot

17,110 posts

218 months

Friday 28th February 2014
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Tea? Dried herbs?

Pferdestarke

7,180 posts

188 months

Friday 28th February 2014
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This is an interest of mine too. I have a bullet smoker (R2D2) and have had some great results with cuts like you mention, whole birds, salmon etc.

However, as this is a 'low n slow' cooking method, buy some cuts of meat that benefit from such gentle, drawn-out heat, such as pork shoulder, lamb shoulder, brisket, etc.

Get yourself a good meat thermometer and google 'internal meat temperatures' and have a play around. You'll be amazed with the results I'm sure.

Be prepared to spend a whole day at it and remember that the meat will only take on smoke flavour up to a certain temp so don't smoke throughout.

There's some good tips on this thread which you may have already seen.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

santona1937

736 posts

131 months

Friday 28th February 2014
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A smoking gun is a good thing for folks with little outdoor space. About £60. Allows you to smoke small items on the plate/ bowl/ jar etc.

226bhp

10,203 posts

129 months

Friday 28th February 2014
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One of the oddest smoked things I ever ate was chicken, it was cooked and served in a buffet in such a way that it was unrecognizable. I was young and naive then and had to ask what it was, I've never come across it since either! Quite pleasant though.

Tanguero

4,535 posts

202 months

Friday 28th February 2014
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226bhp said:
One of the oddest smoked things I ever ate was chicken, it was cooked and served in a buffet in such a way that it was unrecognizable. I was young and naive then and had to ask what it was, I've never come across it since either! Quite pleasant though.
Odd? I smoke a chicken every month or two. It is wonderful either as a sliced cold meat with salad or it goes superbly well with a fresh mango and chilli salsa, makes a blinding sandwich too!

Brine the chicken in 80% brine for 24 hours then rinse and pat dry before smoking at 20-25 Centigrade for 5 hours then raising the temperature to 180 Centigrade in the remaining smoke until it is cooked to a temperature of over 75 Centigrade in the thickest part of the thigh. Allow to cool then skin it while it is still warm and wrap in clingfilm then a couple of layers of foil and refrigerate to rest for 2 days before eating.

Mmmm, I think I will be popping out to the butcher tomorrow...

Pferdestarke

7,180 posts

188 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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And you pay a fortune for tiny smoked chicken breasts in artisan delis when it's easily achieved like this at home.