Here is a handful of easy-to-use smokers that could suit the beginner or someone who wants simplicity and great smoke flavor. I’ve always been curious about the changes in meat smoker technology and how it is evolving; there are nearly a dozen different smoker types on the market that you can buy. I get asked a lot what the easiest …
Easiest Meats to Smoke? With No Prep (Beginners Guide with Pictures)
After smoking meat for a few decades, here are some ideas for the easiest possible smoked (cooked aka hot smoking) options. In this article, I am presuming you are new to smoking meat, so I want to be as helpful as possible. You’ll find a quickfire rundown on smoking meats that will get you started. Here are some details on …
Smoking Woods for Smoking Meat (Chart with Varieties)
Meat and wood selection can get a bit confusing. There is a huge selection, and sometimes, I buy it. Most of the time, somebody is trimming an apple tree or grapevine, and I get ample wood stock. Blind taste tests have highlighted the variations, mainly whether it’s a ‘light’ or a ‘heavy’ hardwood. However, the internet reviews of woods I …
What is the Difference Between Hot Smoking and Cold Smoking?
Smoking meat in general seems to get confusing especially hot and cold smoking. Seeing a lot of artisan smokers and practicing it myself – I thought it would be helpful to clarify the difference. There is one fundamental difference between hot and cold smoking that I will explain in detail. It is to do with temperature. I will attempt to …
How to Choose Which Salt for Meat Curing (Curing or Smoking)
Key Article Points: There is salt, and there is curing salt, I hope to help explain which salt is for which application in this post. When I started meat curing I had never heard of Prague powder, pink curing salt, instacure, and many others; now, I thought it would be useful for others to know what I have learned. It …
50 Examples – Cured Meats, Charcuterie & Salumi of the World
Here are 50 examples of common and some cured meats you might not of heard of. I could have easily written 100 salami variations, but decided to focus on familiar & interesting unique flavors of the meat curing world! Maybe you want to find something for an epic charcuterie board or just want to learn a bit more about various …
Does Hot Smoking Preserve Meat? (and Some Preserving Ideas)
When I started hot-smoking meat, I did wonder if it had any preserving aspect to it. After exploring all aspects of cold smoking and hot smoking for many years, I’ve been teaching people about cold smoking both online and offline. It seems a lot of people assume that smoking is preserving. However, there is a difference between preserving and smoking. …
How To Smoke Meat on a Gas Grill – (Pictures & Techniques)
I love my gas BBQ, and over the years, I have tried many methods to get the most out of my hot-smoking adventures. It’s easy, and I reckon once you get the basics, you are going to be hooked! How to Smoke any Meat on a Gas Grill BBQ Because you have a gas BBQ already setup it’s easy! You just need to smoke. However, I ‘ve learned a …
Equipment for Meat Curing Guide – What You Do & Don’t Need
The equipment for curing and smoking meats can be quite simple, and you may already have what you need. It is a vast category that has evolved into a skill and craft with numerous options that can be done at home. We will break down all the necessary steps, whether you want to dry cure, hot smoke, cold smoke, or make a healthy protein snack that will last for a while, such as jerky (which can be stored in a cardboard box if desired). It’s all cured meat! To start with I …
How to Hot Smoke Fish (Pictures, Techniques & Temperature)
There are vital points when hot smoking fish, with a few techniques and temperatures you can use. Hopefully, I can share some of my successes over the years. KEY Steps How to Hot Smoke Fish: Key Points We will also talk about the different equipment for hot smoking you can use. To say I love smoked fish is a super …
How to Form a Pellicle on Smoked Meat (Salmon & Bacon)
Here is a quick guide about the pellicle and why it helps when smoking meat. I’ve been meat smoking for decades and have always been looking for helpful traditional & new techniques. I love smoking all kinds of meat, including store-bought, farmed & wild meat. KEY POINT Before smoking meat, the pellicle drying process is performed. Depending on the conditions, …