Home Improvement DIY

For those of you who are keep out door chefs, a smoker is a great variation on the barbeque grill.  Smokers work by enclosing the meat in a container which creates a medium temperature smoke.  The smoke is hot so cooks the meal and the vapour adds a distinct flavour.

Types of Smokers - Just like grills, you can buy smokers in the form of charcoal, gas, electric, and even brick oven.  Whatever type is chosen the end goal is the same; heat the food evenly whilst creating mouth-watering aromas.

Normally a metal cylinder will allow the meat to be places on a grill or spit.  A number of models will allow you to control the heat using dampers.  One way to do this is by using a basin of water which cooks the smoke on contact.  The water will absorb some smoke, but also release some. As the smoke whirls through the chamber by convection, it’s cooled then makes contact with the meat again.

Can Other Grills Smoke as Well? - Although normal BBQ grills can perform a similar function, it’s not as good as a smoker.  With smokers, the fumes are an essential part of the process.  You can use different types of wood and/or charcoal for added flavour.  Some popular choices include:  cherry, hickory, alder and mesquite.  You can experiment with each type to decide your favourite as they are all different from each other.

Slow Cooking Time - Don’t buy if a smoker if you aren’t prepared to wait for your food..  It takes time to prepare the smoke with the right balance of ingredients.  Also your meal will cook slower because this is the nature of the beast.  It can take a day for your meat to cook so it isn’t something to take on if you just want a BBQ on a spur of the moment.

Often placed on a rotating spit, a good chunk of beef will be turned for hours, but not basted or sauced, letting the smoke do all the work. A tasty crust will form on the outside of the meat for a truly amazing experience.

While most smokers are made of metal, often cast iron, a great variation is the brick oven style.

What Bricks Can be Used?  The types of brick used for a smoker can be clay or concrete.  There are even special composites available now.  It doesn’t matter what type you choose, the smoker with still have a hot basin and a flue to move the smoke to a chamber where the meat cooks.

They provide well-controlled temperatures and an even control of smoke for the meat.  If you like to entertain many people then they can be built to cook very large amounts to meat

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