Tips For Buying a Charcoal Smoker
There are 2 common varieties of charcoal smokers for home use available on the marketplace:
# Vertical smoker: A vertical smoker, also referred to as a bullet smoker due to its shape, is among the most popular smokers, which is not too large nor too costly. It utilizes a water pan between the heat source and cooking grate, keeping the meat moist. The meat is cooked at a distance above the heat source.
# Balanced out horizontal smoker: With this kind of smoker, the fire in the compartment and the meat are kept different. There is a large cooking surface area along with vents, which allow you to manage the heat and keep it moving in the cooking chamber.
Building a Barrel Smoker
If you're feeling daring, have some time on your hands and want that cowboy feeling, this could be a Do It Yourself job for you. A barrel smoker uses a drum, switched on its side and split down the middle. This is extremely cheap to make but on the disadvantage, it's not extremely steady and should not be expected to last long. You can discover how to turn a barrel into a smoker from many available resources on the internet.
Using an Electric or Gas Smoker
By getting rid of charcoal from the process, you lose out on much of the smoke flavor that makes barbecue interesting for eaters and cooks alike. While you can use wood with an electrical or gas smoker, you just won't get the same result. Some barbecue cooks may argue this point, but the majority of would prefer to prepare with charcoal to enhance the flavour.
Electrical and gas cigarette smokers however, enable easier control of the heat. Instead of charcoal, just experiment with the dial and voila!
Managing Heat
Charcoal is used as the heat source in the majority of cases, while the wood is used to include smoke and flavour. You may wonder why not use the wood for both heat and smoke. When you try to eliminate both birds with the same stone, or wood in this case, it typically results in over smoking cigarettes. It is easier to smoke and to control heat using charcoal. Extreme smoking of the meat will likely result in the meat ending up being too bitter, thereby Hakka 14-Inch Multi-Function Barbecue and Charcoal Smoker Grill destroying your culinary masterpiece.
Considering charcoal types
Charcoal is available in two ranges, each having their own fans:
# Charcoal briquettes: This is the most frequently used type of charcoal for grilling in the house. It is made of charred hardwood and coal. However, this type is avoided by hardcore barbecue cooks in many cases, due to the additives used in them to keep them burning and holding them together longer.
# Lump charcoal: This is simply made from charred wood, with no of the additives found in the charcoal briquettes (and also lacks the smooth shape thereof). This charcoal burns quicker and hotter than the briquettes. They also cost more, and depending on the level of sensitivity of the meat being prepared, the additional expense might be worth it as it also prevents unwanted flavor from being added due to the chemicals found in the briquettes.
If you still decide to use charcoal briquettes, as many great barbecue do, make sure to prevent the ones with the lighter fluid in them. The chemicals used to light the charcoal can burn the charcoal and enter your food. This will offer it an undesirable, acidic taste. Applying lighter fluid straight from the squeeze bottle is an equally bad idea as it will have the same effect.
Using a chimney starter
Instead of using the unpleasant tasting chemicals found in lighter fluid, you can quickly and easily light your charcoal with a chimney starter. They can be found easily in home-supply or hardware stores.
To use it, stuff newspaper into the bottom section and fill the leading area with charcoal. In a safe place, light the paper. You coals need to be ready in 15 to 20 minutes. Then discard them in the smoker.