Smoking Food

On ABC NSW radio 

Smoked chicken breast fillets

Smoked chicken breast fillets

Smoking Food

– to preserve food

– add flavour

– tenderise

(photo shows chicken breast fillets smoked in a wok with tea leaves – see below for details)

What do you need?

Equipment:

Smoker,  smoking box,  BBQ,  wok,  oven or simply a hole in the ground!

Smoke:

  • Wood, wood chips, sawdust – soak or dampen before use to create smoke not fire. Soak in fruit juice, wine or water.

  • Corncobs, peat (to smoke barley malt for whisky and some beer making)

  • Chinese method in a wok or oven = Tea leaves, uncooked rice, sugar, salt. Add herbs, lemongrass, lemon or orange rind for added flavour.

What can I smoke?

  • Meat, especially cheaper cuts

  • poultry

  • seafood

  • nuts

  • cheese

  • tofu

  • even ice cream (smoke the milk/cream mixture before adding eggs)

How is it done?

  • Temperature and time. A lower temperature allows smoke to be absorbed and to tenderise. Slow cooking allows the natural fibres in meat to break down and become tender.

  • Dampen wood chips before smoking.

  • Put in base of a smoker, in smoker box in a hot BBQ, in a disposable foil tray or wrap in foil and poke holes in it to allow smoke to escape.

  • Place food on a wire rack.

  • Cover securely with a lid or hooded BBQ or foil.Smoke until done.

  • Check internal food temperature with a food thermometer into the thickest part of the food.

  • For an accurate reading make sure the thermometer is not touching fat or bone.

Be careful

Burnt tea leaves (temp too high & leaves too dry)

Burnt tea leaves (temp too high & leaves too dry)

If temperature is too high and smoke is not circulating,

the meat can become bitter from a build up of creosote,

a thick, oily substance left over by fire. Creosote can numb the tongue.

To stop tea leaves burning in wok steaming, keep them slightly moist and regulate

temperature so leaves smoke but don’t burn.

Posted on April 23, 2009 at 5:01 pm by Brigid · Permalink
In: Cooking Tips & Hints, Radio, Chicken · Tagged with: , , ,

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