Which smokehouse to choose for homemade?

Would you like to try your hand at hand-crafting healthy and fragrant cold cuts, cheeses and smoked fish? Bet on the home smoker! Find out which model is best for home use and what to look for when buying.

It is easy to smoke food at home. All you have to do is stock up on a smoker and basic utensils and you can use it to cook meat, fish, cheese and seafood. On sale you will find ready-made garden smokers, some of them have a grill function.

Home smokehouse - main types

Household smokehouses are of two types, i.e. models with a hearth and a smoke generator. The first devices consist of a hearth and a smoking chamber. Their principle of operation is simple. The smoking process occurs due to the temperature formed during the combustion of firewood. The second type is somewhat more complex devices. The use of a smoke generator is possible due to the supply of electricity or gas from a cylinder.

A convenient solution for the garden - ready-made smokehouse

For amateur use, choose models that are made of galvanized steel or painted sheet steel. An excellent accessory is an ash pan or a special box that makes it easier to remove the ash generated during smoking. Smokehouses with a hearth are cheaper than those with a smoke generator, but are more demanding to use. When using this type of equipment, you need to be prepared to constantly monitor the temperature and use more firewood.

What is the best home smoker?

There are three main types of equipment: electric, coal and gas smokers. Compare the performance of different models, the versatility of their use and the ease of keeping the device clean.

When choosing a device for the garden, pay attention to the appropriate dimensions of the device. Adjust it according to the amount of free space you have. Choose a smoking area depending on the amount of food you plan to cook at one time. Models with grill dimensions of about 35 × 30 cm are enough for cooking for a family of several people. You can choose between vertical ones that do not take up too much space, as well as lower and larger models with wheels that can be easily moved around.

The electric smoker is exceptionally easy to use and clean. Unlike other types of these devices, electric models are distinguished by a fairly accurate temperature control mechanism, which in the case of the smoking process is a key factor on the path to success. Cold, warm and hot processing require careful monitoring of the temperature, which is facilitated in the case of electric smokers. These features make the electric smoker the best choice for beginners in home cooking.

Charcoal smokers are more like a traditional grill and are a great choice for anyone who appreciates classic solutions and proven methods. Such devices usually also allow grilling, so they are also very versatile. Their work includes temperature control and the addition of fuel - briquette or coal. In order for smoking to go smoothly, a built-in thermometer is useful, which allows you to accurately maintain the desired temperature inside the device. Air intakes are ventilation elements that help control the smoking process by regulating the air supply, as well as releasing excess smoke.

A portable smoker is a good option for a small garden

In a small garden, the best choice is a small device, which is a combination of a smoker and a grill. Such models are equipped with convenient handles and wheels, thanks to which they can be easily moved from place to place.

You can also purchase a smoker for a gas grill. Compact and handy smokeless gas grill with a practical handle for easy carrying, ideal for use in the garden and outdoors. It is ideal for grilling, frying, baking and smoking.

The multitude of uses, combined with the lack of wood chips, makes the gas grill extremely convenient and versatile. It is much easier to keep it clean than a standard grill or smoker. To prevent food from burning, choose a Teflon-coated model.

Useful accessories for the home smoker

In addition to the basic elements of a smoker, it is worth arming yourself with practical hooks for hanging larger pieces of meat and fish, if your equipment is of the right height (about a meter). Thanks to this, you can cook, for example, pieces of ham or slices of fish or meat, while saving space in the smoker. You can also choose a wire rack that can hold more tender cuts of meat, as well as cheese and seafood.

A thermometer will make it easier to control the temperature, which is extremely important when smoking certain types of meat, fish and cheese. It allows for three main types of this processing: cold smoking (raw hams, fish), hot smoking (sausages) and hot smoking (ham, smoked meats, fish). Individual variations of this process require maintaining different temperatures.

Use clean wood shavings to produce smoke. Make sure these parts are properly dried and free of any contaminants, including resin and bark. Wood chips from a reliable source are best suited for this purpose, such as pre-packaged oak or beech wood chips intended for use in smokehouses. In addition, you can try other wood chips - fruit trees, walnut, maple, birch or linden, which give smoked products a different color and taste. Softwood chips are not suitable for smoking, as they give the food an unpleasant taste.

What to look for when buying a smokehouse?

A good quality smoker should be stable and efficient. The body must be made of lacquered sheet metal. It gives the equipment resistance to corrosion and operation at very high temperatures. If you are a fan of versatile solutions, look for a combination of a grill and a smoker in one device.

Choose a garden smoker powered by electricity, gas from a cylinder or a classic coal-fired one. Familiarize yourself with the types of processing, experiment with different wood chips. Try your hand at smoking meat, cheese and fish, then savor the taste of homemade specialties.

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