8 Steps to a great smoking experiences.
STEP1: The first thing you should do is sign up to http://smoking-meat.com/ . This site has tons of great information from regular guys and gals that smoke on a regular basis. Plenty of newbies also, since all great smokers were once newbies.
STEP2: Buy all sorts of meat. Pork, beef, fish, turkey, chicken. Start “burning” it as we call it. Since likely you will burn it, and it will not be what you hoped for, but it is like tuition to school. It costs something for the lesson.
STEP3: Seek sweet wood. Their are obvious standards, and they are awesome! Like Hickory, Oak and Mesquite are all well known. Look for good fruit tree wood also; Apple, Cherry are good examples. Walnut and Maple are excellent as well. More info at Smoking-Meat.com.
STEP4: After burning some well intentioned purchases, consider what you learned.. Most likely a couple things; need moisture in the smoker, and too much heat.. You will need to learn how to love your thermometer. The keys to smoking success is “LOW and SLOW” and plenty of moisture to humidify the air inside. The reason your ribs are so good from the oven is because you wrap them in foil with some water in the bottom of the foil. This keeps them from drying out. The other key is perhaps the most important! LOW and SLOW. Make up a blues hymn or some sort of song to sing along while you are enduring it. That will accomplish two things; reminder that LOW and SLOW is important, and it entertains you while you are spending quality time with your smoker.
STEP5: “You will know them by their fruit” it says in the bible, so if we were to apply that scripture to smoking, your growth in smoking would yield tasty smoked stuff. Remember you will stumble along the way, but you are becoming the smoker that God wants you to be! Honestly, if you use it for fellowship and things like that, I trust He will bless it and you guys for that!
STEP6: DO NOT LIMIT EXPERIENCE! Just about ANYTHING you can heat can be smoked! Last week I made a blueberry crumble that was to be smoked for 45 minutes, oh how sweet that would have been, if I had the smoker running that day. I cooked it in the oven, but the recipe called for smoking. Fish (obviously), beef, ribs, pork loin, open breast chicken, turkey, upright beer chicken, clams, cheese, so many types of desserts. Open your mind to the possibilities and just try it!
STEP7: Seek great smoking leaders. The cooking channel has plenty of good smokers from time to time. WATCH THEM! Also this guy, Steve Raichlin has a show that is excellent, but I have his book, many many recipes from across the USA with great tips and secrets.. It may be considered the smokers bible (not holy, just filled with truth!). These books should be well used during your experience: BBQ USA: 425 Fiery Recipes from All Across America
FINAL STEP: Have folks that offer you good tips, try out your makings.. Not only will it encourage more tips, but it will give them a good reason to visit! My first smoking experience I invited a bunch of people over, not a whole lot of stuff turned out, but I learned so much from the feedback..
Enjoy your new endeavour, as it will change the way you look at food. MMM MMMM MMMMMMMMmmmmmm….