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A number of years ago, I was in a restaurant in the UK at the annual “National Pig Day.” A couple of hours later, I was still on my feet, having eaten almost every bit of food that was offered to me.
I had been given smoked bacon for breakfast, a pork chop with a delicious gravy, smoked beef cheek with onions, sausages and mash, steak tartare, and a whole roast chicken. All this was washed down with a pint of beer!
The reason I mention this is because it showed me how much people love meat smoking and grilling — the British are just as enthusiastic about their barbecue and other barbecues as we Americans are when it comes to our own version of the same.
I’ve made several versions of smoked turkey breast, pork loin chops, and pork tenderloins in pellet smokers, and although they taste great, it took me quite a while to get to know how to use these appliances most effectively when it came to cooking meats. I will tell you about the pellet smokers I love.
How to Use Pellet Smokers
Before you can start making your first batch of BBQ, you need to make sure that you have everything you need ready. You’ll want to purchase a pellet smoker from the store or online. These come in various sizes. If you don’t mind spending a little extra money, then go ahead and buy one that has a temperature gauge built into it so you can see exactly what the temperature is.
Once you have chosen the right size, you should put it together and follow the instructions provided with it. This will show you step-by-step how to assemble the machine. When you’re done, take a few minutes to read through the user manual and learn everything that the machine offers. It will help you decide which type of flavor you’d like to use.
Now that you’ve got everything assembled and set up, you’re well on your way to smoking meat.
Smoking Meat With Applewood Chips
Applewood is by far the most popular variety of smoke wood used when smoking meat. It’s not very expensive, and it gives off a nice smokey flavor to the meat.
To smoke some meat, you’ll need to prepare the wood chips, and then place them in the smoker along with the meat. Make sure to place the meat on top of the chips. This will prevent the meat from burning or drying out when you put the lid back on.
You can either place the meat directly on the coals or on a baking sheet lined with foil. Place some water in a bowl next to the smoker, and add enough water to create steam. This will keep the meat moist while it cooks.
When you’re ready to take the meat out of the cooker, place the pan or baking sheet on a rack above the hot water bowl. Then turn the heat down to low. After a few minutes, the meat should be cooked to your liking. Just check it every once in a while to make sure that it hasn’t dried out.
Smoking Meat With Mesquite Flavored Wood Chips
Mesquite is another popular choice among pellet smokers because it gives off a sweet smokey flavor to the food you cook inside the smoker. In order to utilize its flavor, you’ll need to soak your mesquite chips in water overnight before you place them inside the smoker. This will allow the flavor to permeate the chips thoroughly.
To smoke some meat, you’ll again need to prepare the wood chips, and then place them in the smoker along with the meat. Place the meat on top of the chips. Make sure to place the meat directly on the coals or on a baking sheet lined with foil. Place some water in a bowl near the smoker to create steam. Turn the heat down to low after a few minutes, and check the meat occasionally to make sure that it’s not getting too dry.
Smoking Meat With Cherry Flavor Wood Chips
Cherry is also considered a highly flavorful wood that gives off a deep smoky aroma to the meat that you cook inside the smoker. To use cherry wood chips, simply soak them in water overnight before placing them inside the smoker. You can also use cherry wood pellets instead of chips if you prefer.
Since the flavor of cherry wood is a little stronger than that of other varieties, you may need to do a little more work to get it just right. One trick is to soak the cherry wood chips in vinegar for 24 hours. This will help to bring out the flavor of the wood chips. Another tip is to add a little sugar to the water in which you soaked the wood chips. This will give you a sweeter flavor.
To smoke some meat, you’ll again need to prepare the wood chips, and then place them in the smoker along with the meat. Place the meat on top of the chips. Make sure to place the meat directly on the coals or on a baking sheet lined with foil. Place some water in a bowl near the smoker to create steam. Turn the heat down to low after a few minutes, and check the meat occasionally to make sure that it’s not getting too dry.
There are many variations of flavored smoke woods available to you. Some of the most common ones include apple, cherry, mesquite, hickory, peach, and almond. There are plenty of others, and if you like the idea of trying something new, there really isn’t any harm in giving one of these woods a try.
