| Although barbecuing is the typical way most of us | | | | Depending in the size of the food you are preparing, |
| cook outdoors, cooking with a smoker is gaining in | | | | and the temperature you are cooking, smoker cooking |
| popularity. Even though the smoked heat method | | | | takes hours longer than typical grilling. A four pound |
| takes considerably longer than your basic charcoal grill, | | | | piece of meat that will cook in 45 minutes on a |
| cooks say that the distinctive taste of smoker cooking | | | | barbecue will most likely take at least two hours in a |
| is well worth the wait. | | | | smoker. A four pound chicken will need about four |
| Smoker cooking is a form of cooking where the | | | | hours in the smoker before it is done. The best way to |
| smoke from burning wood prepares your foods. | | | | tell if meat is thoroughly cooked is to use a meat |
| Heated hard wood chips, such as mesquite, hickory | | | | thermometer. Chicken that is thoroughly cooked has a |
| and oak are placed in a smoker, which not only cook | | | | temperature of 165 degrees. |
| the food, but also add a unique flavor from each wood | | | | There are endless possibilities when smoker cooking |
| type. The typical wood smoker has a separate fire | | | | food. Any type of meat, poultry or seafood can be |
| chamber, which allows the heat and smoke to pass | | | | prepared for cooking by a smoker. Experimentation will |
| through the food being prepared. In smoker cooking, | | | | allow you to find the perfect wood chip for each of |
| food never comes in contact with an actual flame as it | | | | your favorite meat types. Rubbing spices on your |
| does with charcoal grilling. As such, there are no | | | | meat prior to smoker cooking, as well as adding |
| dripping oils, bursts of flames or charcoal burnt food. | | | | sauces while meat is being prepared adds even more |
| Cooking with a smoker allows for a whole range of | | | | flavor to your food. |
| flavor opportunities. The type of hard wood chips you | | | | Steaming vegetables is also ideal for cooking with a |
| choose will provide the unique flavor for your smoked | | | | smoker. The cooking with smoke process seals in not |
| food. Hickory typically provides a heavy, smoky flavor | | | | just the taste, but the nutrients as well. Smoker cooking |
| to foods, and is often used when smoker cooking a | | | | is the simple way and tasty way to add more veggies |
| turkey. Wood chips made from apple or pecan trees | | | | to your diet. Many of your favorite recipes can also be |
| produce a lighter smoke flavor and will produce foods | | | | prepared via cooking with smoke. Chili is a smoker |
| with a light, slightly sweet smoked taste, often used | | | | cooking favorite for many cooks. Your smoker will |
| with a white fish fillet. | | | | most likely come with a cookbook filled with new |
| Patience and allowing oodles of time to prepare a | | | | recipes to try. |
| meal is the key to successful cooking with a smoker. | | | | So when you have the time and are yearning for food |
| Foods cooked with heated smoke take considerably | | | | with that unique smoky flavor, consider smoker |
| longer to cook than foods slapped on the barbecue. | | | | cooking for your next meal. |