We’ve come to a realization over the years: There are very few things in life more delicious than a good piece of smoked meat. Smoking meat is both an art and science, and if you ask eight different pitmasters, you’re probably going to get eight different answers concerning style, process, and more.

Originally published: themanual.com

Smoking originated as a method of preserving food back before refrigerators and chemicals were invented (you know, the “olden days”). Even though more modern methods of cooking have become rather ubiquitous in the present day, the sheer deliciousness of smoked food has kept the tradition alive. Through years of culinary trial and error, humanity has determined the best smoking techniques and, in the process, elevated the age-old practice to a level of mastery on par with any other cooking endeavor.

There are entire books written on the subject, but contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t take years to learn how to smoke. We’ve put together all the information you need to know to dive right in and start smoking meat like pro within a day. First thing is first, though, you’ll need a smoker.

TYPES OF SMOKERS

• Electric smokers use electricity to heat up a rod (or similar heating element), which then causes the wood to smoke. These are the easiest in terms of heat control since all you have to do is turn a dial to adjust the temperature. They also tend to be the most expensive, and they impart the least amount of smoked flavor compared to the other options.
• Propane smokers work almost exactly like electric smokers, but use a gas-fueled flame instead of a heating element to make the wood pellets smolder. These are pretty simple and might be a better choice for people for people in areas where electricity is expensive or scarce.
• Charcoal smokers are a favorite among barbecue masters, who believe that charcoal imbues more flavor compared to propane and electric. Charcoal smokers tend to be cheaper, but you also have to buy charcoal every time you want to smoke. Charcoal also requires you to start and maintain a fire without the help of modern technology. When you are smoking meat products remember these things.
• Wood smokers are definitely the way to go for the purest flavor, but they require the most attention and care out of all the options because they’re harder to keep at a constant temperature. For this reason, we only recommend wood smokers after you’ve learned the basics.
• Pellet smokers are similar to wood smokers, but the wood has been condensed into convenient pellet form (hence the name). However, they are much easier to use. Instead of stacking firewood and babysitting the flame, you simply load the pellets into an oven-like compartment. The only downside? Like their electric brethren, pellet smokers tend to be expensive.
• Don’t know where to start? Here are some of our favorites.

BEST MEATS TO SMOKE

When hunting for the right chunk meat, try to pick something that will benefit from the slow-cooking process. Don’t shy away from cuts with lots of connective tissue and fat known as “marbling.” A generous marble will make the finished product more succulent and delicious.

Beef brisket is a go-to, and you can never go wrong with ribs. Pork shoulder is another meat that lends itself to smoking. If you want to smoke a steak, the bigger the cut, the better. We highly recommend Waygu beef. You might turn to some lesser-known cuts like tri-tip and chuck eye.

After you have your cut of meat, you’ll need some wood.

WOOD FOR SMOKING MEAT

• Alder has a light and naturally sweet flavor, which makes it great for pairing with fish, poultry, and any white meat.
• Applewood has a fruity and sweet smoke that pairs wonderfully with pork, fish, and poultry
• Hickory has a strong and distinct flavor that’s ideal for red meat, especially ribs.
• Pecan gives your meat somewhat of a fruity flavor and burns cooler than most other barbecue woods. It’s similar to hickory and is best used on large cuts like brisket and pork roast, but can also be used to compliment chops, fish, and poultry.
• Maple has a sweet and delicate taste, and tends to darken whatever meat you’re smoking. It goes well with alder, oak, or applewood, and is typically used for poultry and ham.
• Mesquite is undoubtedly the most pungent wood you can smoke, which means it can easily overpower your meat if used improperly. Avoid using mesquite with larger cuts that require longer cooking times. You can also use it with a mix of other woods.
• Oak, on the other hand, is great for big cuts of meat that take a long time to cook. It has a subtle flavor that will emerge the longer the meat is in the smoker.
• Cherrywood is best suited for red meat and pork; it also pairs well with alder, hickory, and oak.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINING

Brining your meat keeps it from drying out during the smoking process. It’s all about science — the salt in the brine makes the proteins in the meat more water absorbent. When sodium and chloride ions get into the meat tissue, their electrical charges mess with the proteins (especially myosin), so they can hold onto moisture more effectively and lose less of it during the cooking process. For optimal moisture retention, soak your meat in a brine for 10-12 hours before smoking.

In it’s most basic form, brine is nothing more than salty water, however, it benefits from the addition of herbs and spices. To make a good base, add three tablespoons of salt to one quart of water, then throw in whatever else you prefer (here are a few recipes to get you inspired). Brining is a bit of a double-edged sword: it helps meat retain moisture, but also makes it saltier. Some chefs use sugar and molasses to combat the salty flavor.

SMOKING MEAT: KEEP IT LOW AND SLOW

Slow and low is the key to good meat. Keep your temperature between 212 degrees Fahrenheit and 230 degrees Fahrenheit for best results. These lower temperatures generally won’t cause the meat’s cell walls to burst, which makes the meat more succulent and helps it to retain nutrients.

Cooking at low temperatures also makes it possible for tough collagens in the connective tissue of meat to be hydrolized into gelatin without overheating the proteins. In other words, smoking it slow and low lets all the tough tissue dissolve into the meat while simultaneously giving the smoke time to absorb.

It’s a bit of a process, but the results are well worth the effort. If you don’t believe us, then maybe you’ll listen to these pitmasters.

 Why should I can my own meat?
If you’ve ever tried to buy food in bulk but realized you don’t have nearly enough freezer space, you’ll find that canning your own meat can be great for storage. There’s no need for freezing or refrigeration. Canning can also be great for when you want to give away food as gifts during the holidays.

When you are canning meat products remember these things.

Here’s just a glimpse of what you’ll find inside  Carnivore’s Bible:

You’ll discover the ancient meat preservation method that will make your mouth water. Enjoying the delicious sweet-smoky taste of beef, pork, or link sausages for months to come… without ANY refrigeration, chemicals, preservatives, or additives!

And you can prepare everything in your back-yard (or balcony) in one afternoon– I promise it will be more relaxing than taking the day off to go fishing.

You’ll also learn how to get rid of the toxic canned food from the supermarket… and preserve your own healthy & delicious vegetables and fruits. All you need is Granddad Bob’s secret canning trick to instantly kill bacteria and parasites…

Books can be your best pre-collapse investment.

Carnivore’s Bible (is a wellknown meat processor providing custom meat processing services locally andacross the state of Montana and more. Whether your needs are for domestic meator wild game meat processing)

The Lost Book of Remedies PDF ( contains a series of medicinal andherbal recipes to make home made remedies from medicinal plants and herbs.Chromic diseases and maladies can be overcome  by taking the remediesoutlined in this book. The writer claims that his grandfather was taughtherbalism and healing whilst in active service during world war twoand that he has treated many soldiers with his home made cures. )

Easy Cellar(Info about building and managing your root cellar, plus printable plans. The book on building and using root cellars – The Complete Root Cellar Book.)

The Lost Ways (Learn the long forgotten secrets that helped our forefathers survive famines,wars,economic crisis and anything else life threw at them)

LOST WAYS 2 ( Wordof the day: Prepare! And do it the old fashion way, like our fore-fathers did it and succeed longbefore us,because what lies ahead of us will require all the help we can get. Watch this video and learn the 3 skills that ensured our ancestors survival in hard times offamine and war.)

Survival MD (Best Post Collapse First Aid Survival Guide Ever)

Conquering the coming collapse (Financial advice and preparedness )

Liberty Generator (Build and make your own energy source)

Backyard Liberty (Easy and cheap DIY Aquaponic system to grow your organic and living food bank)

Bullet Proof Home (A Prepper’s Guide in Safeguarding a Home )

Family Self Defense (Best Self Defense Strategies For You And Your Family)

 Survive Any Crisis (Best  Items To Hoard For A Long Term Crisis)

Survive The End Days(Biggest Cover Up Of Our President)

Drought USA(Discover The Amazing Device That Turns Air Into Water)