The Culinary Connoisseur
Smoke Signal
09
Aug
Aug
No, we are not, G-d forbid, advocating smoking, unless,
of course, we’re talking barbecue smoking!
Barbecue enthusiasts will tell you that the quick-cook methods most of
us use on a grill is not true barbecue.
Real, old-fashioned barbecue relies on time and smoke to achieve
authentic flavor.
of course, we’re talking barbecue smoking!
Barbecue enthusiasts will tell you that the quick-cook methods most of
us use on a grill is not true barbecue.
Real, old-fashioned barbecue relies on time and smoke to achieve
authentic flavor.
Smoke is the ancient and time-honored way to add flavor
to anything you can cook. In ancient times, smoke was used to preserve meat for
long periods of time. There are records of food being wrapped in leaves and
buried in shallow pits filled with smoking coals to cook. The enclosed cooking pit held heat and
allowed foods to be completely cooked through.
to anything you can cook. In ancient times, smoke was used to preserve meat for
long periods of time. There are records of food being wrapped in leaves and
buried in shallow pits filled with smoking coals to cook. The enclosed cooking pit held heat and
allowed foods to be completely cooked through.
Today we mostly use smoke to enhance the flavor of meats.
Now don’t run out to the local lumber yard and pick up some scrap wood. Though
you might luck out and get something good, the wood for smoking meat must be
selected very carefully.
Now don’t run out to the local lumber yard and pick up some scrap wood. Though
you might luck out and get something good, the wood for smoking meat must be
selected very carefully.
Wood can be used to enhance flavor on both charcoal and
gas grills. Grilling wood is available
in a variety of forms. Planks, sheets,
chips, and chunks will all create different levels of smoky intensity.
gas grills. Grilling wood is available
in a variety of forms. Planks, sheets,
chips, and chunks will all create different levels of smoky intensity.
When using wood chips or chunks you want them to stay
moist and not burn up too quickly. This creates intense bursts of smoke that
can make food bitter. By soaking wood in water for about 30 minutes you can
slow down the combustion and lengthen the time in which the smoke is
created. Planks need to soak for 1 hour
to allow moisture to permeate completely.
Make sure you let the wood drip dry for a few minutes before you add it
to the fire. The wood should be moist, not dripping wet.
moist and not burn up too quickly. This creates intense bursts of smoke that
can make food bitter. By soaking wood in water for about 30 minutes you can
slow down the combustion and lengthen the time in which the smoke is
created. Planks need to soak for 1 hour
to allow moisture to permeate completely.
Make sure you let the wood drip dry for a few minutes before you add it
to the fire. The wood should be moist, not dripping wet.
Cedar wood sheets are great when you are cooking a
variety of foods—some you want to smoke and others you don’t. Wrap fish
fillets, chicken cutlets or small steaks in cedar sheets to infuse them with
delicious smoky flavor.
variety of foods—some you want to smoke and others you don’t. Wrap fish
fillets, chicken cutlets or small steaks in cedar sheets to infuse them with
delicious smoky flavor.
When using a gas grill it’s best to put presoaked wood
chips in a smoker box under the grate. This keeps your grill from filling up
with ash and clogging the burners. Get the wood close to the heat. You need the
heat to smolder the wood and this means a pretty high heat. If you are using a
charcoal grill you can either put the wood directly on the coals (once they’ve
heated up) or place them in a smoker box as well. Experiment and find out what
works best for you.
chips in a smoker box under the grate. This keeps your grill from filling up
with ash and clogging the burners. Get the wood close to the heat. You need the
heat to smolder the wood and this means a pretty high heat. If you are using a
charcoal grill you can either put the wood directly on the coals (once they’ve
heated up) or place them in a smoker box as well. Experiment and find out what
works best for you.
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
2 tablespoons chili powder or cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (4-5 pound) beef brisket
3 cups oak or hickory wood chips, soaked in water for 30
minutes, drained
minutes, drained
1 cup apple juice
1 1/2 cups your favorite BBQ sauce, for serving
Special equipment: spray bottle for apple juice
Combine all the spices in a bowl, mix well. Pat the spice
rub onto the meat, making sure to heavily season the entire surface area of the
brisket. Cover or wrap the brisket and let it sit at room temperature while
getting the grill ready.
rub onto the meat, making sure to heavily season the entire surface area of the
brisket. Cover or wrap the brisket and let it sit at room temperature while
getting the grill ready.
If using a gas grill preheat to high. Turn off half the burners and wipe down the
grates with oil.
grates with oil.
If using a charcoal grill, arrange the coals on 1 side of
the grill, leaving an area large enough for the brisket to cook indirectly with
no coals directly underneath the meat.
the grill, leaving an area large enough for the brisket to cook indirectly with
no coals directly underneath the meat.
When the grill has reached 200 to 225 degrees F, place
the chips in a smoker box and place it under the grate. Put the brisket on the side
with no coals or flame and close the lid.
the chips in a smoker box and place it under the grate. Put the brisket on the side
with no coals or flame and close the lid.
Maintain a 200 to 225 degree F cooking temperature inside
the grill. If you are using a charcoal grill add coals every 2 hours or as needed.
Spray the brisket with apple juice every
2 hours. Try not to lift the lid of the grill at any other time.
the grill. If you are using a charcoal grill add coals every 2 hours or as needed.
Spray the brisket with apple juice every
2 hours. Try not to lift the lid of the grill at any other time.
After 3 hours the brisket should have an internal
temperature of 165 to 170 degrees F on an instant read meat thermometer. Remove it from the grill and double wrap in
aluminum foil to keep the juices from leaking out. Return the brisket to the
grill and cook about another hour or until temperature reaches 190 degrees F.
Let rest for 45 minutes, then unwrap and slice. Serve with BBQ sauce on the
side.
temperature of 165 to 170 degrees F on an instant read meat thermometer. Remove it from the grill and double wrap in
aluminum foil to keep the juices from leaking out. Return the brisket to the
grill and cook about another hour or until temperature reaches 190 degrees F.
Let rest for 45 minutes, then unwrap and slice. Serve with BBQ sauce on the
side.