| Once you know how to use a smoker, cookouts will | | | | making the best meals is to know just how long to |
| never be the same again. If you have ever been | | | | heat the wood, and how much wood should be added |
| tempted to toss your grill and try smoking your meat | | | | to the steamer once you start. You want the wood to |
| but didn't know how to use a smoker, fear not! Using a | | | | burn at a nice even temperature. This takes some |
| smoker is easier than lighting a barbeque and it | | | | practice so don't despair if you don't get it right the first |
| produces tastier meat. A smoker is a piece of | | | | time. The more you use the smoker the better you will |
| equipment that cooks food over heat created by | | | | become at deciding when the temperature of the |
| burning wood, rather than burning coals. Once you | | | | wood is correct. Once the wood has been thoroughly |
| have the know-how to use a smoker you will be able | | | | heated, you can add your food. You will need to |
| to make terrific food with unbelievable flavor. The | | | | monitor the temperature on a regular basis while the |
| secret to knowing how to use a smoker is all in the | | | | food is being smoked. Cooks who know how to use a |
| wood. Each type of wood used in a smoker creates a | | | | smoker will tell you to that it takes practice to know |
| different flavor to the food. Mesquite wood gives your | | | | when to adjust your flues and your dampers but that |
| steak or your salmon a robust flavor, while oak or | | | | keeping the right temperature is the key to turning out |
| hickory adds a completely diverse flavor. The first | | | | delicious smoked food. You have tons of options |
| thing to do is find a location where there will be as little | | | | when cooking with a smoker. Not only can you pick |
| traffic as possible. Usually cooking with a smoker will | | | | between lots of different types of wood to give your |
| take some time and occasionally the smoker will be | | | | food flavor, you can also experiment on smoking lots |
| left unattended so it should be in an area where | | | | of different types of foods. Cooks who know how to |
| children and pets are not likely to go. Wind conditions | | | | use a smoker to their advantage not only smoke |
| should also be taken into consideration so that smoke | | | | more than one kind of meat at a time (try smoking a |
| is not entering the house or interfering with outdoor | | | | turkey and steak at the same time) they also try |
| activities. A typical smoker has two barrels at the | | | | different foods. Wait till you try chili in your smoker! |
| bottom. Build a fire at the base of the barrels with | | | | Seriously, once you know how to use a smoker, there |
| whatever type of wood you choose to cook with. | | | | is a whole new world of cooking experiences waiting |
| Heat the wood for at least an hour. Those who know | | | | for you! |
| how to use a smoker will tell you that the key to | | | | |