Smoking Meats

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Barbecued chicken and ribs are messy and delicious. iStockPhoto.com/Jack Puccio

Barbecue raises the flavor of meat and fish to a new high – and creates an atmosphere of relaxation for the cook. In the United States, now as in the past, a barbecue means a large party. Politicians used barbecues to lure voters in the 1800s. Scarlett O’Hara met Rhett Butler at a barbecue in Gone with the Wind. A good barbecue today starts with setting up the smoker or grill; continues with a gathering of family and friends for an afternoon of relaxed food preparation; and finishes with an evening of great eating.
Grilling, barbecuing and smoking are technically not the same. Temperature, cooking time and smoke vary.
• Grilling involves cooking over high heat (350°F or more) for a short time (an hour or less).
• Barbecue techniques, cooking time and temperature vary with location in the United States.
• Smoking involves smoke and low temperature. The food may or may not be cooked. Smoking is one of the oldest known methods of preserving meat, fish and other foods. Smoking today is popular for the flavor it gives rather than for long-term preservation. Smoked, barbecued leftovers need refrigeration.
The term “barbecuing,” as used in the United States, has come to have a variety of meanings, including the activity of grilling or smoking food or even just a backyard party. For the purposes of this article, the terms “barbecuing” and “smoking” are used interchangeably, in reference to cooking with a low temperature (200°F or under) over a long time (two to several hours) amid a cloud of hardwood smoke.

Prepare the smoker

Unlike conventional ovens, smokers need not be preheated. A few minutes more or less in the low heat of a smoker will not make a difference to the meat. This adds to the leisurely atmosphere of barbecuing. Follow manufacturer’s directions for regulating temperature in your smoker and in placement of fuel and wood.
Charcoal is frequently used in barbecuing, although there is growing popularity in creating your own coals by burning down chunks of fruitwood and other flavorful fuel. Typically, wet hardwood chips or chunks are set directly on the hot coals to create smoke. Electric or gas smokers also use hardwood pieces to create smoke. Other smoker/cookers rely on a low-oxygen wood fire to create both heat and smoke. These devices typically have a firebox that’s separate from the cooking/smoking chamber.

Prepare the meat

Depending on the recipe, meat may be soaked in brine or marinated overnight or for a few hours before smoking. A mixture of herbs and spices called a dry rub can be put on overnight or just before smoking – your choice. Barbecue sauce that is applied at the beginning of smoking will become darker and crustier than if slathered on near the end of the cooking time. Place meat to be smoked on the kitchen counter for 30 minutes to moderate the chill of the refrigerator.