| There are many ways to cook outdoors. And if you | | | | The smoke created by wood from fruit trees like |
| ask anyone that loves to prepare their meals this | | | | apple and pecan will generate a lighter, sweeter |
| way, you will find many differing opinions as to what | | | | flavor. Another wood that is used in the southwest is |
| is the best way to perform this task. There are | | | | that of the mesquite tree. |
| probably two main ways to cook outside and that is | | | | If You Are An Impatient Person, Do Not Use A |
| with the barbecue grill or with a smoker. | | | | Smoker |
| Many will explain that using the barbecue grill is the | | | | If you want a meal that will be ready in a short |
| best way. This way of cooking is a great way to | | | | period of time, smoker cooking is not for you. It is a |
| prepare a meal in a relatively short time and is | | | | process that takes more time than it would using the |
| normally the first method that is learned by many. | | | | barbecue grill. This is due to the fact that the meat is |
| Anyone that uses this method will have different | | | | not placed directly over the heat source. Obviously, |
| opinions as to which is better the wood grill, the | | | | the length of time will vary with the type of meat |
| propane grill or the charcoal grill. | | | | and the temperature in the smoker. |
| Those in the other camp will rave about how smoker | | | | When you are smoking a piece of meat that weighs |
| cooking is the best route. This is a longer method but | | | | about 4 pounds this should take more than two |
| delivers a very delicious, moist flavorful meal. And, | | | | hours. On the other hand, cooking the same piece of |
| again, those that support this method will be divided | | | | meat on a barbecue grill may take less than an hour. |
| as to the best smoker be it gas, wood, or electric. | | | | What Can You Smoke? |
| Both methods have their pros and cons but the one | | | | The only limitation as to what you can cook on a |
| that I prefer is smoker cooking. | | | | smoker is your imagination. Any meat that you can |
| What Is A Smoker? | | | | cook on a kitchen stove or a barbecue grill, you can |
| Most cookers do not provide the heat directly to the | | | | cook on a smoker. You will find many recipes for |
| meat. They are constructed so that the fire is | | | | cooking all kinds of different meats. Some of the |
| normally in an offset fire chamber. This is so that the | | | | more popular dishes include pork ribs, fish, chicken, |
| heat and smoke will move around and thru the meat | | | | turkey, and the famous beef brisket. |
| indirectly. The food will never come in direct contact | | | | Along with the different flavors you will get from the |
| with the flame and as such will not get burned. Also, | | | | different woods, you can change the taste by the |
| because the meat is not directly over the flame, any | | | | use of the meal by the way you season the dish. |
| juices or oils that may drop will not cause the flame | | | | Another way to enhance the flavor is to place fruit |
| to flare up. | | | | juices in a bowl over the heat source. I have used |
| Probably the biggest difference between barbecue | | | | pineapple and apple juices with some garlic in a bowl |
| cooking and smoker cooking is that the wood is used | | | | to create a very different taste. |
| to generate a flavorful smoke and not just the heat. | | | | There are many ways to cook outdoors. And you |
| There are many types of wood that can be used in | | | | will find most cooks will have their favorite way and |
| a smoker. The different types will provide a very | | | | will argue that their way is best. But, one way that I |
| different flavor. | | | | have found to create fantastic meals is thru the use |
| One of the most popular wood to use is that of the | | | | of smoker cooking. |
| hickory tree. This creates a heavy, smoky flavor. | | | | |