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Cooking With Offset Smokers Basic Tips for the Beginner

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Cooking with offset smokers, also called barrel smokers, can be a fun and rewarding experience. Offset smokers have a separate firebox attached to the cooking chamber which allows for direct grilling in the firebox, and direct or indirect cooking in the smoking chamber. When mastered, the indirect cooking method turns out fantastic barbecue, smoked meats, poultry, and fish. The secret of the indirect cooking method lies in the ability to maintain an even cooking temperature over a long period of time. For the novice, this can be a difficult and frustrating skill to learn. This article offers some basic tips that will help you become master of your offset smoker.

When buying an offset smoker, one of your main considerations should be the thickness of the steel. Thin gauge steel does not retain heat very well. This makes it more difficult to maintain a consistent cooking temperature. Also, the temperature near the firebox can be hotter than at the other end of the cooking chamber. The thinner the steel, the more pronounced this heat difference will be, and you may have to rotate your meat fairly often. You can still cook exceptional barbecue and smoked meats with a thin gauge steel smoker, it just takes a bit more work. My choice is the Bayou Classic offset smokers. They are built to last with heavy 10-gauge steel and 1200 degree heat resistant paint.

No matter which offset smoker you choose, the key to low and slow cooking is to maintain a consistent cooking temperature. To do that, you need to get a feel for how your particular smoker cooks. It takes practice, a little experimentation, and a lot of patience. Here are a few simple tips to help you get started.

*Season your smoker. Its really a simple process, just like seasoning a cast iron skillet only on a larger scale. First, coat the inside of your smoking chamber with cooking oil. Any type will do, so dont use anything expensive. Next, build a fire in the firebox and add wood chips for smoke. Maintain the temperature at 250 to 275 degrees F and let it go for two or three hours adding chips for smoke when needed. Its that simple. The oil and smoke will create a barrier on the inside of you smoker and protect it from rust. This is also an important step for the simple fact that it gives you a dry run on your new smoker.

*Use coals for your fire not wood. Charcoal burns at a consistent pace, and is much easier to control than wood. Once youve mastered the charcoal fire, go ahead and experiment with wood if youd like. But until then, do yourself a favor, cook with charcoal and add wood chips for smoke.

*Pre heat the cooking chamber to the desired cooking temperature.

*Keep the lid closed. You cannot maintain an even cooking temperature if you keep opening the lid. If you are cooking a lot of meat and are using all the grill space, you may need to open it occasionally to rotate the meat away from the firebox. Otherwise, keep the lid closed.

*When adding coals, use a charcoal chimney to pre start them prior to adding them to the fire. Adding unlit coals will cool your fire and you dont want that.

*Dont soak your wood chips. Wet wood chips can cool your fire. Again, you want your fire to burn as consistently as possible.
Clean the ashes in the firebox and the grease from the cooking chamber. You should get in the habit of doing this after every use. Just scrape out the ashes and grease. You dont want them building up in your barrel smoker, they can trap water and cause rust.

Well, thanks for reading and I hope these tips help. Go grab a beer, or a glass of wine and fire up that offset smoker. But don’t drink too much, you have to pay close attention to that fire.

Cooking Tips on Shrimps and Cocoa

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Shrimps Cooking Tips

Boiling is the common method of cooking shrimp. In a large pot, add 4 cups of water for every pound of shrimp. You can add seasonings of choice to the water if you want. Bring the water to a boil before adding thawed shrimp. How long to cook shrimp depends on whether the shrimp are large or small. Shrimp are done cooking when the skin turns bright pink to red in color. The meat will be opaque, and the shrimp will float to the top of the water. Average cooking time is 1 to 3 minutes. When the shrimp are done cooking, remove from the pot and place on ice. Steam shrimp by filling a large pot with water and bringing it to a simmer. Turn the heat on low before adding a steamer basket filled with shrimp. Cover the pot and cook until the skin or shell of the shrimp turns bright pink and the meat turns opaque. Shelled shrimp can be deep-fried. Dip the shrimp into milk and then coat with flour or cornmeal. Fry in a deep fryer filled with peanut oil and heated to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove shrimp from the fryer once they are golden brown, usually after 2 to 4 minutes of deep-frying. Drain it and serve it hot and enjoy the taste.

Cocoa Tips

There are quite a lot of ways to cook meat. Pork should not be overcooked. Your cooking method determines how long the pork should be cooked. Broiling pork ribs in the broiler takes about 35 minutes for them to get done. Turn ribs frequently while broiling. Boneless center cut pork chops should be broiled for 5 or 6 minutes on each side. Thin cuts only need to be broiled for 2 minutes on each side. Pork chops can also be pan broiled over medium to high heat. Brush the bottom of the pan with some olive oil before broiling boneless center cuts for 3 minutes on each side. Center cut chops with the bone will need a slightly longer cooking time. Roast a pork loin 28 minutes for every pound. A center cut roast with the bone in needs additional cooking time and should be roasted for at least 35 minutes per pound of roast. Roast pork in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook the meat in a shallow pan.

How To Cook Salmon Tips & Methods

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Salmon is a versatile fish for the reason that there are numerous ways to prepare the fillets. Its a healthy protein filled with Omega 3 Fats which have many health benefits, including enhanced brain function and overall wellness. Salmon is a flavorsome fish therefore can choose to cook it unseasoned or you can add a range of spices to add even more flavor. The most common ways of cooking salmon include baking, pan frying and poaching. Keep reading for a few helpful tips about how to cook salmon.

To bake the salmon, put the fillets in a dish which has been sprayed with olive oil apply or wrap the salmon in foil with various spices i.e. experiment with different spices and herbs or a squeeze of lemon juice or a hint of soy sauce. Bake the fish inside a pre-heated oven for about 15-20 min’s or until cooked the way you like (note – cooking times may vary depending on the size of your fillets). Serve the unseasoned salmon with mayo or djonaisse as well as a lemon wedge. For seasoned fillets, there is no need to serve with additional condiments. Serve the salmon with a mixed green salad for a healthy and also balanced meal.

Salmon is tasty pan fried or cooked on the Barbecue. As with the baking technique, you can pan-fry or BBQ salmon without seasoning or it is possible to add sea salt & spice up or even a herb crusting. Once pan-fried, the exterior of the seafood may become crispy, specifically if you maintain the skin. Spray the fish with extra virgin olive oil spray or brush it with olive oil just before cooking on a medium-high heat right up until it is cooked (generally about 4-5 mins on either side.) Serve the salmon together with your favorite mix of greens or perhaps vegetables.

The actual healthiest way to cook salmon would be to poach it. To get this done, fill a medium-sized pot with around 5 centimeters of water and bring this to the boil. Gently position the salmon in the water, then reduce the heat to a mild, simmer where tiny bubbles seem round the fish. Cook for about eight minutes, or before the trout becomes opaque. It is possible to flavor the liquid to give the trout additional flavor. Attempt poaching the trout in a some chicken or even vegetable stock, or even in milk using a bay leaf plus some peppercorns. Poached salmon is actually fantastic flaked or cut and used in eating salads, sandwiches and also stirred in pasta.

Regardless how you choose to cook your fish or the seasonings you add (or dont), once you know how to cook salmon, you can incorporate this particular delightfully flavorsome seafood in your family members diet on a regular basis.

Caja China Style vs. Open Fire Pit Cooking

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When talking about a spit, most people are talking about rotisserie style cooking. Cooking a whole hog rotisserie style is something that can take between 8-10 hours or more. A pig rotisserie also usually requires someone to turn the spit regularly to make sure that the whole pig is cooking evenly. Neither of these is true when using a caja china style roasting box (or cajun microwave for our friends in Louisiana.) One of the biggest advantages of using La Caja Asadora pig roasters is that you will save 25-40% of the time you would spend cooking a hog rotisserie style. For example, a 50 lb. whole pig roast will take about 4 hours rather than 6-8. Cooking in a La Caja Asadora or La Caja China box is also more efficient, using just 2-3 bags of charcoal rather than chord of wood for in-ground rotisserie spit methods. Also, caja chinas (Cajun microwaves) are compact, self-contained units that can be used in the city, the suburbs, or out in the country just like any other barbecue pit. There is no need to dig a hole, buy bricks, or anything else required for a whole pig rotisserie.

One of the most underrated advantages of the caja china style la caja asadora roasters that there is no need to worry about bad weather! Caja china grills come with wheels and long handles for easy portability, and can easily be moved into a covered area. Now as important as all those things are, here’s the one that matters the mostthe taste. Because these pig roasters function in many respects like a huge pressure cooker, the pork (or other meat) comes out incredibly moist, juicy, and savory. The open spit rotisserie method often leaves the meat dry and tough.

In addition to the flavor of the meat inside the box, a caja china pig roaster also has accessories that will allow you to grill on top of the box while roasting inside it. The top grill accessory can be used to prepare burgers, hot dogs, chicken, skewers, or just about any other item you can fit on the grill. In my experience, the china box itself is a guaranteed conversation piece at every party and event. A group will inevitably gather around the hog cooker, usually marveling at the smell of what’s coming out of the box!

For details and information on how to order your roaster, recipe book, or any of the other accessories visit www.shoplatintouch.com. Join the grill master community at

Cooking With Fresh Herbs

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Herbs are fun and easy to grow. When harvested they make even the simplest meal seem like a gourmet delight. By using herbs in your cooking you can easily change the flavors of your recipes in many different ways, according to which herbs you add. Fresh herbs are great in breads, stews, soups or vegetables. Every time you add a different herb you have completely changed the taste.

If you are a beginner start slowly, add just a little at a time adjusting as you go along until you have it just right. You will see in most instances that an individual herb is associated with a particular food item. Basil is paired with tomatoes, Oregano with sauces, Rosemary with lamb and Chives with butter or cream cheese. Of course, none of them are limited to these items, but you will see them paired most often with that particular food. Use your imagination and experiment, experiment, experiment!

You can make herb vinegars for salad dressings, marinades, or soups. Herb oils are very useful in cooking whenever a recipe calls for it.

Fresh herbs as garnishes dress up any dish making it look truly spectacular. Lay individual sprigs of rosemary over broiled lamb chops. Chop fresh parsley and sprinkle it over the top of your potato salad. The combinations are endless and the outcome delicious.

Fresh herbs will keep in the refrigerator for several days but then you must freeze them. They can be frozen by laying them a paper towel and putting them in a plastic bag. Once they are frozen only use them in cooking not as garnishes. A friend of mine washes them, puts them an ice cube tray, covers them with water and then freezes them. When she needs them for soup, stews or sauces she just drops a cube in.

My favorite herbs to grow are basil, oregano, lemon balm, parsley and mint. Mint is great but is careful; mint can over run your garden. A tip here would be to bury an empty coffee can and plant the mint in it. The can prevents the mint from “creeping” all through your garden.

I love to make herb butters. Take a half of a cup of softened butter and mix in about 4 tablespoons of a fresh herb. Lay out a piece of saran wrap, place the butter in the middle roll the saran wrap up to form a “log” out of the butter. Put in the refrigerator and anytime you need a pat of butter just cut it off the “log”. (Hints for “log” butter: potatoes, bread, steaks, noodles or any kind of sauce).

A fresh herb in any salad dressing really makes it sparkle. You can use any herb or a combination, be creative.

I learned a trick a long time ago using basil, lemon and avocados to create and instant natural face mask. Put a big handful of basil in a blender and run it on high. Once the basil has been pulverized, throw in a half of an avocado and a large teaspoon of lemon juice, mix until smooth. Wash your face, pat it dry and gently rub the avocado mixture on. Leave it on as long as you like, then use warm water to it wash off.

These are just a few ways you can use fresh herbs from your garden. I am sure you will come up with many more. Happy cooking