Stevepiglet Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 How would I go about cold smoking chicken breasts? Obviously ill then be cooking them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Chicken is one of the few meats that I would NOT recommend cold smoking due to the risks. Yes, you will find some who do it but it is much more common to hot smoke chicken - and it is safer. If you really want to try it then you will need to brine it first. Use the freshest chicken breasts you can get and rinse them thoroughly. 60 g of salt (cooking salt is fine) 40 g sugar 2 litres water 100 ml vinegar (any type) 5 g Cure #1 (added last after all of the other brine ingredients have been thoroughly mixed) You can add some herbs if you like (rosemary, oregano etc.) Soak the chicken in the brine overnight Smoke in a cold "cold" smoker (above a tray of ice) for no longer than 2 hours Keep refrigerated until ready to cook. The same brine can be used for preparing hot smoked chicken too - just dont add the Cure #1. Then hot smoke at ~120 C until the internal temperature reaches 75 C If you do want to cold smoke chicken I would avoid serving it to young children or anyone who may have an impared immune system. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevepiglet Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 Might have to make myself a hot smoker for that then, just to be on the safe side. What's cure#1...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Most BBQs can be used as hot smokers so long as they have a lid and good air control to the coals. If you have a kettle BBQ, bullet smoker or even a multi-burner gas BBQ you are good to go. A good digital BBQ thermometer really helps too. Cure#1 contains Sodium Nitrite which is used when curing meats to inhibit bacterial growth. You may find this link useful... https://www.woodsmokeforum.uk/topic/301-using-nitrite-and-nitrate-safely-when-curing/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevepiglet Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 So weed killer effectively! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Lol no quite the opposite - Nitrate and Nitrite are good as fertilisers. A lot of veg are very high in them naturally - especially leafy veg and celery 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevepiglet Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 Didn't you used to be able to get sodium nitrite weedkiller...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 That was Sodium Chlorate. We used to buy it when I was young to make fireworks - weedkiller and sugar. Unfortunately it is now all sold with a fire suppressant in it. Potassium Nitrate though (aka saltpeter), as well as being a good fertiliser, is also one of the ingredients in gunpowder. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevepiglet Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 Ah it was sodium chlorate. Yeah we used to make smoke grenades by mixing it with sugar 😅 They smelled lovely! Could never get hold of potassium nitrate. Probably for the best. I do at least still have all my fingers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 2 minutes ago, Stevepiglet said: Yeah we used to make smoke grenades by mixing it with sugar 😅 They smelled lovely! Could never get hold of potassium nitrate. Probably for the best. I do at least still have all my fingers Looking forward to sharing experiences with you at the next smoking weekend 🧪 💨💥 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 Watch out for @Icefever - he has always had a bit of an anarchist streak too 😎 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokin Monkey Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 Haha, not gone off topic at all with you two, @Wade & @Stevepiglet 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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