Liquid Smoke

[Wade]

A number of people have recently asked me about the use of Liquid Smoke and some appear to consider it an anathema. As good quality commercial  Liquid Smoke is simply the combustion products of real wood that have been condensed and concentrated and placed in a bottle (usually with a little preservative) and is something that people should not be embarrassed to include as part of their smoking toolkit. For most things that are smoked at home it should not be seen a replacement for the cold smoking process but it should be used as a flavouring ingredient, in the same way that a BBQ sauce or a rub is used. Liquid smoke is also a great ingredient for use in a home made BBQ sauces to give a natural smoky flavour, as part of a marinade, and also when preparing side dishes like BBQ beans.

Commercially liquid smoke is considered a natural smoking process and products like smoked hot dogs/frankfurters are often showered with a dilute liquid smoke solution rather than being placed in a cold smoker. 

Liquid Smoke is readily available in the UK from large supermarkets or online, and is available for a range of wood flavours. It is also easy to make yourself at home. If you make it yourself you will need to use it within a couple of weeks but it will also freeze.

Here is a video showing how to produce it at home

And here is a video of it being made commercially.

Do not be afraid or ashamed to use liquid smoke in your cooking - but do not think of it as a replacement for cold smoking.

[Brinkman]

59 minutes ago, Wade said:

A number of people have recently asked me about the use of Liquid Smoke and some appear to consider it an anathema. As good quality commercial  Liquid Smoke is simply the combustion products of real wood that have been condensed and concentrated and placed in a bottle (usually with a little preservative) and is something that people should not be embarrassed to include as part of their smoking toolkit. For most things that are smoked at home it should not be seen a replacement for the cold smoking process but it should be used as a flavouring ingredient, in the same way that a BBQ sauce or a rub is used. Liquid smoke is also a great ingredient for use in a home made BBQ sauces to give a natural smoky flavour, as part of a marinade, and also when preparing side dishes like BBQ beans.

Commercially liquid smoke is considered a natural smoking process and products like smoked hot dogs/frankfurters are often showered with a dilute liquid smoke solution rather than being placed in a cold smoker. 

Liquid Smoke is readily available in the UK from large supermarkets or online, and is available for a range of wood flavours. It is also easy to make yourself at home. If you make it yourself you will need to use it within a couple of weeks but it will also freeze.

Here is a video showing how to produce it at home

And here is a video of it being made commercially.

Do not be afraid or ashamed to use liquid smoke in your cooking - but do not think of it as a replacement for cold smoking.

One caveat for the use of any commercially available 'Liquid Smoke' would have to be do not use too much! A tiny amount goes a very very long way! eg three or four drops added to a medium roast or a full rack is plenty more than enough, well it has been in my experience! Others may not agree and tastes vary, wildly. Use to much and the meat can become bitter, just as if over smoked! Take great care would be my advice, for what its worth.?