4 Very Simple Ways to Make a Hot Smoking Smokehouse with Your Own Hands
Smoking as a way to preserve food for a long time has been known since ancient times. But even now it has not lost its relevance, however, having shifted from the main functionality towards a variety of tastes.
Today there are many smoking methods that require different labor, time and money costs. The simplest - hot smoking.
Content
Smokehouse and hot smoking – basic concepts
Hot smoking is the process of treating animal and plant products with hot smoke in order to impart certain flavors to them. Unlike cold smoking, it requires significantly less time to receive the finished product.
Types of smokehouses
All smokehouses are divided into portable and stationaryBut the operating principle and main components are almost the same for all of them.
Bottom The container is filled with wood chips, and a tray is placed on it to collect the fat. Above – lattice or horizontal mounts on which products are placed or suspended for subsequent smoking.
Top - hermetically sealed or not lidAfter laying the chips and products under the smokehouse, a fire is made. Sometimes an electric heating element is used instead of a fire.
In a closed space, under the influence of heat, hot smoke is produced, which permeates the products. In fact, this is the same oven, only with natural "flavors". The main difference hot smoking from cold smoking - time for preparation and processing. In the "hot version" it usually does not exceed 2-3 hours, and in the "cold" - at least three days (on average).
Portable devices, as a rule, are a metal cube or cylinder, on the bottom of which chips are placed, and on the grate above - products. Then this whole structure is closed with a lid and placed on a fire source. Smoking continues until the product is ready.
Stationary devices – usually stone buildings, metal cabinets, or old refrigerators, barrels, etc. adapted for this purpose. Their main purpose: smoking large volumes of products.
Important. Hot smoking, when done correctly, minimizes the risks of poisoningIn addition to high heat, smoke also destroys pathogenic microorganisms.
Usually the whole process takes place in the fresh air, as an integral part of a picnic, as a supplement or replacement for the usual shashlik. On average, smoking takes 1.5–2 hours, and the temperature inside the "cabinet" fluctuates from 80 to 160°C.
How to make a smokehouse with your own hands: from simple to complex
When making smokehouses from metal make sure in that it does not react with products under the influence of fire.
Attention! The use of barrels is not permitted. from fuels and lubricants, paints or chemicals, galvanized metal.
From the bucket: diagram
If you want something smoked right here and now, then the simplest apparatus you can make it literally on your knee, without any special skills or tools. For this you will need steel (under no circumstances galvanized) a bucket, a large-diameter metal dumpling maker, thick foil or a steel “bowl” and a lid.
Photo 1. Schematic representation of the internal structure of a hot smokehouse made from a bucket.
Pour wood chips on the bottom, put a "bowl" or foil on it, which will collect dripping fat, put the products on the grate. Close the lid on top. Put the whole structure on the fire and wait for it to cook.
Pros: high production speed, minimum required tools and skills. Cons: small volume, unsightly appearance, risk of spoiling food if you choose the wrong bucket.
Device from a refrigerator
It is quite possible to give a second life to an old refrigerator. To do this, you need to remove all non-metallic "fillings", leaving only the bodyThe wood chips can be heated with an electric heating element, a stove, or a fire - in this case, the former refrigerator will need to be placed on supports.
Photo 2. Inside the body of the old refrigerator there are already special grates on which it is convenient to lay out products for smoking.
Pros: large volume of food loading at one time. Cons: it is difficult to achieve the required tightness of the chamber, there is a risk that the metal will begin to emit harmful fumes.
"Suitcase". Drawing with dimensions
This smokehouse is rectangular box made of stainless steel or black metal, for which it received such a name. If you have a vice, grinders, pliers, welding clamps and welding itself, it is easy to make the device yourself. You just need to decide on the dimensions of the camera.
And then it's possible two options. First - order cutting and/or bending of metal at the company, and they bring you a ready-made “constructor”, which only remains to be welded. The second one is you buy metal, cut it yourself, then weld it along the seams according to the drawing.
Photo 3. Three-dimensional drawing of a smokehouse in the form of a stainless steel suitcase. Dimensions are given in centimeters.
Lattice welded from perforated metal or wire. It should be located approximately 20 cm above the chips, take this into account when making internal stops. Step bars of the lattice - 3 cm. Mandatory availability pallet for fat. It is similar to the top lid. The only difference is that the stand is placed on the bottom of the box, has a handle and edges bent upwards. When making it, carefully weld the corners.
Lid It is made from a sheet of metal so that its bent edges extend out beyond 5-7 mm, a handle is welded on top. Mandatory union for smoke removal.
If you wish, you can do it water seal - cropped under 45°C and a corner welded around the perimeter with a continuous seam and a shelf inside. When smoking, water is poured into it and prevents smoke from escaping.
Gather A suitcase smokehouse is recommended in this order:
- weld the lattice supports to the end walls from the inside and the handles from the outside;
- manufacturing (welding) of the "box";
- pallet manufacturing;
- manufacturing of internal grille;
- manufacturing of a lid with a fitting;
- production of a water seal (optional).
Be sure to try it on for each subsequent part after the previous one has been manufactured, make adjustments for deformation.
Pros: mobility, high speed of smoking a relatively large amount of products, ease of maintenance, durability. Cons: It is impossible to control the temperature during smoking.
The smokehouse is made in a similar way. from a barrel, in this case the body is already ready, all that remains is to make a tray, a lid and stops for vertical or horizontal loading of products.
Brick "cabinet"
The choice of advanced amateurs or those who you need to smoke a lot and at once.
Typically, the firebox is built separately from the brazier, and the stones ensure the most even distribution of heat.
Pros: better taste of products, stationary design is durable. Cons: high labor intensity and cost during production.
Possible problems and difficulties when making a homemade smokehouse
The peculiarity of manufacturing smokehouses is welding, which can take up to 60% of the total work time. The weld seam needs to be continuous, so if you are a beginner welder or haven't welded for a long time, select the current very carefully. It's easy to burn through metal, but putting a "patch" is longer, more difficult, and spoils the appearance and functionality.
Attention! Tightness is our everything. During and after welding immediately check the condition of the seams. It is the leaky seam that is the problem in more 80% cases.
Thickness there must be metal not less than 3 mmOtherwise, during welding and further use, your smokehouse will be severely deformed. Don't skimp on metal, if possible, choose stainless steel.
Useful video
A video showing how to quickly make a hot smoking smokehouse from two buckets.
Wishes for first use
When using a smoker, be careful extremely careful, especially if you are a beginner. Work in closed clothing made of natural fabrics, put it on silicone or burlap mittens for protection. Enjoy your holiday and delicious smoked meats.
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