Should You Smoke Meat Or Smoke Cheese

By Author: Nicksmith
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With a barbecue smoker, you can produce delicious smoked food in large quantities. Usually, that means you’re thinking about how to smoke meat – not cheese. You don’t go to a barbecue thinking, “Oh man, I can’t wait for the cheese to get done.”

But wait – smoking cheese is not as crazy as it sounds as first. Most likely, you have heard of smoked mozzarella or smoked Gouda. If you’ve tried those or similar smoked cheeses, you will instantly remember how scrumptious they tasted. You may also recall how much money even small amounts of smoked cheese set you back at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. This may prompt you to consider learning how to smoke cheese yourself.

Almost every type of cheese takes well to smoking. The key component of how to smoke cheese is to cold-smoke it, which means using a temperature at or below 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This prevents the cheese from melting. To achieve this you can use just a few coals with a relatively large number of damp wood chips. Another, more simple way to smoke cheese is to use an electric smoker, where you can set the temperature and then forget ...
... about it.

First, you will have to let the cheese sit out in the open air for several days to allow the outer layer to become hard. Next, you will want to cut the cheese into 1" thick slices and place them on the grates of the smoker. Also, make sure the slices aren't touching. You can smoke the cheese from 1 to 7 hours, depending the desired depth of smoke flavor. The time can also depend on the type of wood used and the temperature of the fire. Using an electric smoker can make this process easier to control.

Once you’ve finished the smoking the cheese, place it in an air-tight plastic bag with a zip closure. Refrigerate for several days to allow the smoke to permeate the cheese. The longer it ages, the better it gets.

One final note: it may be difficult to keep a fire at 90 degrees Fahrenheit if the temperature outside is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit – so you may want to wait until the weather turns cold. Smoked cheese makes a thoughtful gift and is a great addition to holiday parties. Then, if someone asks how you made such a delicious delicacy, you can give them expert advice. After all, if you have a smoker and you know how to smoke meat, then you know how to smoke cheese. Good luck and happy smoking.

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