Technology has really changed how we do and view things. Just a few years back, sharing food recipes was mainly by word of mouth or reading cooking magazines, and you had to wait for a month before they released a new copy. However, that has all changed, and with countless blogs, you can easily get your hands on anything. Advancements in technology have also given life to advanced cooking appliances.
Over the years, we have seen new cooking techniques come up with some evolving to fit the current consumer market. For instance, smoking has developed from just a food preservation method to one of the most popular cooking techniques. This has brought forth various types of food smokers, including electric smokers.
What are electric smokers?
These are outdoor/indoor cooking devices that smoke food using electricity as the heating source, making the whole process fast and easy. We’ll look at how to correctly use an electric food smoker for the best cooking experiences.
Using an electric food smoker
Unlike other smokers, electric smokers use electricity as their main heat source. This makes them environmentally friendly and easy to use as you do not have to keep watch constantly.
To better understand how to use an electric food smoker, we’ll first look at its main features.
For instance, the Bradley Smoker dispenses pucks of aromatic woods referred to as Bisquettes. These Bradley Bisquettes produce consistent, pure smoke and are available in 16 different flavors, including hickory, pecan, apple, and maple.
- Water pan – The water pan is located just above the wood chip tray and is usually filled with cold water during smoking. As the smoker heats, the water will then turn to steam, which aids in convection cooking.
- Smoker racks – This is where you place your meat. Racks can also be used to hold cast iron skillets where your food can roast.
- Vents and dampers – They allow excess heat to escape and ensure efficient airflow during the smoking process.
Setting up your food smoker
Steps to follow:
- Seasoning your electric smoker – This is where you power on the electric smoker while still empty, and it runs for some time.
One of the main reasons for doing this is to help remove dust and other particles on the cooking racks or stainless steel housing that may have accumulated during manufacturing.
How to go about it:
First, power on your smoker to a temperature of between 250–275 °F (121–135 °C) and let it run for three hours. After that, turn the smoker off, open the door, and let it cool. This process is mainly done when the food smoker is new.
- Setting the desired temperature and time.
Set your smoker to the preferred smoking temperature depending on what you want to smoke and your preferences. For instance, if it’s beef, preheat your food smoker to a temperature of 225 °F (107 °C).
- Place a container full of water in the smoking chamber.
This helps keep the meat moist during smoking as the water evaporates.
- Give yourself enough cooking space and time.
Electric smokers are designed to cook at a far lower temperature, enhancing flavor and giving you a tender cut of meat. Therefore, you must be prepared to allow your meat to smoke until it’s well cooked and give yourself enough space to smoke correctly.
Cleaning an electric food smoker
For an extended shelf life and proper functionality, electric food smokers should be cleaned after every use.
How to clean it:
- After you are done smoking, unplug your food smoker and let it cool down.
- Remove the accessories out of the food smoker. These include the grill racks, chip tray, and water pan.
- Using a slightly wet towel, brush out the debris and then scrub with a kitchen sponge to remove the smaller particles left during smoking, including fat.
- Wipe your electric smoker with a clean damp cloth and let it dry.
Why buy an electric smoker?
- As we mentioned earlier, electric smokers are easy to use and do not require supervision, making them perfect for beginners and even novices.
- Easy to maintain a consistent temperature.
- You can use any combination of wood chips.
- It is not challenging to power on.
- They are environmentally friendly.
To Summarize
It’s clear that using an electric food smoker is not that difficult. But it’s important to note that there are different brands of electric smokers, and in some instances, the information may vary a bit.
Check out other articles about electric food smokers below:
Electric Smokers vs. Gas Grills
Top 10 Reasons That Make an Electric Food Smoker Amazing and What To Look For
How to Use Your Food Smoker As an Oven
Best Ways of Cleaning Your Grill And Food Smoker
How To Get Better Smoke From Your Food Smoker
For more great ideas on how to get the most of your Bradley Smoker, check out the awesome articles on our Bradley Smoker Food Smoking Blog for more tips & tricks.
