building a smoker

[matowakan]

I have been looking around the site for advice on building a smoker in the garden,basically the how to etc.
I know i am a woman of a certain age but dont think there is a topic on this?!
Can anyone help with any advice,like how to build and what out of please

[Ellendra]

Make it out of brick or something that won't burn, even the part that is supposed to stay cool, otherwise you'll be opening it constantly to check it :p

If you have a hillside, use it to put the fire part lower than the cabinet part.

In the cabinet, make it so the shelves and hanging rods are removable, and put way more slots for said shelves and rods than you think you'll need. Every possible space if you can. That way you can rearrange it easily to adjust for different sized foods.

If possible, try and use a built-in thermometer that will let you read the inside temp without having to open the door.

I'm sure I'll think of more stuff later, good luck and have fun!!

[matowakan]

Thanks for that,it is all inwardly digested so to speak!!

[Cheezy]

Depends what you want to do.

If you want to cold smoke (ie the food will not be "cooked" by heat but preserved by smoke). You need to build a fire box , like one of those incinerating bins, and take off the smoke from the chimney via a flexi metal tube into a cabinate with racks. If you want to hot smoke , you just need the fire box with shelves. An alternative that I've used is a BBQ , the kettle type with a lid. You can quiet sucessfully hot smoke in one.

[Green Aura]

I'm a bit knackered today, following the 10 hour drive from Manchester so it's feet up and a day googling!

For a hot smoker have a look at this
http://bbq.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite ... moker.html

and cold smoker
http://www.bluebellcroft.co.uk/smoker.htm

http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/lib2/smokehs.htm

I've got a stovetop hot smoker that I bought from the Loch Awe Smokehouse. It's brilliant and easy to use when needed, rather than doing lots in one go, but I must say a cold smoker does sound good. Hmmmm.

[matowakan]

Thanks for the sites,will go and have a look