Smoked meat has a large fan base around the world. Who doesn’t love being served a sizzling succulent steak drenches in its own juice? If you are a smoked food lover, you must have tried every possible cut of meat by now to discover which one is your favorite. But hey, let’s remind you that you surely have another list of foods that are your favorite, right? Have you ever thought of smoking them? The majority of people would say “no” or “maybe,” “I have to think about it,” “I will figure that out,” etc. Well, if you are up for an adventure with your food smoker and really want to try something out of the box in food smoking, this article is for you. We have listed popular foods that can be cooked in your food smoker that taste divine. Keep reading.
Using the right flavor
Remember, we are talking about foods other than meat here. So, obviously, rubs and brines will not work. Fruity wood like maple, apple, cherry, oak, etc., are great for generating flavored smoke, but they have their downsides too. When they burn out, these woods can emit toxic fumes that can spoil the food or make it bitter. To avoid such a disaster, replace the wood immediately after it is burned. Another hassle-free option is to use Bradley Bisquettes on your Bradley Smoker. These are specially compressed wood chips made from sawdust that burn for a precise time and extinguish automatically before turning to ash. Bradley Bisquettes comes in 17 different flavors to suit all smoking needs. You can create apple, maple, pecan, and cherry smoke, as well as other flavors.
Use the right food smoker
There is a world of difference between smoking meat and smoking other foods. These foods have no marinades and may not require the time or temperature that meat does. So be careful about the food smoker you choose to avoid charring the food. Our recommendation here is the Bradley Smoker. This is an advanced smoker designed with easy digital controls for time and temperature, and it even has an automatic feeder to work independently to dispense flavored Bradley Bisquettes. The Bradley Smoker comes with dual heat elements that can perform both hot and cold smoking.
5 foods that you can smoke
Now that you are aware of the basic prerequisites for smoking foods other than meat, here is the list.
Cherry/grape tomatoes
You have used this fruit in so many dishes, from stews to pickles and even gravies. Cherry tomatoes have their own magic that is further enhanced by smoking, and the same with grape tomatoes—the tangy natural flavor of the tomatoes teams well with the smoky flavor. You can use apple-flavored smoke for this fruit. Smoke them at 185 °F to 200 °F (85 °C to 93 °C) on a perforated sheet for about 5 minutes. You can use these smoky flavored treats in a salsa, mocktails, and egg salad.
Hard-boiled eggs
Peel the hard outer shell of the boiled egg and keep it whole. Again with egg, you can also use apple or maple-flavored smoke to add that extra zing. Smoke the boiled egg from 200 °F to 215 °F (93 °C to 102 °C) on a grated rack for up to 1 minute. Use the smoked egg to create wonders in egg salad, as deviled eggs, or in a Cobb or Niçoise salad.
Potatoes
This list would be incomplete without the versatile potato. From fried to boiled, potatoes are used in many recipes, so why would smoking be an exception? Take unpeeled medium to large whole potatoes. Smear melted butter on all sides and sprinkle with a little salt. Now smoke them at 210 °F to 225 °F (99 °C to 107 °C) on a grated rack for at least an hour. You can also bake it afterward at 325 °F (163 °C) to tenderize it further. Smoked potatoes taste best with fish or meat. You can also use them in potato salad or soup.
Hard cheese
Who doesn’t love cheese? We mean, there is a reason you smile when you hear about it, right? The good news is you can smoke hard cheese like Monterey Jack, Cheddar, etc. Apple or cherry flavored smoke teams best with cheese. Smoke hard cheese at 85 °F to 100 °F (29 °C to 38 °C) on a perforated pan set over a pan of ice for an hour or one and a half-hour. Taste the magic in sandwiches, macaroni, and cheese, or broccoli and cauliflower recipes.
Different kinds of nuts
Lastly, enjoy nuts with a hint of smoky flavor. Whole or shelled pecans and walnuts are great options here. Generally, hickory flavored smoke complements nuts well, but you can be creative. Smoke nuts at 210 °F to 225 °F (99 °C to 107 °C) for a couple of hours. You can serve them with cheese, vegetables, and salads.
With that, our article on food smoking ends here. We hope these Bradley tips & tricks on smoking different types of foods have encouraged you to experiment with your food smoker.
Check out this other article about types of meat you didn’t know you could smoke:
5 Types of Meat You Didn’t Know You Could Smoke
For more great ideas on how to get the most out of your Bradley Smoker, check out the awesome articles on our Bradley Smoker Food Smoking Blog for more tips & tricks.
