Stainless steel smokehouses: how to choose?

Stainless steel smokehouses are a type of smoking device. Many people love smoked foods, so they often wonder how to choose the right model. First of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the features and benefits of the design.

The stainless steel smokehouse has a list of advantages, due to which this product is a favorite smoking item.

The advantages include the following qualities:

• high level of strength;
• long service life;
• low susceptibility to soot;
• hot and cold smoking options;

• mobility of the model;
• the design is considered safe;
• resistance to rust;
• ease of care;
• simple instructions for use.

Each smokehouse contains the following components:

• smoking chamber;
• firebox;
• chimney.

The following items can be attributed to the auxiliary elements:

• door;
• control devices;
• lattice with hooks.

A stainless steel smokehouse may have a water seal, which many people call a hydraulic lock. He is responsible for preventing air masses from entering the smoking chamber itself. It also keeps smoke and odors out of it. The first property excludes the ignition of sawdust, and the second provides convenience in the manufacture of smoked products at home.

Such products are always mobile and lightweight.

They contain:

• sealed metal box equipped with handles;
• a lid with a pipe for exhausting smoke (flat, semi-oval and triangular options are available for sale);
• two lattices, which are located on two levels;
• a thermometer may be present in the lid.

A firebox with a chimney in smokehouses with a water seal is not present. Sawdust with shavings is placed on the bottom of the chamber. The smoke is emitted through a hole in the lid.

A home smokehouse can be of different types. On sale there is a two-tier or single-row design, the grilles of which are made of stainless steel. Since the material does not rust, products do not stick to it, which speaks of ease of care. There is a round smokehouse on sale. It is usually used for cold or hot smoking at home. They are small in size making them easy to fit in the kitchen.

Rectangular products with a water seal are popular. They are easy to use, have a small size, due to which they can be used as a camping smokehouse for fishing trips, barbecues and other events. Also, ordinary household options are made of stainless steel, equipped with a tight lid without a water seal. Such models are characterized by a cylindrical shape. Also on the market there is a vertical smokehouse made of non-magnetic steel. The material has an identical composition with steel, which was popular in the USSR.

All models on the market have a pallet. It is an indispensable element of the design, as it protects the chips from the juice from the products.In the absence of a tray, you will be faced with a situation where the juice begins to smolder and ruin the entire cooking process. In the manufacture of a smokehouse, steel sheets are used, the thickness of which is 2-3 mm. If the wall thickness is less than 2 mm, the product will undergo deformation when heated and quickly fail.

The dimensions of the stainless steel smokehouse are considered an advantage of these products. You can choose any size and weight that suits your purpose. The optimal dimensions of products with a water seal are: 500 * 300 * 300 mm with a weight of 12 kg.

Stainless steel smokehouses produce different brands. When choosing, you should carefully read the characteristics of the models, as well as study customer reviews.

The Finnish company received many positive reviews Hanhi brand... The manufacturer offers the Hanhi 20L model, which is a modern stainless steel product. The smokehouse can be used at home and outdoors. The device is equipped with a water seal, thanks to which the kitchen will not be filled with food odors. Using a bimetallic thermometer, you can control the temperature. This model is quite common, as evidenced by numerous customer reviews. Users are pleased with the price-quality ratio, as well as the convenient shape of the device, ease of use and maintenance.

Smokehouses from the Finnish company "Suomi" conquered the market and made a lot of people happy. The manufacturer offers its audience products made of stainless steel, the thickness of which is 2 mm. This condition excludes burning of products. Satisfied consumers note that the device produces smoke-free smoking, no odors are felt when cooking at home. Models of this brand are suitable for cooking on any stove. Smokehouses retain their attractive appearance throughout the entire period of operation.

Domestic manufacturer "Eat-Koptim" is engaged in the sale of these products, with the help of which everyone can engage in hot or cold smoking. The brand has been on the market for more than 10 years and offers its audience the optimal variations of stainless steel smokers, among which everyone can find their own version. The company has its own production facility in Moscow, due to which it is possible to carry out an individual order according to the client's drawings. Customers like the individual approach, so they often turn to this manufacturer with their sketches. The model with a water seal made of non-magnetic steel grade Aisi 201 received a lot of positive reviews. It has a matt surface.

You can make a smoking device made of stainless material with your own hands. To work, you will need to cut the stainless steel to the dimensions you need. You can choose any parameters that are required for your use. If we talk about the size of an average smokehouse, in which you can smoke two chickens at a time or arrange two rows of drumsticks or fish, must have the following dimensions:

• length - 700 mm;
• width - 400 mm;
• height - 400 mm.

After you have cut the steel, you need to make a seam. Use argon welding for this purpose. The lid must have holes for smoke outlets. The grates should also be made of stainless steel. The grease receptacle should be located above the sawdust container. You can equip it with legs. This is much more convenient than creating shelves that make cleaning difficult.To prevent the rear walls from deforming from exposure to high temperatures, select sheets with sufficient thickness, and also make sure that the welding is of good quality.

By performing these steps, you can create with your own hands a smokehouse that will serve for a long time and delight with tidbits of chicken meat, sausage and other delicacies.

You can install the smokehouse in different ways. Most of the models have a stand, thanks to which you can use the structure on a gas or electric stove, or smoke meat in a summer cottage, outdoors on a fire. Convenient structure contributes to the fact that smokehouses are in great demand and are almost universal. Due to its size, the smokehouse will easily fit in the trunk of a car, leaving room for camping items.

To enjoy tidbits of fish or chicken at home or in your summer cottage, you need to familiarize yourself with the process of using new equipment in your kitchen. Using smoked meats is easy, but some tricks will help you make smoked meats even more delicious.

Chips must be present at the bottom of the structure. To make cleaning easier, place the chips in an unsealed foil bag. Throw away the packaging after you have finished cooking.

Material from any fruit trees can be used as chips:

• with the help of apricot, the meat acquired a delicate aroma and sweetish aftertaste;
• cherries are able to endow foods with a unique aroma;
• the apple tree is considered the best choice if you want to get smoke without aroma;
• the plum is more aromatic than the apple tree, but is not able to compete with the cherry;
• if you want to give the meat a woody flavor, use aspen, oak or alder.

When you put the chips on the bottom, you need to place the pallet. To make cleaning easier, wrap it in foil. Then you need to put the food rack. Don't forget to brush it with sunflower oil. Now you can put the lid on the smoker and fill the odor trap with water. The smokehouse is ready for use.

There are several ways in which you can clean a stainless steel smoker. It is recommended to wash the product immediately after cooking, as it is much easier to clean fresh carbon deposits. You will need to remove the grate with the pallet, remove the ash. Then blot the grease on the lids with a towel. Now you can put the pallet back and fill it with water and detergents.

It is recommended to use the following products:

• cleaning agent "Shumanit" in the form of a spray;
• special preparations Alkalinet 100 and Kenolux Grill;
• preparation for degreasing AV A 11;
• Faberlik Grizli cleaner.

These preparations are aimed at cleaning stainless steel products and are distinguished by a high level of quality. After an hour, you can wipe the surface of the smoker with a sponge and rinse under running water.

You can also get good results using mechanical methods:

• a special brush designed for metal surfaces cleans the grate well;
• you can use a motorized brush to clean the Boyscout 61255 grill;
• some users use a round metal brush that is attached to a small grinder.

Using these methods, you can return your smokehouse to its original appearance.

For information on how to choose a stainless steel smokehouse, see the next video.