Guide to Purchasing a Smoker

If smoking food seems like a great mystery, wait until you are inundated with all the possible choices of what to purchase. There are so many smoker products on the market. Additionally, there is a huge variety of smokers based on fuel source, size, shape, and capabilities. This is enough to completely confuse any one. 
 

Reviewing all the features and designs of the various products on the market could be an endless process. Consequently,  I think it is more productive to break this information down into three sections. The first two sections are basic information that will help to narrow down your choices.  The last section gets into reviewing the pros and cons of specific types of smokers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1) CHECK LIST FOR PURCHASING A SMOKER
2) 6 TYPES OF SMOKERS BASED ON FUEL SOURCE
3) PROS AND CONS OF DIFFERENT MODELS OF SMOKERS
4) FINAL WORDS
5) ADDITIONAL POSTS OF INTEREST

Check list for purchasing a smoker 

  • Price

This is likely the bottom...

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Guide to Cold Smoking

When most people think of smoking foods their mind goes straight to firing up the smoker, throwing in some meat at 160 and letting it sit for 4 to 12 hours.  However, there is a completely different world to experiment with and it’s called cold smoking.  Just about anything imaginable can be smoked in one manner or another. But cold smoking greatly extends those boundaries.  
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1) WHAT IS COLD SMOKING?
2) WHAT ABOUT FOOD POISONING? IS COLD SMOKING TOO RISKY?
3) PEOPLE THAT SHOULD AVOID COLD SMOKED FOODS
4) FOODS TO TRY FIRST
5) CURING BEFORE COLD SMOKING IS VITAL
6) SUMMARY OF THE COLD SMOKING PROCESS
7) TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL COLD SMOKING
8) FINAL WORDS
9) RELATED POSTS OF INTEREST

What is Cold Smoking?

The normal process of smoking involves moderately low temperatures and a long, slow cooking process.  However, cold smoked food is not cooked at all. In fact, cold smoked food is still raw. Consequently, it must be cooked prior to consuming....

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Guide to Fermenting Foods

If you mention fermenting foods most people typically think of wine and beer. Beyond these first thoughts of delightful fermented beverages, fermentation is a valuable method of food preservation that has been around for thousands of years. Fermenting foods allowed for longer storage in the absence of refrigeration.  In our modern times fermented foods are simple to produce, have excellent nutritional value, and require little effort to process.  However, similar to other methods of food preservation, in order to be successful you need to first have an understanding of the basic science that is involved.
 

Fermenting foods is one of the easiest methods of food preservation.  Very little equipment is required. The steps for successful fermentation are easy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) THREE TYPES OF FERMENTATION
2) HOW DOES FERMENTATION PRESERVE FOOD
3) SIX BENEFITS TO LACTO FERMENTATION
4) COMMON FERMENTED FOODS
5) BASIC EQUIPMENT NEEDED
6) A BASIC RECIPE...
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Guide to Pickling Vegetables

Pickling is likely one of the easiest ways to preserve fresh produce.  This process has been used as a means of food preservation for over 4,000 years going back to the time of the ancient Mesopotamians. Food was pickled and used for long journeys especially by sea. 

The term pickle is derived from the Dutch word “pekel” or the northern German word “pokel” meaning salt or brine, which are two components important to the process.  These days in the U.S. and Canada the word “pickle” almost exclusively refers to pickled cucumbers. However, the end product of any food that is preserved by a pickling process is referred to as a “pickle”.

Pickling preserves food by anaerobic (without oxygen) fermentation. Consequently, this is typically done in either a salt brine or in vinegar. The brine creates an acidic environment which inhibits the growth of bacteria. Consequently the food does not need to be completely sterile.

In...

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Guide to Home Canning

Processing and preserving your own food has many advantages. Like any other form of food preservation, home canning is perfectly safe if practiced properly. Being careful to follow recommended guidelines and recipes will ensure that your family enjoys healthy, delicious home preserved foods. This method of food preservation is my personal favorite because there is so much you can do. 

Some people have the opinion that modern food preservation methods have largely reduced the need for home canning. They also question why it is even necessary. Furthermore, many people are concerned about the safety of home canning. With all of these concerns in mind, why would you do it when you can simply purchase canned food from the supermarket? 

Continue reading to find out the answer to that question.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) 15 REASONS TO HOME CAN YOUR FOOD
2) DISADVANTAGES TO HOME CANNING
3) HOW DOES CANNING PRESERVE FOOD
4) CANNING METHODS
5) PREPARATION FOR CANNING
6) BOILING WATER BATH...
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Guide to Dehydrating Food

As you likely know by now, being in control over your food supply is a vital part of self sufficiency.  In an effort to provide my readers with as much information as possible, this Guide to Dehydrating Food is part of a series of posts on various methods of food preservation. There is a lot of information here so I have provided a clickable table of contents.  Enjoy!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) INTRODUCTION TO DEHYDRATING FOODS
2) ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DEHYDRATING FOOD
3) PREPARING FOOD FOR DRYING
4) SEVEN METHODS FOR DEHYDRATING FOOD
5) BEST METHOD OF DEHYDRATING FOOD
6) COMPARISON OF COSTS AND ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS
7) HOW TO CHOOSE A FOOD DEHYDRATOR
8) WHAT FOODS CAN BE DEHYDRATED
9) FOODS NOT SUITABLE FOR DEHYDRATION
10)KEYS FOR SUCCESSFUL FOOD DEHYDRATION
11) FAQS ABOUT FOOD DEHYDRATION
12) ADDITIONAL REFERENCES FOR DEHYDRATING FOOD
13) ADDITIONAL POSTS OF INTEREST

Introduction to Dehydrating Food

There is evidence that some cultures dried foods as early as...

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Guide to Freezing Food

Freezing food is one of the easiest methods of preservation for the homestead. Due to the small learning curve this is an easy way to preserve food. Additionally it does not require a huge investment in equipment. Furthermore, modern refrigerators are already equipped with small freezers.  However, if you really want to store a decent amount of frozen food, invest in a chest freezer.  

Many types of foods are amenable to freezing.  It is simply a matter of proper packaging and sometimes a little pre-freezing preparation.  Freezing foods is likely the least labor intensive method of food preservation. That is the advantage. However, there are also disadvantages. 

Most methods of food preservation have a limited shelf life and this includes freezing food. This is especially true of meat. If you have ever tried to eat a piece of meat that has been in the freezer for 2 years you know what freezer burned meat tastes like.  It is still edible but not...

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Off Grid Refrigeration: Propane versus Electric

When I started living off the grid in 1996, my technology options were limited.  However, since that time, there have been many advances that make an off grid life much easier.  This is especially true when it comes to off grid refrigeration. Not only have appliances become much more efficient but there are also many more options. Two of the most common options for off-grid refrigeration are propane and electric. But how do you choose?

The decision between these two appliances should begin with a comparison of efficiency and the long term cost of operation. For the sake of comparison, I will discuss the energy consumption of an 8 to 10 cubic foot refrigerator. Household refrigerators range in size from 8 to 30 cubic feet.  An 8 to 10 cubic foot unit is sufficient for two people. Add about one cubic foot for each additional family member. 

Now let’s get started with our choices for off grid refrigeration.

Propane refrigerator

Unlike the electric...

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How to Start Your Food Storage Plan

It just makes sense to have extra groceries around the house. Those extra supplies will be useful in the event of a disaster or any other unexpected events that just seem to be a part of life.  Consequently, it is important have a food storage plan. Besides, it is an easy first step toward self reliance and becomes especially valuable in an emergency situation.

I grew up with two working farms in the family. We always had a large walk-in closet that was well stocked with home canned goods, extra dry goods, and other basic supplies. This was a normal part of being self sufficient.  In my opinion, it is similar to having an insurance policy.

In our modern age most people have either lost the desire or simply do not even see the need to have a food storage plan.  However, such a plan is one of the most basic and easy steps toward self reliance.  Simply consider what happens to millions of people every time there is a...

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Guide to Smoking Meat

Smoking meat has been a means of food preservation for thousands of years. It is especially useful if you live off the grid. However, it is also a means to prepare some excellent food and step out way beyond the basics of grilling. Yet many people are intimated by the thought of smoking meat and never even attempt to learn this art.
 

This guide to smoking meat is designed to not only teach you the basics but also give you some fantastic pointers on how to purchase your first smoker. But in the event you are limited on funds, this post will also give you what you need to turn your grill into a smoker.  

In other related posts, you will also learn the basics of Cold Smoking meat as well as a guide to purchasing your first smoker.  But for now,  let’s start out with the basics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) INTRODUCTION
2) DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BARBECUING, GRILLING, AND SMOKING
3) THREE BENEFITS OF SMOKING MEAT
4) BASIC EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR SMOKING
5) AN OVERVIEW OF...
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