3 Convenient Ways to Create the Perfect Smoked Salmon

Smoked salmon is a delicacy loved by many! You can have it as an appetizer, snack, or even sushi and sashimi. However, there have been quite a few mass-produced and pre-packaged products filling up our supermarkets. While they make it easy for us to consume smoked salmon, it’s not always the healthiest choice. You can learn to make your own and control what really goes in the smoking process; it’s a great way to fire up the grill or use your smoker as well as you gain experience in becoming a smoked salmon pro. Use these convenient ways below to create the perfect smoked salmon. 

Why Smoke It? 

Salmon has always been a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. It helps reduce heart disease and is packed with enough protein and vitamins that make it super healthy. The beauty of the Salmon is that you can cook it in many ways, smoking it just makes it tastier and can be included in a lot of recipes. It’s also easier than you think. 

What to Prepare?

The first thing you need to do is prepare your brine that you soak your salmon in for that juicy flavor. Start off with several pieces of salmon, choose any type you prefer. Anything can go into your brine, but a basic one is to have 3-4 cups of water, ¼ cup of salt, ¼ cup of brown sugar, 1 stalk, sliced celery, ½ cup chopped fennel, 2 bay leaves, 2 smashed garlic cloves, and ½ cup of onions. Mix it all together, soak your salmon in an airtight container, and refrigerate. Leave it from 4-8 hours depending on the thickness and size of the fish. Then you need to cure the fish by washing it with cold water really well and then pat it dry. 

Now it’s time to dry your fish which can be done in many ways; drying is very important to properly smoke it as long as it’s in a breezy place that is shaded, away from the sun, and with appropriate temperatures that is less than 65 degrees. You can leave it on a wire rack or air dry it by hanging it so air can circulate it well. Leave it for a few hours till it’s completely dry. 

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Let’s Get Smoking!

So your fish is now ready to be smoked and there are three convenient ways to do so: 

1. Use a Smoker

You can either cold smoke your fish or hot smoke; either way works really well in good electric smokers which are ideal in smoking because they have the space for any amount you need, they’re affordable, and make smoking easy by controlling temperatures digitally. If you’re cold smoking, then you need to cure your fish with salt and water for 24 hours. Leave it in your smoker with a temperature under 90 degrees. 

Hot smoking, however, will require you to smoke your fish gradually starting at 150 degrees for the first two hours and eventually leading to 180 degrees. Some smokers can be automatically adjusted to raise their temperature. The whole smoking process can take up to 6-8 hours. You can baste the fish halfway and its internal temperature should be around 130-140 degrees when done or when its skin becomes flaky. 

2. Grill it! 

Although using a smoker is easy, but you can turn your grill into a smoker if you don’t have one. You can wrap your internal wok with aluminum foil and then place your fish on the rack or you can place your fish on a wood plank that is the size of the fish so smoke can circulate your fish freely. Smoke it at 225 degrees for 90 minutes to 2 hours per pound. Watch the internal temperature, it should be done if its internal temperature is around 130-140 degrees. 

3. Bake it! 

Another way to do it is by placing your salmon with its skin side down in a baking dish coated with cooking spray. Add brown sugar, salt, and pepper as well as liquid smoke and then cover and refrigerate for 4-8 hours. When you’re ready to bake, drain and discard the liquid and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 40 minutes until its internal temperature is ready or if the fish becomes flaky. 

A True Delicacy 

Salmon has always been a delicious delicacy that is enjoyed by many. Smoking salmon is a true art form that needs to be discovered if you’re interested in smoking your own meats and fish. Try these methods above and enjoy!

Order this delicacy from your nearby Restaurants using Fave Coupon Codes.