Once you’ve chosen the best electric smoker for yourself among the wide variety of options available, you now need to find the best meats that you can smoke in it. Portable electric smokers are the most commonly opted electric smokers by campers. Once you have purchased your electric smoker, it’s time to explore the best meat recipes that you can cook on it. In the article that follows, we shall delve deeper into the recipes that you can cook using an electric smoker.
Best Meats To Smoke In An Electric Smoker
Contents
There are innumerable options to choose from when it comes to preparing the best meats using an electric smoker. Given below are the most-recommended meats to smoke in an electric smoker.
Pork Shoulders
If you have a good experience of smoking by now, you’re probably aware that pork shoulders are regarded as one of the top choices when we talk about smoking primarily because it consists of a balance of meat and fat.
Since smoking is a slow process, pork shoulders perfectly cater to it. The juicy flavor brought out as a result of the slow process makes the waiting time worthwhile. It is advised that you opt for a cut that has more bones and ¼ inch of fat to ensure a flavourful and more tender texture post smoking.
Beef Brisket
Beef brisket is the most popular choice when it comes to smoking. Originating from the chest of the cows, these cuts consist of a high-fat content that tastes particularly delicious when smoked. The layer of fat also enables consumers to enjoy a more tender result.
When you are choosing the best cut, opt for a piece that has a good amount of marbling and fat. Ask your butcher for the packer’s cut which is nothing but a piece of brisket that has fatty layers on both the top and middle part of the beef. You can also look for the most tender part of the brisket by simply bending it. The more the part bends, the tender it is.
Pork And Beef Ribs
Pork and beef ribs are a delicacy when properly smoked. This meat is popularly chosen by the masses when it comes to smoking and even enjoys a market demand as well.
Note that every rib has different cuts: short ribs, back baby back ribs, spare ribs, beef back, and country-style ribs. The cuts that you should use for smoking are spare ribs and baby back ribs. Note that you ought to opt for a piece that consists of a large amount of meat but less fat on the bones because you surely wouldn’t prefer meat that is drenched in fat post-smoking.
Pork And Beef Roast
Cross ribs, shoulder roasts, and chuck roasts have a high content of fat that is perfect when you have to slowly cook inside an electric smoker. Once it’s done, you will have a moist and juicy piece of meat to enjoy.
Whole Turkey
If you still haven’t tried to smoke a whole turkey, you are missing out on a lot of fun. Smoker turkey is a mouth-watering dish when prepared and smoked properly. Your meat will be moist and have a perfectly firm texture.
Now, to ensure that your turkey doesn’t dry out during the process of smoking, brine it in a saltwater bath for approximately one hour per pound before you start smoking it. The smoking time is 225 degrees Fahrenheit at 30 minutes for every pound.
Sausage
Chicken sausages, beef, and pork can all be smoked to enjoy delicious meals.
What’s The Easiest Meat To Smoke?
The easiest as well as most economical meat to smoke in your electric smoker is the Pulled Pork or Boston Butt. This is because Boston Butt is well-marbled as compared to the other types of meat available in the market.
Many people love to prepare smoked pork butt at the campground. It’s a great dish especially when you’re having a gathering with your close friends and family.
What Is The Hardest Meat To Smoke?
Although beef brisket is the most popular choice of meat to smoke in an electric smoker, it’s neither the cheapest nor the easiest to smoke. However, this should not at all act as a demotivation for you. By using a good recipe and with lots of patience, you can enjoy some of the tastiest smoked meat.
The 7 Best Meat Smoking Recipes
3 2 1 Ribs– The Best Smoked Ribs
- To prepare ribs using the 3 2 1 method, you need 2 complete racks of baby back pork ribs, ⅓ cup of yellow mustard, ¼ cup of apple juice, a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup of brown sugar, ⅓ cup of honey, and ¼ cup of apple juice.
Start the process by revving up your smoker. Remove the membrane from the underside of the baby back pork ribs. However, if your butcher has already removed this layer, you can skip this step.
Carefully pat the dry rub on both sides of the baby’s back ribs. Position the ribs on the smoker with the meat side placed upwards for three hours.
Mix ¼ cup of apple juice, ⅓ cup of yellow mustard, and a tablespoon of worcestershire sauce. Make sure you baste the baby back pork ribs with this mixture every hour of the cooking process.
Once the smoking is done, remove the ribs from the smoker and position them on an aluminum foil.
Sprinkle them with ¼ cup of brown sugar, then drizzle ⅓ cup of honey and add ¼ cup of orange juice on the top. Seal them in the foil for two hours.
Then position them in the electric smoker set at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for half an hour to one hour. Then allow the ribs to rest for some time and then enjoy them as they are.
Spicy Smoked Chicken Wings Recipe
- To prepare spicy smoked chicken wings, marinate your chicken and allow it to rest while you prepare the smoker for the cooking process.
Start by pulling off the water bin, racks, and chip holder out of the smoker.
Then cap off the exhaust pipe.
To start raising the temperature, fire up the smoker.
Fill the chip holder with smoker chips and the water dish with water.
When the smoker is hot, position the chips so they can start to smoke.
Then spread the chicken wings on the racks of your electric smoker.
Keep the temperature of the smoker between 200 and 250 degrees.
Check the smoker every half an hour. Once the wings are at 160 degrees or more, remove them from the smoker.
Add your favorite sauces, plate and serve them.
Brown Sugar Smoked Salmon
- To prepare brown sugar smoked salmon, you need to get the salmon to an internal temperature of approximately 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
You need to maintain your smoker at a temperature of 250-275 degrees Fahrenheit.
Smoke the salmon for approximately an hour.
Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the temperature of the salmon from time to time.
Heat your electric smoker to about 250-270 degrees Fahrenheit.
Form the rub by combining pepper, brown sugar, salt, and dill.
Gently pat on the top of the salmon.
If you have enough time, you can also place the salmon in the refrigerator to dry brine for approximately half an hour.
Smoke the salmon on your smoker till it reaches the temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Smoked Pork Chops Recipe
- To prepare smoked pork chops, marinate the meat with spices for at least a day before you actually have to prepare them.
Cover the pork in olive oil using a large bowl or a brush.
Preheat the smoker to approximately 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintain this temperature for the entire cooking period.
Make sure you spray your smoker rack with a nonstick spray. Now position the pork chops on the racks and position the rack in the smoker once it is ready.
Continue the smoking process for approximately two hours until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of about 160 degrees. Serve and enjoy your smoked pork chops using this recipe.
The Creamiest Smoked Mac And Cheese
- Preheat your smoker to approximately 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour water into a large bowl and bring it to a boil.
Add elbow macaroni and prepare it according to the instructions listed on the package.
Drain the pasta and then drizzle the pasta with olive oil to prevent it from sticking.
Melt half a cup of butter in a cast iron skillet which is 12 inches.
Whisk the flour in the butter slowly until it is smooth.
Now reduce the heat to a low and then add the cubed cream cheese.
Then add the other cheeses. Make sure you whisk them slowly.
Add the various spices such as pepperika, dry mustard, salt, and others.
Add the macaroni and mix it until it is well-coated with cheese.
Add the crumbled bacon and then stir to combine everything.
Take a medium bowl to combine 3 tablespoons of melted butter and the panko breadcrumbs.
Position the skillet in the smoker and smoke for around an hour.
Remove from the smoker once cooked and serve it immediately to enjoy the best taste.
Smoked Prime Rib Roast
- Season your prime rib carefully and delicately preferably one night before you are planning to cook it.
Get your smoker to a temperature of approximately 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
When your smoker is getting pre-heated, take the prime rib out of the refrigerator.
Now sear the beef from all sides using grapeseed oil. Let it rest for five minutes.
When your smoker is up to the temperature, position the ribs on the smoker.
It’ll approximately take two hours for the ribs to cook to perfection.
Once ready, let them sit for around 15-20 minutes before you slice them.
Smoked Coca-Cola Cornish Game Hens Recipe
- Place your liquid i.e. Coca Cola, meat, and ice in a big container.
Add the seasonings to your brine and mix them all thoroughly using a whisk.
Put in the cornish game hens in the brine.
Either continue to put ice in the container to keep the hens at a cold temperature or place the container in the refrigerator.
Make sure you let the brine rest for at least four hours a day.
When cooking, make sure you flip the hens occasionally.
It’ll approximately take an hour for the hens to cook, but make sure you use a meat thermometer to make sure your hen is properly smoked.