My new pandemic toy – an electric smoker!! Not quite as big as my last one (the RV), but super cool and this one was free!! A neighbor was doing some spring cleaning and just didn’t want it anymore, never really used it, and I was like, um, sure I’ll take a smoker!!
It fit just where I wanted it to go in my garage, right near the door so I could easily bring it outside for cookin (it’s on wheels!). So it was time to try it out yesterday, and I selected some baby back ribs and turkey legs. I mixed up a good dry rub of smoked paprika, brown sugar, black pepper, sage, chili pepper, and garlic.
I generously rubbed the ribs and legs. Yeah, baby!
I let the rub and the meats get nice and friendly for a couple hours in the fridge. Then I looked up how to use this smoker thingy on Google and YouTube. I bought a wood chip medley – cherry wood, hickory, mesquite, and maple. Went with the cherry wood for this round! It was pretty easy, you just plug in, set temp and time, add some water to the water pans, add wood chips and then throw all the meat in! Set it and forget it! Be sure to look up cooking times, these were lookin like about three hours. Once it kicked on with the heating element to the wood, it got smokin!!!
Having no idea what I was doing, I thought that was a whole lot of smoke, but turns out it’s just super smoky at first, then just a slow, low smoke for the rest of the cooking time. I added more chips once during cooking and checked things a couple times for doneness. Since it’s such a low temp, I wasn’t worried about over cooking. I took out the ribs and legs and it sure looked good!!
Dang this looked good, and the smoke flavor was intense!! I cut the turkey off the bone and cut up the ribs to plate together with some yummy bbq sauce and a pineapple mango salsa.
It was amazing!!! The ribs didn’t fall off the bone like I usually want, but apparently they don’t have to – they were super moist, tender, and rich with smokiness. Soooo good!! The turkey was equally smoky and juicy, and I can’t decide which I liked best. Luckily I didn’t have to choose!! I’m thrilled with my first smoking meat experience and can’t wait to try out more fun in that thing!!
Eat, Drink, and Go! 