DIY smokehouse from a pot

It's getting warmer outside, it's time to open the season of barbecues and going out into nature with the family. One of the most important attributes of such a holiday is the smokehouse. With its help you can smoke meat, fish and other products. However, it is not always possible to buy a good model due to its high cost.

If you don’t have the time and money to find a suitable option, you should think about creating smoking equipment yourself. We will share a way to create a compact version that is very convenient to take with you on hikes. You can prepare small portions for the whole family, and the product will not take up much space - it can be easily put in the trunk of a car or simply carried in your hands.

What is needed to make a mini smokehouse from a saucepan

It is worth thinking through the plan for the future product in advance and purchasing the necessary set of tools and materials. For convenience, use the following list:

1. A suitable size pan in which to smoke food. It is advisable to use old cookware as it may change color during cooking.
2. A lid that fits snugly around the pan and seals it to prevent smoke and heat from escaping.
3. A grill grate or an old mesh for placing food on it.You can make several tiers to speed up the process.
4. A grill for making a fire or a specially designed place for a fire, equipped with bricks.
5. A stand for the pan, you can make it from bricks or place skewers under the bottom.
6. A special metal tray for the accumulation of fat released from food during the smoking process.
7. Set for making a fire: coals, firewood, matches, lighter fluid.
8. Alder chips and small branches of apple, cherry, and currant trees to create aromatic smoke. The branches should be young and cleared of bark.

This set is enough to start cooking. If you wish, you can improve the design, enlarge it, add several tiers, or make an electric version.

Attention! All structural elements must be made of fire-resistant material and have a high melting point. It is also not recommended to use aluminum cookware; it interacts with food and spoils its taste, and also has a negative effect on the body.

The principle of operation of a homemade smokehouse from a pan

It will be useful to know the operating principle of the smokehouse in order to further improve its design and speed up the cooking process. The main point is the heating of the wood chips and twigs located inside the main body.

Under the influence of the high temperature emanating from the fire, wood chips moistened with water begin to smolder. They emit smoke, which, under the influence of high temperature, processes the food and ensures its smoking. Therefore, it is important to follow several important rules:

1. Distribute the wood chips evenly across the bottom of the pan.
2. Place products on the grid, leave a distance between them.
3. Soak the wood chips and branches well so that they do not burn, but smolder at the bottom, producing smoke.

Do-it-yourself hot smoked smokehouse from a pan

If you have purchased everything you need, the smokehouse is almost ready, all that remains is to place it correctly and prepare it for smoking food. To do this, do the following:

1. Light a fire in the designated area. Cover it with bricks or use a grill.
2. Place the soaked wood chips in the pan, then a tray for the accumulation of fat, nets with food laid out on them.
3. Place a pan on top of the formed coals and use special stands.
4. You can build a small fire around the body to speed up cooking.
5. Wait until the food is completely ready, then carefully remove the smokehouse from the heat and remove the food.

During the cooking process, ensure that the food is evenly smoked and turn it over during cooking.