How to smoke cheese at home: a beginner's guide

If you're looking to expand your grilling and smoking skills, why not try cold smoking cheese? It's an easy and rewarding project that requires minimal equipment and is a fantastic addition to your pantry. Plus, smoked cheese makes a great gift for cheese lovers.

Why Smoke Cheese?

Cheese has been enjoyed by civilizations for thousands of years, and smoked cheese adds a unique and delicious flavor to this beloved dairy product. The process of smoking cheese may have been discovered by accident, as our ancestors sought ways to preserve food using wood smoke. Regardless of its origins, smoked cheese has become a sought-after delicacy in specialty markets and gourmet stores.

Getting Started

To smoke cheese, you'll need a grill or smoker with a lid. It can be any size, from a small Weber Smoky Joe to a large competition-worthy offset smoker. The purpose of the unit is not to generate heat, but to contain the smoke. If you live in a warmer climate, position your grill or smoker in the shade, if possible, and cool down the interior with a pan of ice or frozen water bottles.

Choosing the Cheese

While you can certainly use premium cheeses like artisanal mozzarella or imported gouda, even supermarket cheeses can be transformed into delicious smoked cheese. Avoid softer cheeses with a low melting point or those with a natural or wax rind, as the rind can impede the absorption of smoke. If desired, you can cut the cheese into smaller blocks or wedges to maximize surface area and exposure to smoke.

Methods of Smoking

There are several ways to generate smoke for cold smoking cheese:

• Charcoal and wood chips: Use a small amount of natural lump charcoal and add soaked wood chips for a light smoke flavor. Position the cheese on the grill grate away from the heat source, and replace the charcoal and chips as needed.
• Sawdust: Load a tin pie plate with sawdust and smolder it using an electric hot plate or a small kitchen torch. Make sure the sawdust doesn't burst into flame and replenish as necessary.
• Smoking pellets: Use a cold smoke generator like the A-MAZE-N Pellet Smoker or Tube Smoker, which will generate smoke for hours. Position the cheese on the grill grate away from the unit and arrange the pellets in a snake-like pattern for prolonged burn.
• Straw or hay: For a unique smoky flavor, try smoking cheese with straw or hay. This method is similar to the traditional Italian technique used for scamorza affumicata.
• Handheld smoker: Delicate fresh cheeses like ricotta can be smoked using a handheld smoker like the Smoking Gun.

Tips for Success

Here are some additional tips to ensure successful smoking of your cheese:

• Chill the cheese: Make sure the cheese is well-chilled before smoking. Freezing is not recommended, as it can affect the texture.
• Maximize surface area: Cut bricks or wheels of cheese into wedges to increase surface area and exposure to smoke.
• Experiment with wood flavors: Try different flavors of wood chips, sawdust, or pellets to discover your favorite combination. Start with milder woods like apple, cherry, or maple.
• Monitor the temperature: Keep the temperature in the smoke chamber below 90 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent the cheese from melting. Do not let the fuel burst into flame.
• Handle with care: Avoid handling the cheese immediately after smoking to preserve the beautiful straw-colored patina. Blot any excess oil with paper towels if necessary.
• Age the cheese: For best results, allow the smoked cheese to age for up to two weeks. This allows the smoke flavors to mellow out and penetrate the interior of the cheese.
• Storage: Wrap the smoked cheese in uncoated butcher paper, vacuum seal it, or tightly cover it in plastic wrap for short-term storage. Properly stored smoked cheese can last in the fridge for up to six months.

Enjoying Smoked Cheese

Smoked cheese can be used in a variety of dishes, such as salads, pasta dishes, burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, potatoes au gratin, or as a special treat on cheese platters. The possibilities are endless!

Now that you know how to smoke cheese at home, why not give it a try? It's a fun and rewarding project that will impress your friends and family. Share this article with other cheese lovers and start enjoying the deliciousness of smoked cheese!

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