Smoking Cheese - My first Attempt

[BBQ Engineer]

I have never smoked cheese, but this last weekend I had some free time and decided that I might give it a go. I bought something cheep to experiment with, and I happen to like smoked mozzarella anyway. I don’t have a smoke generator (I plan to build one…stay tuned for that) so I will be using the 2 to three briquette system and see how this goes.

Here is the victim…

I put this on a small rack to put in my smoker. I did this so the cheese wouldn’t be sitting on a greasy smoker rack.

It was about 35° degrees outside, and the smoker had set outside overnight, so it was cold too.

To make sure that the insulated cabinet didn’t hold heat, I filled the water pan with snow.

This is the smallest fire I have ever built…three briquettes and a small piece of cherry wood. I alternated small pieces of apple and cherry for the duration of the smoke. I had to refresh the briquettes several times.

Make no mistake…this small fire produced a good deal of smoke. I was impressed.

Here is the Mozz sitting in some thin blue…

This is the final smoked cheese…

I put the cheese in a food saver bag and vacuum sealed it for a week…This will let the cheese mellow and “absorb” the smoke throughout. I just cut some off and tried it…IT IS FANTASIC! I can’t believe that I have paid top dollar for smoked cheese when it is this easy to make at home. If you haven’t tried to smoke your own, I strongly suggest that you give it a go.

 

[Rivet]

I've wanted to try smoked cheese for a while now but can't get my hands and head around 3 briquettes. How did you start them?

 

[GOT14U]

I thought it was crazy how easy cheese was to smoke as well. Now you will be smokin the stuff for everyone and waiting patiently for it to meld. I'm not real sure on mozzarella but I know with cheddar I like to let it sit for about 3 weeks or so. I do put a heavy smoke on my cheese tho....On a side note I was starting to build a smoke generator this week my self. Plan on marketing these things as well...lol

 

[BBQ Engineer]

I've wanted to try smoked cheese for a while now but can't get my hands and head around 3 briquettes. How did you start them?

I dumped three briquettes into my charcoal chimney, put that on my turkey burner, and Let-R-Rip. It was super overkill, but worked like a champ...only a couple of minutes and they were nice and ashed over. I think next time maybe my propane or MAPP gas torch will do the trick.

 

[BBQ Engineer]

....On a side note I was starting to build a smoke generator this week my self. Plan on marketing these things as well...lol

Hey Jerod,

I saved this link a while back, as I thought it had some good ideas. It is how to put together a cold smoke generator...I think the guy posted this on the SMF as well. It may be of benefit to you too.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Homebrew-Cold-Smoke-Generator/

I think I will just go for regular old threaded iron pipe, but you never know. I may want to pretty it up a bit. I plan to have it connect to my small cabinet via one of the front air intake gate valves (which are threaded)...it will just sit out there in front and pump away.

 

[GOT14U]

that's a pretty good tutorial. I have been thinking of making mine out of square tubing. then just tap a pipe through the side and make some ends for it with the bottom of course have a air pump in let.

Hey Jerod,



http://www.instructables.com/id/Homebrew-Cold-Smoke-Generator/

I think I will just go for regular old threaded iron pipe, but you never know. I may want to pretty it up a bit. I plan to have it connect to my small cabinet via one of the front air intake gate valves (which are threaded)...it will just sit out there in front and pump away.

 

[Beer-B-Q]

That looks great Dana, I am going to try some this weekend...

 

[Fire it up]

I have really got to do more Mozz, last time I only did one block and it didn't last long at all.
So good added inside a lasagna!
My Brother wants me to smoke some polly-o string cheese then bread it and make smoked mozzarella stick, bet they would be good.