How to Build a Smoker
Smoking is a cooking process that is often used to slow cook fish and meats and to infuse the foods with flavors from wood smoke, while allowing the food to retain as much moisture as possible. Many people choose to build their own smokers with easily obtained materials.
- Find a suitable starting material for your smoker. Many people choose to start with metal trash cans or barrels, but a refrigerator is an excellent and cost-effective starting point for a homemade smoker.
- Drill a hole in the bottom of the refrigerator. The hole should be 1 to 2 inches in diameter, as you will need to pass the electrical cord for your hot plate through it. Switch to a smaller drill or metal cutting bit to drill four to six holes in the sides of the refrigerator. The holes are for ventilation purposes and should be evenly spaced from the bottom to the top of the refrigerator's sides.
- Use the existing shelves in the refrigerator as grill racks or cooking surfaces. You may need to purchase new metal shelves if the current ones are made from a flammable or otherwise hazardous material.
- Place a hot plate at the bottom of the refrigerator and insert its electrical cord through the hole from step two.
- Position a metal pan filled with moist wood chips of your choice on top of the hot plate. Turn the hot plate on.
- Use a thermometer to measure the smoker's internal temperature by inserting it through one of the ventilation holes.