Food safety has always been a major concern and a public health priority. Unfortunately, microorganisms can easily thrive in foods where there are favorable conditions and sufficient nutrients. Mold, yeast, and bacteria also find meat and poultry an ideal substrate for growth, which results in decreasing meat safety and quality deterioration.
These facts may sound scary and overwhelming. However, if you are equipped with the right appliance and know how to cook your food at the right temperature, you don’t have to worry about eating food with potentially dangerous microbes.
How Food Smoking Kills Bacteria
Food smoking can indeed kill bacteria. This is possible through the following two factors:
- Antimicrobial properties – Due to the antimicrobial effect of chemical compounds from the smoke, food smoking can effectively kill bacteria.
- Heat – Heat during smoking will also kill bacteria, depending on the temperature used and time. Most microbial cells are likely to die at a temperature above 149 degrees Fahrenheit (65°C) and break the structure of germs making them unable to function.
Keep in mind that not all types of food cook within the same temperature range. Most beef smokes well at about 225 to 240 degrees Fahrenheit (107°C – 116°C) and takes longer to cook than fish and seafood that cook at around 200 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit (93°C – 107°C) and at a shorter period of 20 minutes to an hour.
By using a digital food smoker, like the Bradley Smoker, you can control the smoke and cooking time while applying the right temperature, whether you’re cooking beef, poultry, pork, lamb, or seafood. This will effectively eliminate bacteria and other microorganisms. This means that using a food smoker not only adds an appealing flavor to your food but also ensures that it is free from bacteria.
Benefits of Using a Food Smoker
Food smoking is actually not a modern innovation. Smoking fish and meat has been around since indigenous cultures discovered it would keep their food safe from bugs. It has since been used in many countries worldwide in various ways until modern cooking technology brought us feature-rich food smokers. However, the benefit of smoking food using a food smoker goes beyond just keeping your favorite meals free from bacteria and potentially dangerous microbes.
Read on to learn the different ways to maximize this innovative equipment. We’ve also shared some Bradley tips & tricks on how to take full advantage of Bradley Smoker.
Enhanced food flavor
Smoking enhances the flavor and smell of food, which makes it more appetizing and satisfying. However, you can not achieve perfectly smoked meat without a consistent temperature in the smoker. You must also use the correct size and density of wood chips to ensure the right amount of smoke.
The secret to the delicious smoked taste is the Bradley Bisquettes. They are uniquely designed to be uniform in density and size and come in a range of delightful flavors, including cherry, alder, apple, oak, hickory, pecan, and more.
You can always experiment with the different flavors until you find what’s suitable for your tastebuds. They will automatically extinguish to eliminate resins and tar that could distort your smoked food’s flavor.
Smoking food made easy and hassle-free
Unlike other smokers these days that must be tended constantly to deliver the desired outcome, the Bradley Smoker will save you time and effort by offering more control and versatility. All you have to do is to input the right setting and set the time and temperature.
For instance, if you want to cook baby back ribs, set the timer to five hours and cook it at a temperature range between 225 and 240 degrees Fahrenheit (107°C and 116°C). Then, you are free to participate in other things while waiting for the food to be ready, just checking it every couple of hours. It also produces clean smoke for up to eight hours without the need for refilling the wood.
User-friendly
Many first-time users may feel intimidated using a food smoker due to complicated controls and settings. The case is different with the Bradley Smoker. It takes smoking food to a whole new level with its user-friendly specialized technology.
It is thermostatically controlled, electrically powered, and produces smoke using Bradley Bisquettes. The interior stainless steel provides insulation making it more efficient for heat retention, even during very cold or hot days.
With four removable racks, you have better accessibility. It is also spacious enough to cook for a large group of people. These features and more make the smoker an ideal appliance for anyone who does not have the patience, time, or space to smoke food using the old-fashioned way. For more great ideas on how to get the most of your Bradley Smoker, check out the awesome articles on our Bradley Smoker Food Smoking Blog for more tips & tricks.
