by Ruralidle » Wed May 05, 2010 7:01 pm
I have just completed two burns in the CSG using Apple wood dust. Both times there was little left by way of ash and the whole charge had been used, giving between 9 1/2 and 10 hours of smoking per charge. This is the first time that anything other than the straight forward oak dust has burned through completely, without having to be relit.
What I did prior to filling the CSG was to spread the dust onto some foil in a thin layer and left that in the plate warming of my Aga for 7 to 8 hours (this oven runs at approximately 75°C to 80°C). As this seems to have been so successful, I will repeat the process with other types of dust to see if it is a universal solution to the problems I have been experiencing, but I don't have anything else to smoke at the moment.
The main thing now is to wait a day or two more before slicing the bacon to see how it tastes! I also put some Mull of Kintyre Cheddar cheese into the smoker and that should be ready to eat by the weekend. I have been pleased with the results of smoking bacon and fish so I am really looking forward to proper Apple wood smoked Cheddar rather than the shop bought stuff that seems to have had smoked flavour painted onto it.