However fattier fish will absorb more smoke flavor so fish such as salmon and trout are perfect for smoking.
Wood for smoking fish nz.
Almost any kind of wood will work but you might wish to use woods like alder or fruit woods.
Cedar wood chips are one of the best wood chips for smoking fish especially fatty salmon.
Alder has a light flavor that works well with fish and poultry.
Cooking salmon on soaked cedar planks allows the salmon fillets to absorb some of the flavors of cedar directly from the salmon planks.
One of the best woods for smoking salmon and other seafood is alder.
Orchard trees or nuts are fine.
An alternative for salmon is maple wood.
Smoking wood plays a role in the flavor and the color of the meat.
Indigenous to the northwestern united states it is the traditional wood for smoking salmon.
Generally you re ok with trees you eat fruit or nuts from.
Some woods aren t suitable for smoking and could be harmful eg pine fir spruce redwood cedar cypress elm eucalyptus sassafras sycamore liquid amber and redwood.
Almond give a nutty sweet flavor that is good with all meats.
So with knowhow and a bit of work you can have a luxury food treat at a fairly affordable price.
In general mild woods are good for fish and poultry medium fruit woods are best for poultry or pork and strong woods hold up against dark red meat flavors.
You can use whole fish or parts but fillets with the skin still on are better than other cuts.
Cedar wood chips are not the same as cooking salmon fillets on specially prepared cedar planks.
Put a layer of manuka wood chips in a metal tray and place it over a single burner.
Maple burns hot and quick which is good for smoking fish as they tend to smoke for shorter times.
Once the chips start to produce some smoke put the fish in the barbecue turn the heat to low so the chips don t catch fire and close the lid.
It also forms a bark or crust on the meat.
Use a fish smoker or set up a gas barbecue for hot smoking as follows.
The wood often comes as wood chunks wood chips or pellets wood chunks allow a steady slow release of smoke while wood chips and pellets are quicker to smoke.
