Food smoking has been around since man started cooking on open fires, and it has survived the ages for various reasons. From practical food preservation to enhancing food’s unique flavor, smoking may quickly become your favorite cooking method.

Although other methods like roasting, baking, and grilling have gained much attention over the years, smoking food remains unbeatable and more popular than ever. Smoked meats, poultry, and seafood are known for their deep, luscious flavors enriched from the smoking process. Not only does smoking spice up any food, but it also acts as an effective preservative.

Despite the claims that smoked foods aren’t the healthiest meals, there are ways to prepare nutritious smoked recipes. For your guide, we’ve included some essential Bradley tips & tricks for healthy food smoking.

Avoid burning

Many people find charred meat to be delicious and tasty, but burnt food is not only unsightly but also considered unhealthy. In fact, several studies have shown that it may contain carcinogen compounds that could lead to cancer.

The good news is, you don’t have to worry about burning meat during smoking when you use an advanced food smoker like the Bradley Smoker. It is equipped with innovative features, is extremely versatile, and allows better control. There’s also no need to monitor this smoker constantly, thanks to its automatic smoke generator (some supervision still required).

Body-building protein source

Fish and meats are naturally rich in amino acids and protein to support muscle growth and recovery for athletes, bodybuilders, and fitness enthusiasts. Smoke these high-protein foods to make a great addition to your balanced diet.

Chicken recipe

Chicken is rich in essential nutrients, such as protein, phosphorus, and calcium, necessary for bone and muscle development. Add some smoked mushrooms and red peppers to your chicken thigh and gnocchi recipe, and your body and taste buds will thank you.

Dessert

Who says you can’t make a dessert from a food smoker? Try the smoked pumpkin bread pudding recipe using the Bradley Smoker, or spice it up a bit by adding your favorite ingredients to the mix. Pumpkin is particularly rich in Vitamin A, Lutein and is highly nutritious. It is also packed in other vitamins that may boost your immunity.

Energy-boosting foods

If you’re feeling sluggish, tired, or having difficulty concentrating, it’s probably because of your diet. What you eat can significantly impact your productivity and energy. Therefore, make sure to add energy-boosting foods, such as smoked salmon, avocado, and eggs to your diet to provide you with the power to work actively and efficiently throughout the day.

Fruits

Anything can go in your smoker, including fruits. We all know that fruits are an excellent source of minerals and vitamins. They are also high in fiber, low in sodium and cholesterol, and deliver a range of antioxidants to help you achieve better health.

Herbs and spices

There is no doubt that herbs and spices can make your smoked food more flavorful and improve your health. Herbs are plant leaves, while spices are often made from the berries, bark, roots, or seeds of a plant. Both can make your smoked food delicious, but they are also rich in nutritious compounds that boost your health.

Less fatty alternatives

Don’t limit yourself to fatty meat products when smoking food. You can always minimize your smoked recipes’ fat content by using less fatty alternatives, such as duck, lamb, and fish. If you’re desperate for beef, opt for the leanest cuts, like top sirloin, porterhouse steak, sirloin tip, and flat steak, among others.

Marinate the meat

Before placing the meat in the food smoker, marinate the meat using naturally acidic ingredients, like lime juice, lemon, or vinegar. This will tenderize the meat, making it easier for your body to digest protein. It’s also a great way to introduce extra moisture into your meat so it doesn’t become too dry and tough.

Plus, marinating can help prevent overcooking. You can always experiment with your marinade sauce by tossing the meat in tomato sauce, lemon, and other spices and seasonings.

Check out our entire catalogue of articles on brining and curing your meat here!:

What’s the Difference Between Pickling, Brining, Marinating, and Curing?

Curing and Smoking Meats for Home Food Preservation

Directions On Brining And Curing Your Meat For Food Smoking

Portion control

With the delicious flavor and enticing aroma of smoked food, it can be easy to be tempted to overeat. However, that’s not recommended if you’re aiming for healthy food smoking. It’s best to cut the meat servings into smaller pieces and put them on smaller plates. In addition to reducing your meat intake, making the serving sizes smaller also shortens the cooking time.

Vegetables

Although smoking fish, meat, and poultry is what most people use food smokers for, you can always smoke a range of vegetables, such as cabbage, asparagus, cauliflower, eggplant, cherry tomato, bell peppers, onion, and many more. The Bradley Smoker and Bradley Bisquettes will give your favorite veggies a rich aroma and mouth-watering flavor, making them more delightful to eat. For more great Bradley tips and tricks along with how to get the most of your Bradley Smoker, check out the awesome articles on our Bradley Smoker Food Smoking Blog.

Check out our smoked avocado recipe, which is one of the most treasured and favourite family appetizers.