Apple Wood Smoked Chicken And Diy Stovetop Smoker Food

APPLEWOOD-SMOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make the brine: Whisk 2 cups water, the apple cider, vinegar, brown sugar, salt and honey in a medium saucepan until the sugar and salt dissolve. Add the bay leaves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a large glass bowl or other heatproof container and refrigerate until cooled, 1 to 2 hours.
• Add the chicken to the brine, making sure it is completely submerged. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Preheat a grill to medium low and prepare for indirect cooking: On a gas grill, preheat the grill, then turn off half the burners. On a charcoal grill, light the coals, then bank to one side; put a disposable aluminum drip pan under the grates on the unlit side of the grill. Meanwhile, soak the applewood chips in water, 30 minutes; drain.
• Remove the chicken from the brine and rinse with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels and generously sprinkle all over with the dry rub.
• When the grill registers 275˚ F, add the wood chips: On a gas grill, fill a smoker box with the chips and use according to the manufacturer's instructions; on a charcoal grill, sprinkle the chips over the coals. Place the chicken breast-side down on the cooler side of the grill. Cover the grill and smoke the chicken until the meat is no longer pink around the bone and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thighs registers 175˚ F, about 2 hours (if using charcoal, adjust the air vents and add more coals as needed so the temperature stays around 275˚ F).
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest at least 15 minutes before carving.
• Photograph Ralph Smith

APPLE WOOD SMOKED CHICKEN AND DIY STOVETOP SMOKER

Steps:

• 1. Place one cooling rack in the bottom of the pot. Sprinkle a layer of wood chips, (approximately 1/4 cup) to lightly cover the bottom surface.
• 2. You may also add herbs if desired, use those with a hard stem, such as rosemary or thyme.
• 3. Place the pie pan over the rack, then position the remaining rack on top of the pan.
• 4. Now add the food you will be smoking on top of the rack and cover with the lid. Place the pot on the stove over medium high heat. Within a minute the wood chips will start to smoke (lift the lid just slightly to check), then turn the heat down to medium low, and smoke for 3-8 minutes, depending on the amount of food you are smoking and the type of food.
• 5. Remove the food from the smoker and finish on the grill or in the oven. Here I smoked a chicken using applewood chips and rosemary for about 6 minutes. After removing from the smoker I coated the chicken with softened garlic butter, and seasoned generously with salt and pepper.
• 6. Here is the 5 lb. chicken after roasting at 400 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Applewood smoked chicken with garlic and rosemary!

APPLEWOOD SMOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a medium size bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Rub the seasoning over the both halves of the chicken. Cover the chicken with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Place wood chips in the smoking tray of the grill. If you don't have this option you can make a packet out of aluminum foil and punch a few holes in the top of it with a fork and place directly on the hot coals.
• Place the chicken on a hot grill over medium-heat with the meat side down. Grill over the wood chips for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Cover, this will keep in the smoke and to prevent oxygen from igniting the smoking wood. After 30 minutes turn the chicken to its opposite side. The juices near the bone should run clear.

STOVE TOP SMOKER HICKORY SMOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Rinse chicken and pat dry.
• Rub chicken with a cut garlic clove all over and season with salt & pepper.
• Place rack in smoker and form an aluminum foil tent over the chicken.
• Using hickory wood chips, smoke on medium heat for 25 minutes per pound.
• Remove foil and brush lightly with BBQ sauce and place in a preheated 425º oven for 20 minutes.
• Serve with BBQ sauce on the side.

STOVE TOP SMOKER WHOLE SMOKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Trim any excess skin from the neck end of the chicken and pull out the giblets and any pockets of fat from the cavity.
• First brine your birds. Put the chicken(s) in a stockpot or Dutch oven. Pour in cold water, one quart at a time until the item is completely covered. Lift out the bird and stir in 3 tablespoons sea or kosher salt for every quart of water you have added. Return the chicken to the brine. Set the container of chicken and brine in the refrigerator. Brine for 1 1/2 hours per pound (minimum of 3 hours). Dry the chicken, and rub some freshly ground black pepper inside, also add some whole cloves of garlic and a few lemon wedges to the cavity.
• Start the chicken(s) breast side up on the smoker rack with the smoker on the stove top. Use 2 1/2 tablespoons cherry or oak wood chips OR 1 1/2 tablespoons hickory wood chips. Instead of the smoker cover, tent the smoker with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Smoke 40 minutes over medium heat.
• After the chicken(s) have been smoking 30 minutes, set the oven rack in the center position and preheat the oven to 425ºF. When the chickens are done smoking, remove the aluminum foil and roast the chicken in the oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh near the hip joint registers 170ºF, 30-60 minutes, depending on the size and quantity of the chicken(s).
• After they have rested for 5-10 minutes, serve hot or at room temperature. Leftover smoked chicken is delicious in chicken salad, casseroles, and sandwiches.

STOVE TOP SMOKER SMOKED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• The richer flavor of chicken thighs benefit from more flavorful woods like hickory, corn cob or mesquite. Use about 2 tablespoons of any of the above per batch.
• Trim off all the skin and cut away excess fat from the thighs before seasoning them. Or, leave the skin on and crisp the skin in a hot pan after smoking, about 3 minutes.
• Season each thigh with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Smoke over medium heat until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh near the bone registers 170ºF, 25 to 30 minutes after closing the smoker lid. Check for doneness with the thermometer about 15 minutes into the cooking time.
• Serve right out of the smoker with salsa and your favorite coleslaw or use in another recipe.
• Note: Six chicken thighs will yield about 3 cups shredded cooked meat.

STOVE TOP SMOKER BONELESS CHICKEN BREASTS (WITH OR WITHOUT SKIN)

Steps:

• Trim any fat from the breasts before seasoning them. If you're leaving the skin on in preparation for serving the crispy-skinned version, trim any overhanging skin and smooth the skin into an even layer over the chicken. If not, remove the skin before smoking the chicken.
• Boneless chicken breasts absorb a lot of flavor and watch well with a wide variety of wood. Use less of the more assertive wood like hickory or mesquite, or more of the milder wood chips like alder or cherry. Use 1 1/2 Tblsp hickory or mesquite OR 2 to 2 1/2 Tblsp alder or cherry wood chips.
• Season the chicken breasts with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and a scant 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper each, adjusting that amount to your taste. Or rub a generous amount of your
• favorite rub into both sides of the chicken.
• Close the smoker lid and smoke the chicken breasts until an instant read thermometer registers 170ºF, 18-22 minutes for 6-oz/3/4-inch thick breasts, 22-25 minutes for 7-oz/1-inch thick breasts; 25-30 minutes for 8-oz, 1 1/4-inch thick breasts. Check for doneness with the instant read thermometer about 4 minutes before the end of the time.
• outlined above.
• For crispy-skinned chicken breasts, choose a nonstick pan large enough to hold the number of breasts you are serving. Heat it over medium-high heat a few minutes before the chicken breasts are done smoking. Lift the chicken with tongs from the smoker and lay them skin.
• side down in the pan. Cook until the skin is crispy and deep golden brown, about 3 minutes.
• Serve immediately.
• Note: Four 7-oz chicken breasts will yield about 3 cups shredded chicken meat.