Smoking is a time-honored method for cooking barbecue, and it’s one that we use at Border Brewery & Barbecue. Getting the flavors just right is the key to great barbecue, and nothing does that quite like smoking. However, it’s tricky to get it just right, which is why we’ve taken the time to perfect our method. If you’ve never cooked anything with smoke before, the process can seem rather mystifying. The team at your favorite Salem, NH, restaurant is here to demystify smoking barbecue.
Join your favorite Salem, NH, restaurant as we explain how we cook delicious barbecue with smoke.
Low Heat
Smoking involves cooking meat at low temperatures, typically between 200-275°F. This low and slow cooking method allows the meat to cook gently over a longer period. Slow cooking the meat allows the fat and connective tissue to break down, making even the toughest cuts perfectly tender.
Smoky Flavor
Burning or smoldering wood produces smoke that permeates the meat over time. The smoke contains flavorful compounds from the wood, such as phenols and lignin, which impart a distinctive smoky taste to the meat. Different types of wood give the meat different flavors, and every seasoned barbecue chef has their own preferred wood, depending on what they are cooking.
Take Your Time
Smoking is a slow process, often taking several hours or even longer, depending on the type and size of the meat. During this time, the smoke penetrates the meat, enhancing its flavor and contributing to the cooking process. Smoking barbecue is a cooking method that takes patience, but it is well worth the wait.
It’s Chemistry
The smoke not only flavors the meat but also helps in the cooking process through chemical reactions. The smoke can create a smoke ring—a pinkish layer beneath the surface of the meat—due to the interaction of nitrogen dioxide with the meat’s myoglobin. At its core, all cooking is chemistry, and great cooking is perfecting the chemical reactions.
Enjoy Tasty, Smoky Barbecue at Our Salem, NH, Restaurant
If you’re looking for great smoked barbecue in Salem, NH, you need to visit Border Brewery & Barbecue. We’ve taken the time to perfect our method, and the proof is in the tasting! Visit us at 224 North Broadway to find out for yourself.
