Use smoke and heat to flavor, dry, and preserve meats, fish, and cheeses.
Cure meat with salt (and sometimes sugar) for the time specified in your recipe.
Air-dry the surface to form a pellicle — a tacky layer that absorbs smoke.
Cold smoke at 68–86°F for flavor, or hot smoke at 165°F+ to cook.
Monitor internal temperature with a food thermometer for hot-smoked items.
Cool quickly and refrigerate or freeze promptly after smoking.
Refrigerated smoked fish: 2 weeks; cured smoked meats vary by recipe