Smoking Cheese

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Old Dave

Senior Cook
Joined
Mar 29, 2009
Messages
271
Location
Indiana
We were about to run out of this great treat so I decided to smoke up new batch before it got too warm outside which makes this smoke a little more difficult.

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These are some of the cheeses I prepped for this treat.

Swiss 2.4 lbs
Havarti 1.8 lbs
Sharp light Cheddar 2.5 lbs
Extra sharp Cheddar 1.0 lbs
Sharp Cheddar 4.0lbs
3 Alarm Colby Jack 3.4 lbs

The total was just over 15 pounds.

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This is what the cheese looked like after I got it all prepped for the cooker. I had 47 pieces which should last us a few more months.

I decided to do this smoke in my all Stainless Hasty-Bake Gourmet cooker although it can be done in about any smoker.

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I set my fire up as above with 6 ashed over Stubb’s brickettets and then I placed a few chunks of Vermont hickory on top of the coals. This should give me up to 120 minutes of smoke which is more than enough for this cook.

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I used three levels of grids in the cooker to get all the cheese on the cooker.

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Was a cool morning at about 43 degrees so this worked out fine for this cook. I must keep the cooker under 80 degrees measured at the cooking grids for this treat to work.

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I checked the cheese for smoke at the 60 minute mark and found that it need a little more time. Checked again at 90 minutes and it was perfect. This picture is just before I took the cheese off of the cooker.

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The cheese just off the cooker waiting to be vacuumed packed.

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The cheese after I vacuumed packed it. I will let it mellow for about two weeks in the fridge before we start using it. We did keep a couple of the blocks out and will eat them over the weekend. That 3 alarm Colby Jack smoked is “killer”.
 
Looks like some wonderful stuff. Where did you get the cute little rack with the feet on it? I could use a few of those.
 
Cooking Grids

Mr Bigwheel, I build those racks from cooling grids and carriage bolts, fender washers, lock washers, flat washers, and nuts. I have several for most of my cookers.

Dave
 
Looks like you did a fine job. Wished I had some cooling grids laying around. I been having some success using a grate off on an old grill in the big pit for more jerky handling. I have plenty of room in there just need some racks closer together. about decided to set it up on four beer cans or something.
 
Raised Grids

Ain't nothing wrong with beer cans!!! This is a setup for a 3 can pizza bake in a Weber kettle. Those first 3 cans went down so good that this actually ended up as a 5 can pizza bake. Just can't get too much support for that upper grid.

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Dave
 
Yep..might be prone to flip itself over with an imbalanced load. I dug 4 cans out the trash just a while ago. I found a grate out of an old NB Boss Hawg grill which is just the same size as the fancy slide out racks the drunk welder built for me. So I got the cans..and will have a fancy new rack shortly..if needed. Woops it might take six cans since the grill rack is 3' long and rectangular. I had best go buy some more beer to get more cans. Smart thinking on that.
 
Only problem I see with the 3 or 5 beer can rack, is I would need 15 to 18 more to go along with it......:partyman:
 
I have been meaning to get me a block of Provolone and smoke it, this is what I normally use for making pizzas. I think it has a better taste that mozzarella does.
 
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