Cold Smoking Ribeyes for the First Time

Started by Caribou, September 24, 2009, 04:12:51 PM

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Caribou

Hi Y'all,
I've got company coming over on Saturday night and wanted to try to cold smoke some rib eyes for the first time.
Here's my plan:
Cold smoke the steaks with 3 pucks of smoke that morning and then return them to the fridge to grill that night.
I do not know exactly when my guests are arriving so I thought this would be the best route to go.
It will be mid 40's to low 50's in the morning, do I need to add ice to the bowl?
Also, I'd love to hear any puck recommendations, too.
Thanks!
Carolyn

FLBentRider

For three pucks I would think you would be OK without ice.

It is still in the 80's here for a low.
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Hopefull Romantic

At that temp Carolyn, I don't think you need the ice if you smoke them early enough.

If I were WTS, I would say mesquite, but since I am not I would recommend mesquite.

HR
I am not as "think" as you "drunk" I am.

Wildcat

As the others stated - you should be fine. IMHO I think it would be better to do the day before, smoke while meat is as cold as you can get it without it freezing, then wrap it saran and into the fridge. The ice surely will not hurt anything.
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OU812

I cold smoke the night b4, just take from the fridge and straight into the smoker with 1 hr pecan and a big pan of ice just to be sure, then pull out and wrap tightly in plastic and in the fridge to cool down as fast as possible. The main thing is not to get your smoker above 80 F

When I buy Ribeyes or New York's I'll buy the whole slab and slice into steak's then smoke them all at the same time and vacuum seal each one for a later date. Works great.

squirtthecat


Do you guys use the water pans when cold smoking meat like this? 

FLBentRider

I've used pecan on steaks. We loved it.

I put ice in the water bowl, but then I am always fighting the high end of the temps.
Click on the Ribs for Our Time tested and Proven Recipes!

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Hopefull Romantic

I always use the water pan in all cold and hot smokes.

HR
I am not as "think" as you "drunk" I am.

OU812

Quote from: squirtthecat on September 24, 2009, 04:27:06 PM

Do you guys use the water pans when cold smoking meat like this? 

Yes, I try to never let it go dry no matter what i do

westexasmoker

Yep water in the pan here also...And as HR pointed out.....Use Mesquite!!   ;D

C
Its amazing what one can accomplish when one doesn't know what one can't do!

squirtthecat


Thanks for the clarification, guys...   

Carolyn - sorry to step into your thread!  I'm still in the learning stages..

ArnieM

I haven't cold smoked meat yet.  I did my cheese 7 days ago - I'm dying.  I used ice in the water bowl.  I don't really know if it did any good or not but it probably didn't hurt.  

I'd guess that, as others have said, smoke the meat as cold as possible and then get it into the fridge.  You don't want any of those nasty little critters in there.  I might even put it in the freezer for 30-45 minutes to really cool it down and then go to the fridge.

It sounds good.  Come back with some pics.
-- Arnie

Where there's smoke, there's food.

classicrockgriller

That does sound good. Another thing to do on my to do list:

#58 Cold smoke ribeyes (maybe, after Carolyn post pics)

Up In Smoke

Carolyn,
i like three pucks of apple then wrap till grill time.
at your temps i would start early and not worry about any ice.
you are gonna love them no matter what wood you use.
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Caribou

WOW! Thanks for the great info everyone!
I posted this on the forum and had to leave for our daughter's open house at her school.right away, so I'm sorry I didn't get to respond sooner. :)

Now I really can't wait to do this and I will post pics for sure!

I have never cold smoked anything before so this will be fun.  They're beautiful steaks and this will make them extra special. :)
Carolyn