Smoking cheese, why use ice?

tke71709 · October 2009

So I see a lot of smoking cheese posts and many of them discuss the use of a tray full of ice.

Is the ice there simply to help keep the temps down or is there another reason for it?

Wondering as here in Canada we're not getting much above 40F for high temperatures at the moment so I don't see keeping the temp low to be all that difficult with an XL and an extremely limited number of briquettes.

So does the ice serve any purpose other than keeping the temp low?

BigDaddy - OCT · October 2009

Getting ready to try this also but it is my understanding that the ice is to keep the temp down. Even though your external temp is not very high you can still get too warm in the egg pretty quickly I would think.

I am planning on erring on the side of too cool that too hot.

BD

Scotty's Inferno · October 2009

The answer is yes, the ice is to keep temps down. But, I don't think it's necessary for the hard cheeses that I smoke (Cabot cheddars) and I'm in Tampa. I typically smoke the cheese for about 45 minutes and my dome temp doesnt even reach 100 degrees by then. If you use the coffee can method, put a cool plate setter in and start smoking immediately, your cheese stays firm. The link explains coffee can, cold smoke, jerky, etc. Reference to smoking cheese is at the very end. I think the fact that you have an xl and chilly weather makes it so simple. Have fun, Scott
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/coldsmoking/coldsmokejerky.htm

BobS · October 2009

I saw a post a year or so ago, where someone put an electric soldering iron (new with no lead on it) down into a can of wood chips and did a cold smoke that way.

It looked way easier than trying to maintain the temp low while actually burning lump.

As an aside, when I cold smoke salmon, I go over my grill with a MAPP torch before I cook on it, to be sure that it is "healthy".

Hoss · October 2009

It is!Firetruck posted it.

WAAAY SIMPLE and works PERFECTLY!

Panhandle Smoker · October 2009

Here is the post.
http://www.eggheadforum.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=638648&catid=1

Scotty's Inferno · October 2009

I like the mapp torch idea

Smoking cheese, why use ice?

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