The first thing that comes to mind when we hear the word “hackberry” is the image of a tree in the middle of no where with only pidgeons and squirrels for neighbors. Well, this is an outdated notion.
These days, there are several places where you can find a hackberry tree if you look hard enough. The common name of this plant comes from its presence near farms and orchards, but now they grow in different parts of the country too. For instance, they can be found in Florida and also California.
If you’re wondering whether hacking is good for smoking meat then read on because we’ll answer that question as well as many others that often come up when beginners ask about it.
What is Hack Smoking?
When people refer to “smoking” meat they usually mean that they want to dry the meat via a process called “dry-curing”. This involves hanging the meat in a low humidity environment in order to draw the moisture out of the meat and make it tougher.
Dry-cured meat is perfect for storage and long-term preservation. To do this, the meat is soaked in a salt brine or rub (or both) for 2 to 3 days. The level of salt used depends on the cut of meat being processed. After the soaking period is complete, the meat is usually taken out of the brine, rinsed and hung to dry.
The drying time can be anywhere from 4 to 45 days depending on the size of the cut of meat. Once it’s completely dried out, the meat can be smoked once again to add a flavoring such as Hickory, Apple or Pecan.
How to Smoke Meat Using Hack Smoking
If you’re looking for a different way of smoking meat, then you’ve come to the right place. We’re not talking about BBQ or grilled meat here, but we are talking about a raw meat that has been “smoked” via the use of a “smoker”.
The meat is often soaked in a brine or rub containing sodium nitrate and other ingredients to give it a hearty flavor. The brine can be applied directly to the meat or it can be mixed into a marinade. Once the meat is ready to go, it is placed in a box or tray and put into a smoker.
The smoker is usually a water smoker, however you can use an electric smoker too. Once the meat is in the smoker, it is smoked for anywhere from 12 to 36 hours or until it reaches the desired tenderness.
Advantages of Hack Smoking Meat
There are many advantages of using a hack smoking method when it comes to smoking meat. First of all, if you’re looking to preserve your meat, then this is the way to go. You can store your meat for months or years, depending on the type of recipe you’re preparing and if you’ve kept it in a cool, dry place.
Another advantage of hack smoking meat is the cost, especially for small-scale farmers and backyard farmers. Since you can smoke meat on your own and you don’t need a huge smoker or smoker box, you can do it on a much smaller scale. The only investment you need to make is a smoker or a smoker box, which can be bought at a reasonable price. With a method like this, you don’t need to be in a certain place at a certain time to smoke meat. You can easily smoke it whenever you want and wherever you want.
Disadvantages of Hack Smoking Meat
While there are many advantages to using a hack smoking method, there are a few disadvantages too. One of the disadvantages of hacking is that you need to be extra careful when applying the salt rub to the meat, especially for tougher cuts.
If you don’t apply the rub properly, the meat is likely to end up too salty, which is definitely not what you want to happen. Just like with any other cooking method, there is a possibility of getting an excess of smoke in your meat. This might not be a big deal for some cuts of meat, but for tougher cuts it can be a huge problem.
Final Words
Now that you know what hack smoking is, we hope that you’ve gained some new insights as well as some new ideas. The next time you want to smoke meat, try using the hack smoking method and we’re sure you will love it!
We hope that you’ve found this article useful and we hope that it serves as a great introduction to the world of smoking meat. If you’ve never smoked meat before, you’re in for a treat.
Smoking meat is an art, and it takes practice to get it right. You need to find a good recipe and get the right equipment to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. To help with this, we’ve collated all the information you need in one place.