Many people smoke their own food in smokehouses either for preservation or taste enhancement. Many smokehouses use a small fire to make smoke and this process will raise the temperature in a smokehouse. Some foods such as bacon, fish or cheese should be smoked at ambient temperatures. A smoke generator is used in these instances because it generates smoke without raising the temperature in the smokehouse. Anyone can make a smoke generator using a few products purchased at a home store.
Choose a 55-ounce tin can. Open the can with a can opener and empty the contents into a plastic container. Cover the container and refrigerate until used.
Remove the exterior paper from the can. Clean the can in warm, soapy water to remove any leftover interior contents and any remaining pieces of exterior paper. Allow the can to dry.
Place the can on the bottom floor of the smokehouse. Put the soldering iron in the can so the heating element is in the bottom.
Soak hardwood chips in water for approximately one hour. Apple, hickory or cherry wood chips are often used. Fill the can with the soaked hardwood chips so the heating element of the soldering iron is completely surrounded.
Plug the soldering iron into an extension cord. Turn on the soldering iron. Smoke will flow from the can within five minutes and will usually continue for approximately one hour. Refill the can every hour until the desired amount of smoking is complete.
- Fat bacon image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com