| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for smoking foods. An enclosure is presented which is characterized by an absence of any ventilating means. The enclosure is substantially air tight. Hickory or other exotic wood blocks or chips are used as the source of smoke and an electric heating element raises the temperature in the enclosure to approximately 200 DEG -300 DEG F. This activates the wood and produces the desired smoke. The increase in temperature also produces an increase in pressure within the enclosure which in turn causes a pressure differential between the inside and the outside of any food being processed. This forces smoke and wood resins to permeate the meat and enhance the food with the desired smoke flavor. The enclosure in which the food is smoked is also of unique design in that the back wall is presented in three planes so as to avoid forming any right angles with any other sidewalls. Two panels of the back wall extend at an obtuse angle to the third central panel and to the adjacent sidewalls. Also, the food supporting shelves are spaced from the sidewalls a short distance. This provides for maximum circulation of heat and smoke and the absence of 90 DEG angles helps prevent "hot spots" from forming. All of the food supporting structure may be easily removed to facilitate cleaning. To this end, the absence of 90 DEG corners is of substantial benefit in preventing excessive build up of grease, etc. and also makes it easier to remove any foreign matter which does accumulate.
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