Hey there, lemme tell ya ’bout this here brick smokehouse thing. See, I heard folks talkin’ ’bout smokin’ their own meats, and it got me thinkin’. My old man, bless his soul, he used to smoke his own bacon. Best darn bacon you ever did taste. Used an old metal drum, he did. But these brick smokehouses, they’re somethin’ else.
So, this brick smokehouse, it’s like a little house, made outta bricks. You know, them red things you build walls with. Keeps the heat in real good, they say. Better than that wood, I reckon. Wood burns, bricks don’t. My neighbor, he’s got one, built it himself. Big fella, takes up half his yard. But he smokes a whole hog in there!
Now, buildin’ one of these brick smokehouses ain’t for the faint of heart, I tell ya. Gotta get them bricks, and that cement stuff to hold ’em together. And you gotta know how to lay ’em straight. My old back wouldn’t be up to it, no sir. But if you’re handy like that, it’s a good thing to have. My cousin, she says they use these brick smokehouses to keep the meat good for a long time. Keeps the flies off, too.
They say you can smoke all kinds of things in a brick smokehouse. Not just meat, neither. Fish, too. My neighbor’s wife, she smokes cheese in theirs. Says it gives it a special flavor. I don’t know ’bout that, but I do like me some smoked cheese. It is really good. So, if you want a brick smokehouse, you can have some smoked cheese!
- You can smoke meats, like bacon and ham.
- Fish is good smoked, too, they say.
- Even cheese! Who knew?
- Bricks keep the heat in real good.
- Keeps the meat good for a long spell.
Now, I ain’t no expert on these brick smokehouses, mind you. Just hearin’ what folks say. But it sounds like a good way to keep your food, ‘specially if you got a lot of it. Back in the day, we didn’t have no refrigerators. Had to salt things, or smoke ’em, or can ’em. My mama, she was a cannin’ fool. Put up everything from peaches to tomatoes.
I seen some folks make ’em outta other things, too. Not just bricks. Some use them big rocks, like you find down by the creek. Others use logs. But I think the brick smokehouse is the best. Them bricks, they hold the heat, and they last a long time. My neighbor, he says his brick smokehouse will be around long after he’s gone. Hope he’s right. He is a good man. He always gives me some smoked meats.
You need a good fire, of course. Gotta have smoke to smoke the meat, right? My old man, he used to use hickory wood. Said it gave the best flavor. I remember that smell. Smoky and sweet. Filled up the whole yard. Made your mouth water, it did. These brick smokehouses, they got a little place for the fire, down at the bottom. And a place to hang the meat, up top. So the meat can get smoked evenly.
I don’t know all the ins and outs of it, like I said. But if you’re thinkin’ ’bout gettin’ yourself a brick smokehouse, I’d say go for it. Just make sure you know what you’re doin’. Or get someone who does. Wouldn’t want to waste all them bricks and all that meat. And be sure to get good wood. Don’t want no bad-tastin’ smoke on your food. Hickory, that’s the best, like I said.
If you want a brick smokehouse, you gotta get the right spot for it, too. Gotta be away from the house, ’cause of the smoke. And you need a good foundation, so it don’t tip over. My neighbor, his is on a concrete slab. Says it’s the only way to go. Keeps it steady, he says. And keeps the critters out. We got all kinds of critters around here. Possums, raccoons, you name it. They’d love to get their paws on some smoked meat. And you need your brick smokehouse to be big enough. Don’t want to crowd the meat.
So there ya have it. All I know ’bout brick smokehouses. It ain’t much, but it’s somethin’. Maybe it’ll give ya some ideas. If you do build one, be sure to invite me over for a taste test. I do love me some good smoked meat. Especially if it’s free! And if you got any questions, well, I might not know the answers, but I can always ask my neighbor. He’s the expert, not me! I just like to eat the food, not make it! This brick smokehouse will be good for smoked food. This is a good idea!
