• working on DNS.. links may break temporarily.

smoking fish

K

kpq

Knows what a fatty is.
Joined
Mar 21, 2013
Messages
108
Reaction score
48
Points
0
Location
Lawrenceville pa
I've had a number of people ask me to smoke some for them. but will it make smoker smell like fish when i'm done? or would i have to reseason my smoker to get fishy smell out of it?
 
kpq said:
I've had a number of people ask me to smoke some for them. but will it make smoker smell like fish when i'm done? or would i have to reseason my smoker to get fishy smell out of it?
Click to expand...

I have the exact same concern! My wife is a fish and poultry only type (more pig for me!), and she keeps asking me to do the same. I've been avoiding it for the fear of never getting that smell/flavor out. Please advise!
 
I have smoked a lot of fish in my electric Cookshack smoker and never had a problem with an aftertaste or smell.
 
I smoked bluefish and stripers in a smoker about 10 years ago. Even with a powerwash, I could not remove the strong smell of fish, and when I fired it up, the smell intensified.

I had to buy another smoker for meat and use that smoker only for fish.

Oil from the fish will leave a strong odor in your cooker.
Will it affect other things you cook? I don't know and did not want to find out, but the smell was terrible.

I would suggest to get a cheap smoker to use for fish only. When you smoke fish it is not usually in large quantities so a small smoker like a "Big Chief" or something similar would work fine as a cold smoker or as a hot smoker.

Maybe it has to do with the type of fish you smoke.
 
I've not had a problem with fish in any of my smokers.
 
Smoke salmon all the time in one of mine, also meat loaf, chicken, turkey. Never a problem with any after fish.
 
IamMadMan said:
Maybe it has to do with the type of fish you smoke.
Click to expand...

Down here at exit 36 I smoke bluefish and striper quite often. After a quick burn with my weed burner, the cooking grate has no smell at all....and there isn't any in my drum. Maybe you're cooking the fish too hot thereby having the oils splatter all over? Just a thought...
 
daninnewjersey said:
Down here at exit 36 I smoke bluefish and striper quite often. After a quick burn with my weed burner, the cooking grate has no smell at all....and there isn't any in my drum. Maybe you're cooking the fish too hot thereby having the oils splatter all over? Just a thought...
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll try the weed burner...
 
After smoking Salmon...I will get a little residual smell from my smoker...never noticed any flavor carry over...and by the next cook smell is gone.
 
I smoke salmon about twice per month and grill about once per week and the only time I've ever noticed a smell is when I haven't scraped the grates. After the pits heat up, I've never noticed anything, and more importantly, my wife has never noticed anything.
 
Any oily fish like bluefish is gonna leave a smell whether fresh or not. Think that's bad, try mullet.
 
I have smoked and grilled fish in drums, Eggs and Little & Big Chiefs without any residual odors or flavors from the next cook. I will allow the fire to burn after I'm through with a load of fish, and I toss on a couple more splits (or a partial pan in my Chiefs) just in case.

All that said, I have heard a lot of folks claim WSM's will pick-up a fishy flavor.
 
ITS SIMPLE ....fish should be fried ....lol I bet I get some :shock: looks from that but I'm from the south so...
 
NeilH said:
Any oily fish like bluefish is gonna leave a smell whether fresh or not. Think that's bad, try mullet.
Click to expand...

Popeye mullet is the main fish we smoke down here in MS, but it never makes the smoker carry smells or flavors to other foods. I guess if you smoked a lot it could build up though.
 
I smoke eel, mackerel, salmon, pork shoulders, sausages, hams, legs of lamb, brisket, turkey, beef jerkey etc... with no problems..

all in the same smoker -

just make sure you clean the water/drip pan every time after/before a smoking session..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
Dirty smoke smell?
Replies
4
Views
409
Fishwater2002
F
T
Magnolia for smoking?
Replies
4
Views
354
Ron_L
Ron_L
V
Kingsford Cumin Chili Briquettes w/Mesquite II
Replies
4
Views
1K
Newglide
N
F
UDS smoking
Replies
4
Views
453
thirdeye
thirdeye
J
Electric smoker dying
Replies
16
Views
613
JIMSMOKES
J
Back
Top