An indoor smoker includes a smoking chamber positioned within a cabinet, a hopper positioned within the cabinet and being configured to receive combustible material to facilitate a smoking process, a smoke generating assembly positioned below the hopper along the vertical direction and being configured to for receive the combustible material and generate a flow of smoke that is directed into the smoking chamber, and a waste container positioned below the smoke generating assembly and being configured to receive and extinguish the combustible material. A volume ratio is defined as a waste container volume to a hopper volume and is between about 2:1 and 6:1.

In an exemplary embodiment, a system for measuring smoke absorption into food products includes a surrogate that reacts to a presence of smoke in air ambient to the surrogate and the food products, the surrogate including an open container of a liquid and a probe in the form of a toroidal conductivity sensor that measures electrical conductivity of the liquid; wherein the electrical conductivity of the liquid increases as smoke is absorbed by the liquid and simultaneously into the food products; and a control that receives a signal from the toroidal conductivity sensor and in response generates a signal and/or a display indicative of the electrical conductivity of the liquid that corresponds to a selected amount of smoke absorption by the food products exposed to the smoke.

In an exemplary embodiment, a system for measuring smoke absorption into food products includes a surrogate that reacts to a presence of smoke in air ambient to the surrogate and the food products, the surrogate including an open container of a liquid and a probe in the form of a toroidal conductivity sensor that measures electrical conductivity of the liquid; wherein the electrical conductivity of the liquid increases as smoke is absorbed by the liquid and simultaneously into the food products; and a control that receives a signal from the toroidal conductivity sensor and in response generates a signal and/or a display indicative of the electrical conductivity of the liquid that corresponds to a selected amount of smoke absorption by the food products exposed to the smoke.

An outdoor cooking station configured to simultaneously and independently cook food with separate cooking modes. The cooking station includes a main body defining separate first and second cooking portions fueled by separate fuel sources for cooking food in the separate modes. The first cooking portion includes gas-fueled first heating elements configured to heat a first cooking surface associated with the first cooking portion of the main body. The second cooking portion of the main body extends to define a chamber, the chamber being accessible with a door or hood pivotably coupled to the main body. The chamber includes an upper region and a lower region separated by an inner panel, the upper region including a second cooking surface suspended within the upper region. The lower region includes a second heating element sized and configured to electrically heat pellet elements to supply heat and smoke to the upper region.

An outdoor cooking station configured to simultaneously and independently cook food with separate cooking modes. The cooking station includes a main body defining separate first and second cooking portions fueled by separate fuel sources for cooking food in the separate modes. The first cooking portion includes gas-fueled first heating elements configured to heat a first cooking surface associated with the first cooking portion of the main body. The second cooking portion of the main body extends to define a chamber, the chamber being accessible with a door or hood pivotably coupled to the main body. The chamber includes an upper region and a lower region separated by an inner panel, the upper region including a second cooking surface suspended within the upper region. The lower region includes a second heating element sized and configured to electrically heat pellet elements to supply heat and smoke to the upper region.

The present disclosure provides a compact portable smoke infuser apparatus having a U-shaped airway for guiding a flow of smoke between a combustion chamber inlet and an outlet for a hose attachment. The airway is built into a detachable enclosure attached to a main housing body which can be removed for ease of cleaning. When attached, the enclosure rests in line with a fan and motor assembly that generates the airflow. The efficient design allows a low power motor rate which increase the battery life of the apparatus.

A barbecue smoker device for cooking food includes a container, a heat source disposed in the container, and a fuel chute coupled to the container. The fuel chute includes a door panel, a hinge mechanism, and a back panel coupled to the door panel. The fuel chute is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position the fuel chute receives a supply of fuel, and in the closed position the fuel chute directs the supply of fuel to a fuel basket.

A barbecue smoker device for cooking food includes a container, a heat source disposed in the container, and a fuel chute coupled to the container. The fuel chute includes a door panel, a hinge mechanism, and a back panel coupled to the door panel. The fuel chute is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position the fuel chute receives a supply of fuel, and in the closed position the fuel chute directs the supply of fuel to a fuel basket.

The present disclosure relates to a flavored jerky product and a method of preparing a flavored jerky product. The method comprises applying a curing agent to an external skin surface and/or an exposed muscle surface of a meat source, curing the meat source with the curing agent, and drying, cold smoking, and drying both the external skin surface and the meat source. The meat source is then chilled, the external skin surface is removed, and the meat source is sliced and/or segmented into a meat portion. The meat portion is marinated in a marinade solution, and then dried, cold smoked and dried to attain a water activity between about 0.7 and about 0.9 to produce the flavored jerky product.

The present disclosure relates to a flavored jerky product and a method of preparing a flavored jerky product. The method comprises applying a curing agent to an external skin surface and/or an exposed muscle surface of a meat source, curing the meat source with the curing agent, and drying, cold smoking, and drying both the external skin surface and the meat source. The meat source is then chilled, the external skin surface is removed, and the meat source is sliced and/or segmented into a meat portion. The meat portion is marinated in a marinade solution, and then dried, cold smoked and dried to attain a water activity between about 0.7 and about 0.9 to produce the flavored jerky product.