We had a frost last night so I picked all my jalepenos and decided to smoke and dry them to turn them into chipotles (pic related). I've been applying smoke for 3 hours at @ 140F. There was a lot of conflicting advice on the internet with advice to smoke ranging from 3 hours to 12 hours.
Anyone done this kind of thing before and can advise?
Where are my smoker's? Help me, I beg of you. Iow, a shameless bump.
Not a smoker but interested
Whats your goal taste wise with this?
Will the heat be smoother?
Chipotle peppers are spicy and smokey, yet slightly sweet. Their heat is a bit smoother but still just as hot as a regular jalapeño. I like to use them in my slowcooker pulled pork because the chipotles impart a natural smokey flavor that helps make up for a lack of smoking in that recipe.
OP here, and what this guy said is pretty much it. I use them in most of my chilis, braised taco, burrito and enchilada meats and have added them to a pico de gallo to get a smoky flavor. I use a lot of them through the course of a year so that's why I decided to try my hand at a batch.
I smoked my dried thai chiles twice now, once at the end of summer when I harvest them all. They keep a nice smoky flavor even if they only get an hour or so in the smoker. I've made ristras and flakes and both are excellent additions to soups, brines, and chilis.
I can't imagine how much time you'd need for whole fresh peppers though. Are you storing them dry?
I prefer to smoke them for 2-3 hours then dry them in a dehydrator. They will get crunchy and lose flavor if you let them stay the full 12 hours in the smoker.
My pepper plants are all under polytunnels. It's spitting snow here and there tonight. I just dehydrate my peppers. I've been contemplating making a smoker.
do those prolong the growing season much?
This seems like a good thread to ask since it's in a similar vein: How would I go about drying and preserving herbs?
I have a shit-ton of Basil but I don't know if it's as easy as drying in an oven or if I need to chop them up first or something.
Yes. I can extended it pretty far or carry it through to next year if I really want too. 1 sheet of plastic is about as good as moving 1 zone warmer. 2 sheets = 2 zones. Add in black painted water bottles and my Zone 5 becomes a steady Zone 7 at night. Beyond that, it needs heated at night then later during the day. I had tomatoes in January with snow one year. This year, I'm just trying to get my peppers to ripen.
See:
Yes, it is that easy, if your oven can get low enough for the temperature. Just open the oven door about 2-3 inches to increase the air flow. If the leaves are on stems, you may want to take them off before drying them. It depends on how you'll be using the herb and what type of herb you are using.
Most leafy herbs are dry enough to air dry without heat.
I dried about 4 pounds of jalapenos in the oven after letting them ripen off the vine. It took a day and a half at around 180F. How are you apply smoke?
I'm getting ready to pull them off the smoke soon after 12 hours and we've got a few days of sun so I'll put them in the car to finish drying.
>I'll put them in the car to finish drying.
that smoke smell will probably permeate all exposed surfaces inside the car
I have an electric smoker with a cold smoke side attachment so I can keep the temp at 140F and still smoke it.
This is what it looks like after 12 hours. Pic sucks because it's dark as fuck.
>car smells like smoked peppers
That'd be pretty awesome.
>smoke smell will probably permeate all exposed surfaces inside the car
Probably, but who gives a fuck?
Why even bother posting that picture? Do you not own a flashlight or something at least?
Damn dude, have a homebrew and relax. Just trying to show shit that involves transforming raw, unadulterated produce onto a different level. I have a flaslight but the batteries are dead.
I'm relaxed, I just wanted to see your peppers and was very disappointed with the picture you posted.
Fair enough. This is what they look like after 12 hours of smoking. I'll put them in the car tomorrow morning to finish drying.
Nice. What kind of wood did you use?
Here you mong
mfw you turned his picture into an album cover
I used a mix of hickory and applewood.