Tried it once before, but it tasted more like an ashtray than smoked cheese even after vac seal/rest for a couple of weeks in the fridge.
I've learned a lot more about smoking since then, so I decided to give it another try yesterday...sharp cheddar, colby-jack, and gouda
Big Chief, AMNPS with 50/50 apple/pecan (started with dust, but had to change to pellets...more about that below), total "accumulated" smoke time was about 3 - 3.5 hours.
The color is not as pronounced as I expected it would be, but it smells pleasantly of smoke and there's no "ashy" smell or taste.
As for having to change from dust to pellets, I could not, for the LIFE of me, get the dust to stay lit even though dust in the AMNPS OR the tube is all I've SUCCESSFULLY used in BC to date. I mean, I moved the tray here, I moved it there, I even sat it directly in front of the hinged flap propped open...nope!
Whole pellets, however, burned perfectly no matter where I put the tray.
The only thing I can think of is the dust might have picked up some moisture as it was previously ground/stored in a gallon freezer bag on my porch with the rest of my smoking/grilling gear.
Anyway, it's in the fridge and I believe it's gonna turn out well this time. If it does, I'm going cheese shopping for the good stuff!
I've learned a lot more about smoking since then, so I decided to give it another try yesterday...sharp cheddar, colby-jack, and gouda
Big Chief, AMNPS with 50/50 apple/pecan (started with dust, but had to change to pellets...more about that below), total "accumulated" smoke time was about 3 - 3.5 hours.
The color is not as pronounced as I expected it would be, but it smells pleasantly of smoke and there's no "ashy" smell or taste.
As for having to change from dust to pellets, I could not, for the LIFE of me, get the dust to stay lit even though dust in the AMNPS OR the tube is all I've SUCCESSFULLY used in BC to date. I mean, I moved the tray here, I moved it there, I even sat it directly in front of the hinged flap propped open...nope!
Whole pellets, however, burned perfectly no matter where I put the tray.
The only thing I can think of is the dust might have picked up some moisture as it was previously ground/stored in a gallon freezer bag on my porch with the rest of my smoking/grilling gear.
Anyway, it's in the fridge and I believe it's gonna turn out well this time. If it does, I'm going cheese shopping for the good stuff!