Hanging And Securing Fish Tightly To Be Able To Smoke Them?

[wade]

 
Just got it out the smoker. I hope the smoke from oak dust I used dissipates a bit during the rest of today. It has completely took over the cucumber and gin flavour smell and flavour wise, that the salmon had before I put it in. 

 

Yes the smoke will mask a lot of the delicate flavours. If you want to end up with the bright flavours the salmon is best left unsmoked and prepared/cured like Gravadlax.

Mixing too many techniques is like mixing paints... Individually the colours of the different pots are bright and vibrant - but if mix them all together you inevitably end up with a muddy brown.

 

[sotv]

i think i have discovered why it tasted so smoky. I tried the very ends of the salmon this morning. Tried quite a bit of it now from 1 inch or so in from the ends of the salmon and the flavour is totally different. Less smoky, so much more tastier, melts in the mouth, cucumber and gin does come through, it is ever so slightly moist and the texture is perfect. After an initial disappointment, really happy with what I have produced. I now have 2kgs of very usable salmon. 

Going to have to freeze some of it due to quantity I have, am i best cutting a whole chunk say 150g to 200g of and freezing it or thinly slicing it first (2kg is a lot to thinly slice to do though in one go).

Couple of pics

IMG_20170412_160107450[1].jpg

• sotv
• Apr 12, 2017

IMG_20170412_161312091[1].jpg

• sotv
• Apr 12, 2017

The 2nd photo is much more representative of the actual finished colour and you can see my slicing skills need a lot of practice still. 

 

 

[sotv]

 

Hanging in smoker.jpg

• wade
• Apr 10, 2017

Mackerel Cooked.jpg

• wade
• Apr 10, 2017

Are the hooks you used on the mackerel in the picture these ones or similar? 

 

[wade]

Yes they are. They do several sizes on their direct Web site

https://www.weschenfelder.co.uk/bacon-curing-salt-beef/hooks.html

It looks as if they are cheaper through Amazon - and the shipping is the same whichever way you buy them.

 

[sotv]

i ordered one off https://hotsmoked.co.uk/accessories/five-prong-bacon-hook.html?___SID=U  got it for £12.25 needed something else off there so got free delivery for over £25. cheers