How to Make Liquid Smoke (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

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1Setting up Your Fire Source

2Smoking the Wood Chips

3Capturing the Smoke

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Last Updated: April 2, 2019ReferencesApproved

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Liquid smoke is a powerful and flavorful cooking ingredient that you can add to meats and other foods to give them a smoky barbecue flavor. It is possible to make your own liquid smoke at home, but you do need a chimenea, smoker, or grill that has a chimney on it. The process is very simple, but it does take quite a bit of time. The trick is to capture the smoky condensation that’s released when you smoke wood chips on the grill, smoker, or fire.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Setting up Your Fire Source

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  1. 1

    Start up a gas grill for an easy liquid smoke. You can also use a gas grill to make liquid smoke. Push in the knob, turn it to ignite, and press the starter. When the flame is lit, set the temperature to high and let the barbecue preheat to about 500°F (260°C).

  2. 2

    Preheat a smoker for a basic and tasty smoke flavor. You can also use a dedicated meat smoker to generate the smoke for this project. Get a chimney starter full of charcoal burning. When the charcoal has burned and the coals are red hot, transfer the coals to the smoker. Spread out the coals on the charcoal pan and let the smoker heat up to high heat, or about 300°F (149°C).

    • Smokers typically cook foods at a lower temperature than grills, because they are designed to cook through smoking rather than direct heat.

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  3. 3

    Fire up a charcoal grill for an extra smoky liquid smoke. Place a piece of newspaper in the bottom of a chimney starter, which is a metal container used to start charcoal fires. Stuff the rest of the starter with charcoal. Light the newspaper in the bottom and wait for the charcoal to ignite, burn, and turn gray.[1] Pick up the chimney starter with tongs, pour the hot coals into the bowl, and spread them out under the center of the grill.

    • Leave the grill to preheat for about 20 minutes, until it reaches about 500°F (260°C).
  4. 4

    Make a fire in a chimenea for a woody smoke flavor. Remove the lid from the top of the chimenea, which is a freestanding fireplace you can use outdoors. Place crumpled newspaper in the bottom of the chimenea. Crisscross a handful of dry twigs on top of the newspaper. Ignite the newspaper in multiple places. When the twigs are burning, add one or two small logs.[2]

    • When the fire is established, add a couple of larger logs to get the chimenea nice and hot. Wood fires typically reach temperatures around 500 and 600°F (260 and 316°C). Let those burn down so you're left with a bed of hot, glowing coals.
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Part 2

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Smoking the Wood Chips

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  1. 1

    Choose your wood chips. You can use just about any wood you like for smoking and making liquid smoke. Some of the most popular woods include apple, cherry, peach, birch, hickory, oak, pecan, maple, and mesquite.[3]

    • Mesquite and hickory woods will have the smokiest taste of all the wood types, while the fruit woods will impart a slightly sweet and fruity aroma.
  2. 2

    Soak the wood chips for 30 minutes. Wood chips are small and can ignite easily, so it’s important to soak them before smoking. Transfer about 2 cups (180 g) of chips to a large bowl and cover the chips with water. Let the chips soak for half an hour. Larger wood chunks don’t have to be soaked prior to smoking.[4]

  3. 3

    Drain the wood chips. Transfer the chips to a colander. Leave them in the colander for about five minutes to allow excess water to drain out. This will help the wood heat up faster.

  4. 4

    Wrap the chips in foil. Transfer the drained chips or chunks into the center of a large piece of aluminum foil, and fold up the sides of the foil to make an open pouch to hold the chips.

    • You can use a wood chip smoker box instead of the foil if you have one. Place the chips in the box and put on the lid.
  5. 5

    Place the chips on the grill or coals. Use a pair of barbecue tongs to pick up the package of wood chips, making sure the foil doesn’t open up. On a charcoal or gas barbecue, place the pack of chips directly on the grill, to the side of the charcoal or flame. In a smoker, place the chips on the grill above the charcoal. In a chimenea, place the foil directly on the hot embers.

  6. 6

    Cook food on the smoker as you smoke the wood. You can cook meat, vegetables, or other food on the smoker while you're capturing the liquid smoke.[5] Not only will this make the most of the hot smoker, but it will also impart a unique flavor to your liquid smoke.

    • Cooking and making liquid smoke at the same time works best with a smoker, because you don’t have to disturb the smoke-catching assembly to flip or test the food until the end.
    • You can cook food on a grill when you're making liquid smoke, but you'll have to carefully remove the Bundt pan, mixing bowl, and ice from the chimney to flip or check the food. Protect your hands with oven mitts or silicone gloves before touching the Bundt pan.
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Part 3

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Capturing the Smoke

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  1. 1

    Place a Bundt pan on top of the chimney. Close the lid on the smoker or grill. Slide the Bundt pan over the top of the chimney, so the chimney is venting through the hole in the middle of the pan. On a chimenea, place the pan on the grate at the top of the chimney.

    • A Bundt pan is ideal for this job because the hole in the center of the pan will allow heat and moisture to rise through the middle.
  2. 2

    Cover the Bundt pan with a mixing bowl. Find a heat-proof metal bowl that’s the same diameter as the Bundt pan. Turn the bowl over and use it as a lid to cover the pan below. Now the heat, smoke, and moisture that rise through the center of the Bundt pan will be trapped by the bowl and collect in the pan below.[6]

  3. 3

    Cover the bowl with ice. Place a few frozen ice packs on top of the upside-down metal bowl. The difference in temperature between the hot smoke and the cold bowl will cause a smoky condensation to form on the top of the bowl. This will then drip down into the Bundt pan as liquid smoke that you can collect.[7]

    • Instead of ice packs, you can also use a bag of ice or a freezer bag filled with ice.
  4. 4

    Allow the wood chips to smoke for an hour. You'll know they're done when the food is cooked, or when the coals burn out. An hour will give the bowl and Bundt pan setup enough time to collect at least a few teaspoons (several milliliters) of liquid.

  5. 5

    Collect the liquid from the Bundt pan. When the coals have burned out and the wood chips have released all of their smoke, carefully remove the bowl and Bundt pan from the chimney. Protect your hands with gloves, as the metal may still be very hot.

  6. 6

    Bottle the liquid smoke. Remove the bowl from the top of the Bundt pan. Place a funnel into a small glass jar and pour the contents of the Bundt pan into the jar. Remove the funnel and seal the jar with an airtight lid. Store the liquid smoke at room temperature until you're ready to use it.

    • Liquid smoke can be used to flavor barbecue sauces, marinades, beans, and other foods.
    • For the best results, use the liquid smoke within 6 months.
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    How do I store this (counter, fridge, etc.) and how long is it good for?

    How to Make Liquid Smoke (with Pictures) - wikiHow (22)

    Community Answer

    Shouldn't need refrigeration. Smoke is antibacterial (even liquid smoke).

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      Warnings

      • Only consume liquid smoke (and especially the homemade version) in moderation, as it contains a number of carcinogens.

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      Things You'll Need

      • Charcoal grill
      • Newspaper
      • Chimney starter
      • Charcoal
      • Tongs
      • Lighter
      • Wood chips
      • Large bowl
      • Water
      • Colander
      • Aluminum foil
      • Bundt pan
      • Metal mixing bowl
      • Ice packs
      • Funnel
      • Small glass jar

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      About This Article

      How to Make Liquid Smoke (with Pictures) - wikiHow (32)

      Co-authored by:

      wikiHow Staff Writer

      This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 275,340 times.

      47 votes - 79%

      Co-authors: 20

      Updated: April 2, 2019

      Views:275,340

      Article SummaryX

      To make liquid smoke, you'll need to have a smoker, a chimenea, or a grill with a chimney on it. Whichever fire source you use, start by lighting it up and adding some wood chips that have been soaked in water and wrapped in aluminum foil. Once your wood chips are heating up, put a Bundt pan over the chimney so it's venting through the hole in the middle of the pan. Then, cover the pan with a mixing bowl, place a bag of ice on top of the bowl, and let the wood chips smoke for 1 hour. Finally, remove the Bundt pan and pour the liquid smoke into a jar. To learn how to choose the best wood chips, scroll down!

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      How to Make Liquid Smoke (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      How to Make Liquid Smoke (with Pictures) - wikiHow? ›

      Why this works: To make liquid smoke, you need to heat wood chips to a temperature high enough for the lignins in wood to burn (around 752°F / 400°C), pipe the resulting smoke through water, and do so without any oxygen.

      How do you make your own liquid smoke? ›

      Why this works: To make liquid smoke, you need to heat wood chips to a temperature high enough for the lignins in wood to burn (around 752°F / 400°C), pipe the resulting smoke through water, and do so without any oxygen.

      What can I use if I don't have liquid smoke? ›

      Liquid Smoke Substitute
      • Smoked paprika, a spice made by drying peppers over oak burning fires for several weeks, is a great alternative.
      • Smoke tea (or lapsang souchong) can be used as a dry rub on meats or to flavor soups or stews in need of a smoky kick.
      • Chipotle powder is famous for its smoky flavor.
      Oct 21, 2019

      Is liquid smoke bad for you? ›

      Is Liquid Smoke Safe? It's been widely proven smoke contains carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals). However, due to the filtering process, liquid smoke is actually safer to consume than food smoked over a live fire.

      What are the ingredients in liquid smoke? ›

      Ingredients. Gluten-Free Ingredients: Water, Tamari Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Sugar), Natural Mesquite Smoke Flavor, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic & Onion.

      Is liquid smoke just smoked water? ›

      As confusing as it may sound, liquid smoke is actually pretty simple—it's smoke from burning wood that's been condensed to liquid form. The first liquid smoke product was invented in the late 1800's by Ernest H. Wright who first discovered a black liquid running down the sides of his chimney as a teenager.

      How do you make your own smoke flavor? ›

      1. Smoked Paprika. There's a whole slew of paprika varieties out there, from the standard, sweet kind you sprinkle over deviled eggs to the hot stuff that adds a punch to any dish. ...
      2. Smoked Olive Oil. ...
      3. Black Cardamom. ...
      4. Chipotle Peppers. ...
      5. Smoked Cheese. ...
      6. Lapsang Souchong. ...
      7. Smoked Salt. ...
      8. Liquid Smoke.
      Aug 24, 2020

      Is Worcestershire sauce the same as liquid smoke? ›

      It will lend a lot of earthy, complex flavors to your recipe in the same way that Worcestershire sauce would, but liquid smoke doesn't have any of the added sweetness or saltiness, and can be very intense if used in excess.

      What is better than liquid smoke? ›

      Smoked paprika, also known as Spanish paprika, is the most commonly used replacement for liquid smoke. It is a vibrant red spice made by smoking and drying peppers for weeks over an oak wood fire. This is why it imparts a rich smoky flavor to the food.

      Is Worcestershire like liquid smoke? ›

      Worcestershire sauce can be used in place of liquid smoke to add flavor to meats, vegetables, and soups. Though note – there's no true smoky flavor here. It's salty with more of an umami flavor. The benefit of Worcestershire sauce is how common it is in many refrigerators.

      Do chefs use liquid smoke? ›

      The chefs are using “smoke” in various food items to enhance the flavor, texture, color, and most importantly the taste of the food. Liquid smoke is a natural product that is prepared from burning wood.

      Do you need to refrigerate liquid smoke? ›

      Does Colgin Authentic Liquid Smoke need to be refrigerated? No, after opening it is not necessary to refrigerate Colgin Authentic Liquid Smoke. What is the shelf life of Colgin Authentic Liquid Smoke? Colgin Authentic Liquid Smoke's freshness and flavor intensity last for two plus years.

      Is there a natural liquid smoke? ›

      Liquid smoke is used to provide certain foods with a smoky flavor without having to use actual wood smoke. Also known as wood vinegar and smoke flavor, liquid smoke is a natural product that people have been making for hundreds of years.

      What is the original liquid smoke? ›

      It was invented by Ernest H. Wright (of Wright's Liquid Smoke) who, as a teenager, noticed a black liquid dripping from the stovepipe that heated the print shop he worked in. Years later, when he was a chemist, he realized this occurred because the smoke had come in contact with cold air.

      Do you put liquid smoke directly on meat? ›

      1. Brush it over meat or use in meat recipes. We all know and love liquid smoke for the flavour it adds to meat. Liquid smoke can be used on steak, in mince, on homemade burgers or even over roasts to give it that just off the grill, smokey flavour.

      How potent is liquid smoke? ›

      Liquid smoke is concentrated and often very potent. Aim to use 1/4 teaspoon (or less!) in your recipes. You can always add more to adjust to your taste preferences. Try diluting liquid smoke with water or vinegar for a subtle flavor.

      Do you put liquid smoke on before or after cooking? ›

      Wright's® Liquid Smoke can be used in a variety of ways:

      It can be diluted with water, oil or vinegar and brushed directly on foods before cooking. It can incorporated into dishes before or during cooking.

      Does liquid smoke taste like smoked meat? ›

      Uses for liquid smoke

      Liquid smoke is used to impart smoky flavor without the actual fire, so it can be used on any dish that you want to taste like it came from a smoker.

      How much liquid smoke per gallon of water? ›

      The most important thing to remember about liquid smoke is that you don't have to use very much. A few small drops into a gallon of water is all it takes to add plenty of flavor.

      How do you mimic smoke flavor? ›

      We provide a list of ingredients that add smoke flavor and the best uses for each.
      1. Liquid Smoke. Liquid smoke is a naturally occurring substance made from real smoke. ...
      2. Smoked Salt. ...
      3. Smoked Paprika. ...
      4. Lapsang Souchong. ...
      5. Chipotle Powder. ...
      6. Black Cardamom. ...
      7. Smoked Bacon. ...
      8. Black Strap Molasses.

      How do restaurants get smoky flavor? ›

      Liquid smoke is simply made, by condensing the smoke and steam from burning wood chips. These two by-products are directed towards a cold metal pipe, where the steam condenses into water, trapping the smoke inside it.

      Can I substitute smoked paprika for liquid smoke? ›

      Liquid smoke is very strong and if you use too much it can be overpowering. So be light handed! What's the conversion: 1 teaspoon smoked paprika = ½ teaspoon liquid smoke. You could also add another ½ teaspoon regular paprika for color.

      Does liquid smoke taste like bacon? ›

      It can emulate the savory taste of bacon

      And, it is a flavoring agent that can be found in your favorite smoked gouda cheese as well as hotdogs, both of which have a taste similar to that of bacon. While barbecue purists may balk at using liquid smoke, vegetarians may appreciate the gift it can be.

      What grocery aisle is liquid smoke in? ›

      Which section or aisle to find Liquid Smoke in the Grocery Store? The condiments area of the supermarket is the first place to look for liquid smoke. This is because liquid smoke is classified as a condiment and will be kept alongside ketchup, balsamic vinegar, and barbecue sauces.

      Does liquid smoke have vinegar in it? ›

      Water, Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor, Molasses, Caramel Color, White Distilled Vinegar.

      What is best to cook with liquid smoke? ›

      To cook with the liquid smoke, brush onto steaks, chicken, burgers, or hot dogs for a tangy outdoor smoky flavour. Or add a few dashes to marinades, sauces, baked beans, dips, seafood, eggs, or poultry - to create instant campfire warmth, even when cooking in an oven, or on an indoor stove.

      Does Mcdonalds use liquid smoke? ›

      And yes, if you're a fan of McDonald's beloved McRib sandwich, it's part of what gives that cult favorite its, well, unique flavor. We're talking about liquid smoke, a — shocking — smoky liquid flavor substitute that helps cooks quickly and easily do the work of a smoker.

      How much liquid smoke do I use per pound of meat? ›

      Generally, 1/4 teaspoon of liquid smoke per pound of meat is enough to give the meat a smoky flavor. However, if a stronger smoky flavor is desired, then one teaspoon per pound of meat can be used.

      What is the best brand of liquid smoke? ›

      Best Liquid Smokes comparison table
      • 1st Place. Wrights Liquid Smoke Hickory 103 milliliter. ...
      • 2nd Place. Colgin Liquid Smoke Natural Hickory 472 ml. ...
      • 3rd Place. Colgin Liquid Smoke Natural Hickory 472 ml - PACK OF 2. ...
      • 4th Place. Colgin Liquid Smoke Hickory - 4 fl oz, Pack of 3 by Colgin. ...
      • 5th Place.

      What tastes like liquid smoke? ›

      Chipotle Powder

      Often readily available in your pantry, this powder is an excellent substitute for liquid smoke. Moreover, chipotle powder is readily found in all grocery stores, so that's a plus. Made from smoking dried and crushed chili peppers on a wood fire, this powder tastes quite like liquid smoke.

      How many flavors of liquid smoke are there? ›

      PRODUCTS. Smoke like a pro with Wright's® three liquid smoke offerings: Hickory, Mesquite, and Applewood.

      Does liquid smoke get old? ›

      Properly stored, liquid smoke will generally stay at best quality for about 2 years. To maximize the shelf life of liquid smoke, keep the container tightly closed when not in use.

      Does liquid smoke smell? ›

      All I can tell you is that Liquid Smoke is the most immediately recognizable bad flavor known to man. It's redolent simultaneously of creasote, formaldehyde, termite mounds, the tears of mendacious orphans, crawlspaces, the acidic musk of old age homes, guano caves, vinegar, and bad barbecue.

      Does liquid smoke taste salty? ›

      Liquid smoke has zero calories, zero fat, and most brands are low in sodium (about 10 mg per teaspoon), but it still brings an intense flavor like bacon.

      How long to marinate meat in liquid smoke? ›

      Instructions
      1. Pour 2 squirts of liquid smoke into gallon sized Ziploc bag.
      2. Add ¼ cup soy sauce.
      3. Seal bag and shake to combine.
      4. Add steaks (two per bag).
      5. Let marinade for 2-3 hours, flip bag halfway through to ensure both sides are coated evenly.
      6. Transfer steaks to a plate.
      Jul 17, 2020

      Can you add liquid smoke to hamburger meat? ›

      Can I use liquid smoke in burgers? Yes! Liquid smoke (I like hickory and mesquite flavors) adds a lovely smoky profile to these hamburgers without the process of smoking them! It gives them just the right amount of smokiness to play against the spice of the chipotle peppers and it's very easy to use.

      What happens if you use too much liquid smoke? ›

      Whenever using it, remember that moderation is key. Too much will quickly overpower your dish and add that unwanted acrid chemical flavor. Also, try to put all thoughts of black liquid trickling down a stovepipe out of your head!

      What is the best liquid to soak wood chips in? ›

      Even if moisture does penetrate through the wood, it does so only through cracks or on the surface. Whiskey, brandy, beer, juice, or wine are just a few of the most popular liquids used to soak wood chips in.

      What is natural liquid smoke? ›

      Liquid smoke is a natural byproduct of burning wood. The exhaust of a wood fire is basically smoke and steam; fire produces water in the form of vapor, and this vapor, condensed through a cooled tubing, captures the smoke. This liquid is distilled into a concentrate and filtered of its impurities (soot and ash).

      What happens if you don't soak wood chips before smoking? ›

      The thought is that doing this will slow combustion and create a better-flavored smoke than dry wood would. In truth, soaking your wood chips and chunks isn't necessary and here's why. Wood chips and chunks that have been soaked have to get rid of any moisture before they can produce smoke.

      Why aren t my wood chips smoking? ›

      You will get limited or no smoke production if the wood is without measurable moisture. You need to purchase wood chips that have some measurable moisture to work effectively. Chips labeled as kiln dried are likely too dry for producing smoke vapor.

      Can I soak my wood chips in whiskey? ›

      Whiskey: Soak some oak or hickory chips in whiskey before grilling beef to add intense, smokiness and rich, warm flavors. In fact, this is one of the most popular soaks, and you'll even find wood chips from companies like Jack Daniels that impart whiskey flavors when grilling or smoking on a barbecue.

      Does liquid smoke need to be refrigerated? ›

      Does Colgin Authentic Liquid Smoke need to be refrigerated? No, after opening it is not necessary to refrigerate Colgin Authentic Liquid Smoke. What is the shelf life of Colgin Authentic Liquid Smoke? Colgin Authentic Liquid Smoke's freshness and flavor intensity last for two plus years.

      Which liquid smoke is best? ›

      Best Liquid Smokes comparison table
      • 1st Place. Wrights Liquid Smoke Hickory 103 milliliter. ...
      • 2nd Place. Colgin Liquid Smoke Natural Hickory 472 ml. ...
      • 3rd Place. Colgin Liquid Smoke Natural Hickory 472 ml - PACK OF 2. ...
      • 4th Place. Colgin Liquid Smoke Hickory - 4 fl oz, Pack of 3 by Colgin. ...
      • 5th Place.

      What is the 3 2 1 rule for smoking meat? ›

      Essentially, 3 2 1 ribs go like this: 3 hours of smoking the ribs directly on the pellet grill. 2 hours wrapped in foil, still cooking on the grill. 1 hour of cooking, unwrapped and slathered in barbecue sauce.

      How do you get the smell of liquid smoke out? ›

      Mix 1 teaspoon of all-purpose cleaner and 1/2 cup of baking soda per quart of warm water in a bucket. Stir well to mix. Fill a second bucket with clean water. Prepare more of the cleaning solution as needed.

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