Welcome to the wonderful world of Piccalo. As exciting as it is getting new toys, especially one like this we often feel lost and overwhelmed with what to do, how to start and the basics behind the tool itself. So here are a few tips and tricks to help get you started on your journey, we will update this and release new blog post with further tips and tricks for all level smoking gun enthusiast. If you ever need further help or guidance please don’t hesitate to ask by emailing us at support.wearepiccalo.com or reaching out via Instagram or Facebook.

The easiest way to get started is purely by having fun, grab your Piccalo smoker, wood chips and test it out using one of our basic starter recipes like 

Smoked butter
Smoked whisky
Baked smoked cheese
Smoked popcorn

This is an easy simple way to learn and test what level of smoke is right for you. As everyone’s taste and preference are a little different, please use the times we state for smoking as a guideline. If the end result is not smoky enough, let it infuse for longer or repeat the process, for a slightly less smoky flavor simple reduce the amount of smoke you apply and reduce the infusion time, until you find the perfect balance for your taste. 

When smoking cooked foods you have two options for applying smoke, both of which add different levels and strengths of smoke. For example, take a rib eye steak, bring to room temperate, place in a bowl with a lid, set your smoker up ready to go, ignite chips and fill the bowl with smoke. Allow to infuse with smoke for about 15 minutes then remove the cover and let the smoke settle. 

From here you can cook the steak to your liking. As a guide, heat a pan on high heat and cook steak for 3-5 minutes each side for medium, depending on thickness (based on .5 inch thickness). Set aside, covered to rest for at least 5 minutes. 

This will result in a mild and deep smoky flavor. 
For a stronger and more BBQ smoky flavor, try smoking the cooked steak. As soon as the steak is cooked, place in a bowl or container with a lid, fill with smoke (about 30-60 seconds) and set aside to rest and infuse for 5-10 minutes. 

Both methods work well, pre-smoking raw produce, smoking once cooked or for a deep smoky flavor combining the two methods. For a step by step recipe try our Smoked rib of beef recipe.

For quick easy results, cover any finished meal with a lid, fill with smoke and leave to infuse for 3-5 minutes, remove the cover and enjoy. Be creative and have fun and if in doubt just sing out.

Any questions you can email us at support.wearepiccalo.com and we can do our best to help you out, offer further tips or steer you in the right direction. Make sure you try one of the many smoky recipes available on our web page.