Smoker Bags from Finland?

[gabbyh]

Has anyone tried these? They are for the oven or grill. They include alderwood chips, hardwood chips, and natural sugars. You can cook beef, pork, or veggies in them. I'll post a review when I use one.

[Wendy w]

I have never heard of these before. They sound interesting-especially for salmon. Where can you find them?

[SoCal]

Just bumping this up since I'd also like to know where to find these too. I would be interested to know how they work in the oven (is there alot of smoke, etc?) since I don't have a grill. Sounds interesting!

[Grace]

Oy Vay - more things to buy.....please do tell where you found them - they sound wonderful! ;)

[gabbyh]

Found these bags at "Giant" which may only be in PA...one per package...with seasonings included...there are specific seasonings for each meat type, and one for veggies...looks like they're made out of foil...don't know about the smoke yet...but I'll be trying them in my oven...so I'll let you all know!:cool:

Although they are "manufactured and originated by Hope Smoke, Finland" they are distributed by "Williams Foods, Inc., Lenexa, Kansas...maybe this will help some of you find them...

[Rogue]

Those smoke bags rock! My roommate and I discovered them at SuperTarget. We've used them w/ turkey tenderloins :D and she has made salmon in them as well.

Cleanup is a breeze- only thing is I would recommend that you use a dry rub for your meat instead of using herbs- they tend to dry out and not taste very well. But, the meat stays nice and moist with just a hint of smokiness to it.

Hope that helps ya out- btw- this is my first post!

[Tiina]

An occasional lurker jumps in on the topic of smoker bags!

Fearing a total addiction, I have long resisted the temptation to join you great people on this bulleting board, but when I saw this post on the smoker bags, I just had to do it. Actually, I’m hanging out at home waiting for the arrival of our baby, who is 4 days past her due date today. I just sharpened and oiled my kitchen knives and am DONE nesting (=cleaning house). So, anytime now…

I have used the smoker bags lots of times and absolutely love them. My favorite thing to cook in the bag is salmon, but I have also done chicken. You can purchase the bags online at http://www.cystern.com/smokehouse/. Occasionally, I’ve been able to find them at nicer grocery stores. Whole Foods also carried them for a while, but I’m not sure if they still do. I usually stock up on them when I visit Finland or ask visitors to bring me a few.

The bags have two layers at the bottom, and in between the layers there are wood chips. I prefer alder wood, but depending on the selection, you may not have a choice. The inner bottom has tiny holes, so the smoke can reach the food. There are no seasonings in the bag. You can enhance the flavor and color of food by tossing a couple of sugar cubes in the bag with it. The only way you can mess up using one of these bags is if you do not fold the end of the bag tightly enough to seal it. When closed correctly, the bag puffs up when you bake it in a very hot oven or grill. You may have to experiment with the baking time in your oven, but once you have it figured out, you have a fantastically easy and delicious recipe you can pull out for any occasion, not to mention easy clean up.

[KValley]

Hello Tiina and Rogue- just wanted to welcome you both (another Washingtonian, Tiina- how wonderful :) )

SUPERTARGET!!??!! I still haven't found my way to a Trader Joe's or a Whole Foods. Now I have to contend with SuperTarget!?

And I thought it was just the bee's knees when our Safeway was renovated- now the fruit/vegetable sprayer sings "Singing in the Rain" or makes thunderstorm noises when it's about to begin spraying. I need to get out more.

[Rogue]

Ah well- SuperTarget is the coolest thing around here- especially since they have an excellent grocery dept. and they mark down a lot of stuff when it goes on clearance, so on a very limited budget I've been able to scoop up a lot of bargains.

I am with you on this Trader Joe's envy- sounds like a neat place- the nearest one is like a couple of states away from me. :eek: But - nowhere in town plays thunderstorm noises though.

Thanks for the welcome- the smoker bag question lulled me out of lurking for sure.

[gabbyh]

Tiina and Rogue,
Welcome to the BB, and thanks so much for all the "smoker bag" info...now I'm wondering if you all have a favorite rub to use for food before it hits the bag? I didn't realize the bags were "unseasoned...
Tiina...glad my question got you to de-lurk...keep on postin'
:cool:

[Irene Bartlett]

This is the kind of smoker that I've been using. It works great but I've only been using it for fish. Here's the link :
http://www.fantes.com/smokers.htm#smoker

[gabbyh]

Irene,
Thanks so much for the link...this is the one I've seen on The Food Network...I'll be ordering one...:cool:

[Tiina]

Thanks you guys for the warm welcome!

Do I ever have a favorite seasoning rub!! I use Tom Douglas' Rub with Love Salmon Rub, and all guests who taste it demand to know what it is. I buy it at one of the better grocery stores or at Whole Foods. It is made by Tom Douglas Restaurants in Seattle, and I'm not sure if it is available nationwide. The Salmon Rub is one of the many kinds of rubs they have. I just grabbed the jar out of the kitchen, and it has a web address on it to go for more recipe ideas: www.tomdouglas.com.

I've been on a lookout for a recipe for a rub such as this as I'd love to be able to make my own. The jar lists ingredients as herbs, spices, brown sugar and salt. Anybody have a recipe??

I've used the rub in the smoker bag and on the grill, but sometimes, when I want just a simple, succulent smoked salmon, I simply sprinkle sea salt and some pepper on the fish -- and use the sugar cubes in the smoker bag.

[Rogue]

Hey Tina- thanks for the tip about the sugar cubes- I'll have to try that.

Usually- since my roomie can't have garlic- we use just salt and pepper on hers and Emril's essence on mine - (which I am beyond addicted to, use it on everything from scrambled eggs to french fries :D ) and use a good BQ sauce as a side. We did have a not so good experience with dried basil.

Oh yeah- as I am being prodded by the kitten- I forgot to mention earlier that both of our cats highly endorse this product. They circle around the stove and kitchen while it's cooking and demand their own share when the food is finished, going so far to almost knocking the plate out of my hands. Tommy, the oldest one, really has it bad for barbaque of any sort and is overjoyed when he finds out I'm not eating yet another boca burger or similiar soy product which he turns his nose up at.

Hope that helps!

[Wendy w]

Yes, I am resurrecting an old thread to say that I have finally[/B]
tried one of these and was surprisingly pleased. I had a craving for one of my favorite salmon spreads and knew that I had some canned TJ's salmon at home and a bag of Costco's frozen salmon fillets. I decided that it would be frivoulous to buy regular canned salmon (to go along with smoked)when I had a freezer full of salmon filets at home.

I also have a package of wonderful smoked salmon that I got from Maureen in the Seattle gift exchange and I have plans for this bad boy - Salmon and Marscapone pizza!

I wondered how one of these bags would work on salmon. I used fresh lemon and dill on the salmon and baked it in the bag for 25 minutes. The salmon was nice and moist with a wonderfully subtle smokey flavor.

:o :o About a year ago, I bought a bag for chicken and forgot that I had it. Now I can't wait to try it. I also think that the bags would be good for an easy camping or beach party meal when you don't want hot dogs. You can probably throw these on the coals after they have died down some.

[little_bopeep]

I bought a very simplified version of this bag (from the descriptions that have been posted) for a buck and a half at Wally World (Wal-Mart...sorry!). I marinated my salmon filet in teriyaki and cooked it in the bag skin-side down, which is good because it stuck pretty badly (but came away from the skin easily, so that's ok). I don't do salmon myself, but DH raved about it. Clean up was a snap 'cause I pitched the whole thing.