After a bit of work, I compiled the pictures into my typical story about cooking the turkey in my homemade electric smoker.
Take a gander at How to Smoke a Turkey.
Before I do this agan next year, I need to think about a better way. This works, but it’s a lot of work and I’m a lazy guy.
oh, but mike, it was soooo gooood!!! definetly the hit of the party! thank you so much for the hard work but the effort really did pay off…too bad matt and martin missed out!
cousin mary
I’m building one of these smokers but a concern was raised about using a galvanized steel garbage can. Apparently galvanized steel is coated in zinc and can give off toxic fumes when heated. Have you heard of this and have you done any research on whether on not this practice of smoking meat is really safe? The idea is fantastic and I have all the equipment ready but am kinda wary about smoking the meat.
I was accidentally poisoned by breathing galvanized smoke while arc welding galvanized pipe 30 years ago. (It feels like a bad case of the flu (upper respiratory type) that lasted for about 24 hours.) I was told to drink a lot of milk, which was supposed to help somehow. I did drink plenty of milk and fully recovered although I have no idea if the milk helped or not.
Rob 12-7-03
Hello, I have similar concerns on useing the galvanized cans. I.ve spent alot of time serching the net the last few days on different methods on how to cook food outdoors. The “cooking turkey in trash can” idea is a pretty cool idea, and i’d like to use this method this summer. “the method is kinda like the cajun microwave”. I have done search after search on this, and part of the people swear not to use any thing galvanized in any way of cooking even if its not directly touching the food,that just the mere heating of the material causes fumes to affect your food (as placeing coals or any heat source on-top of,below,or around this material). Is this right?? Or does the temperature never get hot enough to set off fumes??? Then theres other people who say that its fine to use this method, as long as its burnt,scorched,..ect; on the inside of the trash-can to remove the galvanized material befor you cook. Is this right????? Can the galvanized material be burnt off,so you’ll never have to worry about this again??? Will there still be traces left inside to harm you?? Do you still have to keep the food (turkey,..ect;) from touching the trash-can after this is done??? Then theres others who use this cooking method,and never mention doing anything to the galvanized-can (before,during,or after there cooking) in there sites. Are they right??? Or are they forgeting this important subject in there site?? And are others who just happen to come across there site and decide to use their method going to become harmed in some way,because they shouldnt of used the metal, or should of gott’n the galvanized material off before they started cooking??? …. Sorry but im confused,,Because theres conflicting information im getting from these sites. “Does anyone have the correct answer they could give me?” Or can point me to someone who would have the answers? Also, a little bit off the subject/but still part of it, on the use of Chicken wire in cooking/roasting/smoking. This is galvanized stuff right?? Can this stuff still touch your food as your cooking it?? cuz i’ve see sites were others use it in roasting/cooking pigs and chicken. Is this ok to use this way?? And i’ve also seen “Cooking Sheds” for roasting pig and some other food. (a three sided shed useing coragated sheet metal to reflect the heat from the fire back on to the pig) Is this galvanized material??? and if it is would this cause any bad fumes to get on the roast as its heated??? sorry i’m so long-winded, but i really want to do this right this summer and make sure my family will be ok if its used.
(please post a response here or send me an email at cgwatertech@yahoo.com)
Thanks,,