Re: [CH] Powder
JohnT (Love2Troll@kc.rr.com)
Tue, 16 Aug 2005 08:29:47 -0500
Thanks for all the kind comments on my powders. :)
When I first started making them they were terrible. My old dehydrator had
no heat control and was a steady 165°F. Then JimC posted about the cap
gassing off at 150 (I think). Anyways got a new dehydrator and now dry for
as long as it takes at no higher than 125 in the summer and 115 in the
winter. Our humidity is so high in the summer that I can't dry at lower
temps.
So the routine is to pick the pods, cut in half, remove seeds (C.
pubescens), put in freezer at least long enough to rupture cell walls, place
cut side up on dryer shelf and dry until they will powder in my little West
Bend electric food chopper. If get chunks or flakes then back into the
dryer. I tried 3 different brands and the WB worked the best by far because
of blade design. No sieve or screens necessary.
For smoked powder I use a Little Chief electric smoker and various flavor
smoke pellets. Bought an off-set firebox smoker this summer and will be
using that for future smoking as it runs cooler than the electric one. No
petrol flavored briquets, just good quality lump charcoal and an occasional
chunk of pecan or other wood. Am trying to match the powders of several
people on the MSN list. Awesome powders that put mine to shame. Never any
bitterness and great color. I buy my pellets from our Beth at
http://www.peppermania.com/ and she has great smoking tips as well.