FALaholic
Well-Known Member
Can you fire cure after tobacco has aged, or does it need to be done after color curing?
Can you fire cure anytime?
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As a small time grower...I say yes. I did so with a (new) metal trash can, some water soaked oak chips, a pan, a tripod base for said pan, a propane torch and a grate above the pan (about 8 inches above. I had to drill a small hole in the base of the trash can to fit the torch in. I lit it, piled in 2 hands of tobacco and begin to let it smoke (alot like curing meats with smoke).
The stuff tastes and smells awesome.
This was all after the they had been air cured and aged about 3 months.
The stuff tastes and smells awesome.
This was all after the they had been air cured and aged about 3 months.
FALaholic
Well-Known Member
This is good to know. Many thanks.
DGBAMA
Well-Known Member
I Put a couple hands of cured leaf in my smoker for about 4 hours. Gave a very good flavor without being overpowering like true fire cured.
Firing tobacco is done when the leaf is yellowed up and the stem is still crisp . About a week to ten days after harvesting .It is according to when the leaf is yellowed the right color .
However in my opinion if the cured tobacco was in high case to a wet case then fired for a day or so . Then add water to the smoldering fire to add moisture / case back into the tobacco might work .
As the tobacco absorbs the smoke from the steam the leaf may take on smoke .
This is just my opinion.
However in my opinion if the cured tobacco was in high case to a wet case then fired for a day or so . Then add water to the smoldering fire to add moisture / case back into the tobacco might work .
As the tobacco absorbs the smoke from the steam the leaf may take on smoke .
This is just my opinion.
Boboro
Well-Known Member
I don't think mine held much smoke flav.
I have "fire-cured" leaf that is newly yellowed, as well as leaf that had completed color-curing. I did this in a steel trash can (in which large holes had been drilled into the bottom) sitting on top of a Brinkman smoker.
The smoker was fired-up 1 to 3 times a day, daily, for periods ranging from 7 days to 30 days. The bottom tray of the smoker contained a small amount of charcoal onto which one or more aluminum foil packets of wet wood chips were directly placed. The foil packets were punctured with a fork. I kept a large pot of water on a rack between the coals (at the bottom) and the leaf (in the can atop the smoker).
Since the entire apparatus was outdoors, and cooled overnight, the leaf was in medium to high case each morning (this was done during the autumn). The more days that the leaf is fired, the darker the tobacco becomes. Even the short (7 day) firing imparts a lasting, smoky aroma. I have used wood chips of apple (very nice), oak, maple and hickory.
Other than the holes in the can bottom, the construction (thermometer, hanging hardware) is identical to my Cozy Can flue-curing chamber.
Bob
The smoker was fired-up 1 to 3 times a day, daily, for periods ranging from 7 days to 30 days. The bottom tray of the smoker contained a small amount of charcoal onto which one or more aluminum foil packets of wet wood chips were directly placed. The foil packets were punctured with a fork. I kept a large pot of water on a rack between the coals (at the bottom) and the leaf (in the can atop the smoker).
Since the entire apparatus was outdoors, and cooled overnight, the leaf was in medium to high case each morning (this was done during the autumn). The more days that the leaf is fired, the darker the tobacco becomes. Even the short (7 day) firing imparts a lasting, smoky aroma. I have used wood chips of apple (very nice), oak, maple and hickory.
Other than the holes in the can bottom, the construction (thermometer, hanging hardware) is identical to my Cozy Can flue-curing chamber.
Bob
Bob, you have the trashiest tobacco on the forum. Good job.
Trashy? Yes. Functional? Yes.
The trash can is not held up as the ideal container for various curing methods. Instead, it is symbolic of:
Bob
The trash can is not held up as the ideal container for various curing methods. Instead, it is symbolic of:
- cheap
- arbitrary
- if he can do it with a trash can, then my [insert name of assorted castaway container] will work
- aversion to specialty-built, complex devices
Bob
I admire all of the above. I hope you took the post in the humorous vein in which it was written. I left off the smilies and LOL's in your honor.
Soon it's gonna cure.
I can see it.
Soon it's gonna cure.
I can tell.
Soon it's gonna cure.
What are we gonna use?
We'll chip four limbs of a tree.
We'll build four walls and a floor.
We'll hang it over with leaves,
And close the lid to stay.
Then we'll let it cure.
We'll both smell it.
Then we'll let it cure.
Cure pell-mell.
And we'll both be sure,
If it ever cures at all.
We'll let it cure
Within our own four walls.
[with apologies to the Fantasticks]
I can see it.
Soon it's gonna cure.
I can tell.
Soon it's gonna cure.
What are we gonna use?
We'll chip four limbs of a tree.
We'll build four walls and a floor.
We'll hang it over with leaves,
And close the lid to stay.
Then we'll let it cure.
We'll both smell it.
Then we'll let it cure.
Cure pell-mell.
And we'll both be sure,
If it ever cures at all.
We'll let it cure
Within our own four walls.
[with apologies to the Fantasticks]
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