Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Butchering, Cooking, Recipes => Topic started by: buglebuster on September 15, 2025, 07:10:39 AM

Title: Smoked salmon
Post by: buglebuster on September 15, 2025, 07:10:39 AM: I've been doing quite a bit of salmon and steelhead fishing this year and think I have my smoked fish dialed in! This was just a basic 3 part dark brown sugar 1 part kosher salt dry brine. Spread on fish and let sit for 25 hours. I've done just the 8-10 hours overnight and to me not quite as good. Pull fish out and rinse in cold water and onto drying racks to let sit for 3 ish hours until fish is just barely tacky. I let it get past the really tacky stage until just before it's completely dry on outside. Put onto the onto the smoker at 180 with alder. Time varies, I check each piece regularly and pull them out at 142-145 degrees. Brush every 30 minutes or so with a quality maple syrup from glass jar. I also put fresh ground black pepper on after first brushing of syrup.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250915/1e39b4712cd6b2d4ba0f7158d38177fb.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250915/de7a4f0572e82d4857df3bf1009293fa.jpg)
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: teanawayslayer on September 15, 2025, 08:32:21 AM: looks really good!
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: 7mmfan on September 15, 2025, 08:36:00 AM: I agree that the longer brine session makes a big difference. I do more sugar and less salt usually, we like it sweet over here.
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: Magnum_Willys on September 15, 2025, 08:40:21 AM: Awww Salmon candy ! Good stuff!
I like mixing that style with standard 50/50 white sugar/salt liquid brine smoked no brushing. Gets you a delicate moist fish for bagels etc.
both great!
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: trophyhunt on September 15, 2025, 09:04:42 AM: Looks Amazing!! I used the same brine, brushed with honey after two hours. Some reason mine ended up a lot darker, after a night in the fridge, the flavor is really good!
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: WSU on September 15, 2025, 10:59:32 AM: I like 4 to 1 sugar to salt.
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: HikerHunter on September 15, 2025, 11:26:09 AM: Quote from: WSU on September 15, 2025, 10:59:32 AM
I like 4 to 1 sugar to salt.
:yeah:
That's what I've landed on as well
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: buglebuster on September 15, 2025, 11:45:53 AM: We're a salt loving family here. Suprised I haven't tried 50/50 :chuckle:
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: RB on September 15, 2025, 01:09:39 PM: Quote from: HikerHunter on September 15, 2025, 11:26:09 AM
Quote from: WSU on September 15, 2025, 10:59:32 AM
I like 4 to 1 sugar to salt.
:yeah:
That's what I've landed on as well

:yeah:

Same, use the plastic bag of dark brown on the shelf at the store (2 pounds??) it is slightly over four cups and a cup of canning pickling salt with some zesty garlic thrown in.
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: Blacklab on September 15, 2025, 06:25:18 PM: Looks really 🤑🤑🤑
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: CP on September 19, 2025, 01:45:40 PM: I just loaded a batch into the Big Chief.
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: Stein on September 19, 2025, 03:11:09 PM: You guys are inspiring me. I have a bottle of huckleberry honey I've been wanting to put on some smoked salmon, gotta get off my rear and get on it.
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: tracksoup on September 19, 2025, 04:55:30 PM: Quote from: HikerHunter on September 15, 2025, 11:26:09 AM
Quote from: WSU on September 15, 2025, 10:59:32 AM
I like 4 to 1 sugar to salt.
:yeah:
That's what I've landed on as well

Ditto!
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: buglebuster on October 08, 2025, 07:17:16 PM: I just did another batch of 4 coho. I can’t stop eating this stuff, and it going to make nice gifts for the landowners this weekend that let my daughters hunt deer. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20251009/3164a71fbd2ff5e76f456a94d5272e9c.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20251009/339d453565c3125f88ed223086c94f56.jpg)
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: washingtonmuley on October 09, 2025, 08:16:13 AM: Looks beautiful!! Presentation is everything!!
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: Mtnwalker on October 09, 2025, 08:50:06 AM: Looks fantastic, that jalapeno piece :drool:
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: CaNINE on October 09, 2025, 09:51:34 AM: I was fortunate to bring 100 pounds of fly rod caught coho back from Alaska last month. Thanks for the inspiration. Smoke up a fillet using this method yesterday. Good stuff!
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: washingtonmuley on October 09, 2025, 12:51:37 PM: Quote from: CaNINE on October 09, 2025, 09:51:34 AM
I was fortunate to bring 100 pounds of fly rod caught coho back from Alaska last month. Thanks for the inspiration. Smoke up a fillet using this method yesterday. Good stuff!
Do they taste different if caught on a fly rod? :chuckle:
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: buglebuster on October 09, 2025, 03:42:01 PM: Quote from: washingtonmuley on October 09, 2025, 12:51:37 PM
Quote from: CaNINE on October 09, 2025, 09:51:34 AM
I was fortunate to bring 100 pounds of fly rod caught coho back from Alaska last month. Thanks for the inspiration. Smoke up a fillet using this method yesterday. Good stuff!
Do they taste different if caught on a fly rod? :chuckle:

I can’t imagine them tasting better than the ones snagged in the back with a treble hook :chuckle:
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: CaNINE on October 09, 2025, 08:22:01 PM: Quote from: washingtonmuley on October 09, 2025, 12:51:37 PM
Quote from: CaNINE on October 09, 2025, 09:51:34 AM
I was fortunate to bring 100 pounds of fly rod caught coho back from Alaska last month. Thanks for the inspiration. Smoke up a fillet using this method yesterday. Good stuff!
Do they taste different if caught on a fly rod? :chuckle:

They actually do
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: Alchase on October 10, 2025, 10:08:58 AM: Quote from: washingtonmuley on October 09, 2025, 12:51:37 PM
Quote from: CaNINE on October 09, 2025, 09:51:34 AM
I was fortunate to bring 100 pounds of fly rod caught coho back from Alaska last month. Thanks for the inspiration. Smoke up a fillet using this method yesterday. Good stuff!
Do they taste different if caught on a fly rod? :chuckle:

Almost as good as "Copper River Salmon" :hello:

:chuckle:
Title: Re: Smoked salmon
Post by: mikey549 on October 10, 2025, 02:17:02 PM: Very good recipe. I settled on 20 hrs of brine time. I also added some red pepper flakes along with a maple bourbon glaze a couple of hours in. I used a Big Chief smoker on one of those very warm days a few weeks ago.