Pig cookers are very common in a large variety of big events such as festivals, weddings, or simply a get together party for families and friends. Pig cooking can feed a large amount of people with only one animal cooked. But, the downside of pig cooking is the time that you need to complete the process of cooking. The pig weighs a large amount and therefore must be cooked properly to ensure that it is safe for consumption. The secret to cooking a whole pig safely and thoroughly without drying it out is to ensure that the heat is kept in the cooking contraption. How then do you keep heat in a pig cooker?
Tip #1: Prepare and check.
Prepare all the necessary things that you’ll need such as the pig cooker and bricks. Check the opening where the lid and bottom fit together. This is important for retaining the heat as if they do not fit well as a large amount of heat will escape through the opening. Make sure that the cooker has thick walls. Be sure that no area of the cooker has thin and broken walls.
Tip #2: Check the bricks and coals.
Put bricks around the bottom edges of the cooker in order to retain heat. When bricks are heated by the coals and other fuel, the bricks will retain a great deal of heat that aids in the cooking process.
Tip #3: Add fuel every now and then.
Add fuel to the cooker continuously and do not allow it to run out. Make sure that the heat is constant to evenly cook the pig. If you are using coals as a fuel source, begin at least 10 minutes before placing them on the barbecue. This will ensure that it will not cool down the pig cookers as they heat up in the cooker itself.
Tip #4: You can build your own pig cookers.
You can do this by taking empty propane tanks to an authorized dealer and have them clean the interior to remove any remnants of propane that may still be lingering on the tank’s wall. These pieces will be the main tanks of the smoker and will be subjected to heat. The highly flammable propane should be completely removed.
You must also select a part of your backyard that can house a compartment that is 4 feet high and 5 feet long. Make sure that the location is not near a tree or any flammable materials to avoid fire hazard and to prevent objects from falling onto the pig.
Cinder blocks are the best materials to be used in creating a compartment to trap the heat inside. You just need to line the ground with a large piece of aluminum as this will reflect the heat and discourages it from being absorbed into the ground.
Cooking a whole pig is a great way to feed large group of people. It only needs to be set up properly so that you cook the meat all the way through. If you want to use charcoal as a fuel source in cooking pig, spread the charcoal evenly to aid in distributing heat throughout the pig’s body.
