Plank cooking has become a favorite technique by chefs in gourmet restaurants as well as in backyard barbecues. This method of cooking, borrowed from early Native Americans, uses planks of wood as indirect heat sources for cooking fish, chicken, vegetables and other types of food that don't require direct contact with flame. The planks, usually made from cedar or alder, infuse the food with a natural smoky taste that eliminates the need for special flavor enhancing sauces.
While grilling planks are disposable and used only on outdoor grills, cooking planks can be used again and again and are used only in the oven. You can buy reusable cooking planks at gourmet cooking stores, or you can save money and do it yourself. Read on to see how you can achieve that special smoky flavor in your dishes by making your own reusable cooking plank.
Related Searches:
Difficulty:
Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
untreated cedar picket from lumber yard or hardware store
Go to the Lumber Yard. Look for thin pieces of wood at least 1" thick. Remember it will need to be able to fit into the cookie or baking sheet you plan to use in your oven.
2
Ask for Untreated Wood. Your cooking plank needs to be chemical free and completely untreated. Any chemicals found in the wood will be infused into your food and could be dangerous.
3
Cut the Wood Down to Size. You will likely need to cut your wood down to size to fit your baking pan or sheet. If this is necessary, this is easily done the old-fashioned way--with a saw or table saw.
4
Sand and Wash the Baking Side. With sandpaper, rub down the baking side of the sheet and any rough edges and wash with water.
5
Season the Plank. With about a tablespoon of olive oil, lightly coat the plank. Congratulations--you're ready for plank cooking!
Tips & Warnings
After every two or three uses, resand and reseason the plank. Remember to wash the plank after every use.
While cedar is a natural insect repellant and is usually sold untreated at lumber yards, still take precautions to ensure that your cedar plank is made from untreated wood.
