The diagram illustrates the design and operational process of a basic homemade smokery, a device used to preserve and flavor food through smoking.
Overall, the process is relatively simple and involves two main stages: the creation of smoke in an underground chamber and the subsequent smoking of food in an above-ground container. The entire apparatus is constructed using basic materials like bricks and metal containers.
In detail, the smokery is built partially below ground level. A small underground fire chamber is created using bricks. A metal pipe leads from the top of this chamber up to the base of a larger, cylindrical metal container (the smoking box) which sits on the ground above it. This box has a lid on top.
The smoking process begins by lighting a fire using logs in the underground pit. The fire is then dampened to produce smoke rather than flames. This smoke travels upward through the connecting pipe and enters the sealed metal box. Inside this box, food items, such as fish or meat, are hung from rods to be exposed to the smoke. The lid of the box is designed to allow a controlled amount of air to circulate, which helps regulate the smoke and temperature inside. The food is left in this smoky environment for a sufficient period to be cooked and infused with flavor, resulting in preserved, smoked products