Concept
Pellicle
The tacky, dried surface skin a curesmith forms on meat or sausage before smoking so that smoke adheres evenly.
The pellicle is a thin, slightly sticky layer that forms when the surface of a salted product is dried in cool, moving air. Soluble proteins migrate to the surface and set into a tacky film, and smoke particles and colour bond to that film far better than to a wet surface.
Forming a pellicle is a matter of airflow and patience, not heat. A few hours under a fan in a cool room, or a night uncovered in the fridge, is usual. Smoking a product with a wet surface gives a streaky, sooty and sometimes bitter result, while a proper pellicle gives an even mahogany colour and a clean smoke flavour.
Temple element. Stairs