What Is Liquid Smoke? Chemical Composition


Liquid smoke is a food seasoning that is made by passing smoke through water. Andrew Filer, Creative Commons License
Liquid smoke is a food seasoning that is made by passing smoke through water. Andrew Filer, Creative Commons License

Question: What Is Liquid Smoke?

You may have used liquid smoke in a recipe or seen it on the grocery store shelf. Liquid smoke imparts a barbecued or smoky flavor to food. Here’s a look at what liquid smoke really is.

Answer: Basically, liquid smoke is just what the name implies: smoke in liquid form. Smoke is passed through water so that the flavor is imparted to the liquid. The smoke is produced by burning wood chips or sawdust. The smoke-infused water may be concentrated and additional chemicals may be added to enhance the flavor of the product.