This isn’t clickbait anymore, but an absolute culinary classic that our grandparents prepared regularly – and for good reason! Homemade smoked meat, cooked in its own juices (often also called “smoked in a jar” or “cellar treasure”), is simply incomparable to store-bought canned meat. No quick-curing salt (nitrite mixture), no chemicals, just clean meat, salt, a little garlic, and honest smoke.

If you want to try it or simply remember this, here’s a tried-and-tested method for preserving meat for months and keeping it tender:

Which cut of meat should you choose? A combination is best. Pork belly is ideal (it provides juiciness and fat, which makes a delicious jelly), and pork neck or shoulder (for leaner cuts).

Here’s how to achieve the best results:

Smoking: First, marinate the meat in salt (with garlic, if desired) and then smoke it. It doesn’t need to be completely dry-smoked—it’s enough if it develops the right color and a wonderful smoky aroma.

Packing into jars: Cut the smoked meat into larger cubes or blocks and pack it into clean, sterilized jars. Pack the meat tightly, leaving about 2 cm of space at the top.

Juice as a base: Add a few tablespoons of clean broth or boiled water to each jar (to about 1/4 of the meat’s height). For better gelling, you can add a piece of smoked skin. Additional seasonings are usually unnecessary, as the meat already has the flavor of the smoker.

Double sterilization (The most important step!): Because the meat contains no chemicals and is cooked in its own juices, double sterilization is essential to prevent botulism. The best method is called Tyndallization (three-stage boiling):

Day 1: Boil for 1 hour at 100°C (212°F). Allow to cool completely until the next day.

Day 2: Repeat the entire process (another 1 hour at 100°C/212°F). This reliably kills any surviving bacterial spores.

The result?

When you open the jar after a few weeks in the cellar, the meat melts in your mouth and is encased in a firm, fragrant gelatin. It tastes best cold with bread, mustard, and pickles.

Have you already smoked meat this year and are preparing to fill the jars, or are you just gathering inspiration for a weekend in the smoker?