When it comes to Wood chips for smoking your food you want the best flavour.
After all…
If you are going to go to the trouble of smoking it you want that flavour, don’t you?
So what are the choices?
Let’s find out.
What is the Best Wood for Smoking Meat?
Never, under any circumstances, use:
- cypress
- elm
- eucalyptus
- eastern cedar
- sassafras
- redwood
- pine
- liquid amber
- spruce
- fir
- sycamore
What Wood Should You Not Use in a Smoker?
- Oak is the quintessential go-to for smoking meat. …
- Hickory. The most versatile choice as it can be used to smoke wood in many ways. …
- Maple. One of the most subtle smoking wood, it will impart a more subtle smoke flavour. …
- Mesquite. …
- Pecan. …
- Apple. …
- Alder. …
- Cherry.
What Wood Should You Not Use in a Smoker?
Never, under any circumstances, use:
- cypress
- eastern cedar
- elm
- eucalyptus
- liquid amber
- sassafras
- pedwood
- pine
- spruce
- fir
- sycamore
For smoking meats or other types of food.
Do You Soak Wood Chips for Smoking?
You Do Not Need to Soak Wood Chips.
The most popular, and most argued about, tip when it comes to smoking is soaking your wood chips and chunks for at least an hour before smoking.
The thought is that doing this will slow combustion and create a better-flavoured smoke than dry wood would.
Is It Better To Smoke Chips Or Pellets?
Pellets don’t burn as fast as wood chips and give you a deeper smoke flavour.
They also burn at much higher temperatures than wood chips and can be used to cook more kinds of meat.
Wood chips do not require as much processing
Does The Water Go Above Wood Chips in Smoker?
A water pan goes above the heat source.
If using a charcoal grill or charcoal/wood smoker, this pan would be placed above the coal area.
Have an electric unit and you’ll find the pan over the electric heating element.
If you want to introduce a water pan on an LP/Gas Grill, this would be placed over the lit burners.
How Often Do You Add Wood Chips to a Smoker?
every 45 – 60 minutes
The short of it: At most, you should be adding 5 wood chips every 45 – 60 minutes
Wood chips for smoking are going to add so many different flavours according to what wood you use of course…
That’s the thing about it – you have such a variety to try.