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Barbecue Wood and Delicious Smoke Flavor
The type of Barbecue Wood or "bbq smoker wood" you use should depend on the type of meat you are cooking. Certain wood works better with certain barbecued meats.
The tendancy is for the barbecue cook to use the type of wood that is easiest to find. It is usually the one or two types of wood available in the local supermarket. That is understandable considering other types of barbecue wood might not be as readily available in that particular area.
But if you will learn to keep your eye out for different barbecue wood types, you will be surprised at the many opportunities to pick some up...at little or no cost. And the difference it will make to the taste of your barbeque will be that much better.
Just about any type of wood can be used for barbecue except pine and cedar. Fruit tree wood is my favorite to give certain meats a very different but delicious "sweet" flavor.
The table below is a wood chart that will guide you in pairing up different barbecue wood types with different meats. My thanks to Sam's Smokers @ www.samssmoker.com for this wood chart.
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Sam's Smoker Pro
- Wood
Chart
| Wood
type |
Characteristics |
Use
with |
|
Alder
|
Very
delicate with a hint of sweetness |
Good
with fish, pork, poultry, and light-meat game birds.
Traditionally used in the pacific Northwest to smoke Salmon. |
|
Apple
|
Slightly sweet but
denser, fruity smoke flavor.
|
Beef, poultry, game
birds, pork (particularly ham).
|
|
Cherry
|
Slightly sweet,
fruity smoke flavor
|
Good with all
meats.
|
|
Grape vines
|
Aromatic, similar
to fruit wood.
|
Good with most
meats.
|
|
Hickory
|
Pungent, smoky,
bacon-like flavor. The most common wood used.
|
Good for all
smoking, especially pork and ribs.
|
|
Maple
|
Mildly smoky,
somewhat sweet flavor.
|
Good with pork,
poultry, cheese, vegetables and small game birds.
|
|
Mesquite
|
Strong earthy
flavor.
|
Good with most
meats, especially beef and most vegetables.
|
|
Mulberry
|
The smell is sweet
and reminds one of apple
|
Beef, poultry, game
birds, pork (particularly ham).
|
|
Oak
|
One of the most
popular wood's, Heavy smoke flavor.
|
Good with red meat,
pork, fish and heavy game.
|
|
Peach
|
Slightly sweet,
woodsy flavor.
|
Good with most
meats.
|
|
Pear
|
Slightly sweet,
woodsy flavor.
|
Poultry, game birds
and pork.
|
|
Pecan
|
Similar to
hickory, but not as strong. Try smoking with the shells as well.
|
Good for most needs
|
|
Plum
|
The flavor is
milder and sweeter than hickory
|
Good with most
meats.
|
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Walnut
|
Very heavy smoke
flavor, usually mixed with lighter woods like pecan or apple. Can
be bitter if used alone.
|
Good with red meats
and game.
|
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These different types of barbecue wood can be ordered online from many companies specializing in barbecue wood and bbq pellets.
This will take you Home to Texas Barbeque from the Barbecue Wood Page
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