Wood for smoking?

[hunterjmj]

What are you guys using to smoke meat that don't have access to fruit woods, hickory, oak, etc. We have endless supplies of Caragana but not sure how that would taste. I've used the chips you can buy but it's spendy and would like to use big chunks.

 

[JD Jones]

Not sure where you are but seeking out oak or pecan logs is my advice. Also not sure how you’re smoking your meat but chips is a fool’s errand. As you mentioned they are costly and frankly don’t really serve as a true smoke that cooks the meat

 

[hunterjmj]

Not sure where you are but seeking out oak or pecan logs is my advice. Also not sure how you’re smoking your meat but chips is a fool’s errand. As you mentioned they are costly and frankly don’t really serve as a true smoke that cooks the meat

Yeah, I've bought the chips but it's kind of stupid. I'm in central montana so not much for hard wood.

 

[cnelk]

Any alder up there?

 

[hunterjmj]

Not that I know of. We do have aspen, cottonwood and caraganas.

 

[Runningwater]

Cottonwood works well. I tried it after reading some old Russel Annabel. He claimed it a favorite in smoking black bear hams back in the 30s/40s in AK. It's very pleasant, fairly mild - a little like alder. Good luck!

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Apple, Maple?

 

[hunterjmj]

Apple, Maple?

Nope.

 

[hunterjmj]

My wife's family is from Omaha so I may load up on some hardwood when we're back. In mean time I'll get me some cottonwood

 

[Team4LongGun]

Home Depot sells the apple wood chunks-still pricey, but much better than chips.

I prefer apple for all my smoking

 

[JD Jones]

My wife's family is from Omaha so I may load up on some hardwood when we're back. In mean time I'll get me some cottonwood

This is a good move. If you’re into smoking meat thru the year just buy up a cord of oak wood and rent a uhaul! Nothing beats a dry heat of a wood fire and some meat cooking for hours on end! It’s practically a religion down here in Texas

 

[hunterjmj]

This is a good move. If you’re into smoking meat thru the year just buy up a cord of oak wood and rent a uhaul! Nothing beats a dry heat of a wood fire and some meat cooking for hours on end! It’s practically a religion down here in Texas

I thought about hauling my trailer but a uhaul may fit the bill better depending on cost. Thanks for the idea.

 

[cnelk]

There's gotta be some crab apple trees up there. Maybe put an ad on marketplace or CL offering to prune or cut any un-needed fruit trees in the area

 

[hunterjmj]

There's gotta be some crab apple trees up there. Maybe put an ad on marketplace or CL offering to prune or cut any un-needed fruit trees in the area

Good idea. I'm sure they are around.

 

[Waterboy]

The type of wood I use depends on the meat I’m smoking. It’s all a preference. I haven’t smoked something and not liked it based off the smoke flavor. Get what you can in chunks if possible. kingsford makes/made infused charcoal if you can go that route.

 

[Phaseolus]

What are you guys using to smoke meat that don't have access to fruit woods, hickory, oak, etc. We have endless supplies of Caragana but not sure how that would taste. I've used the chips you can buy but it's spendy and would like to use big chunks.

Oakbrush makes great smoke

 

[Dust Rider]

We just don’t have good smoking wood in these parts. Have to buy it or find stash source. We just started a grove of fruit trees last year. Plum, crab, apple and peach. Figure we will eventually get limbs for smoking and fruit for pies and schnapps in a decade or so. Odds are 1/3 will die and deer will plunder, but will keep trying as we only have time.

 

[wytx]

I'm betting there are some alder bushes growing along the wet areas, and some fruit trees in town.

We make a drive to Texas every year just for smoking wood, and hogs. Red oak, post oak and pecan came back this year.

 

[hunterjmj]

I got to looking at Craigslist in Omaha and I can get a bunch of hardwoods there. we're going in June so I'll bring my trailer and load up.

 

[hunterjmj]

I'm betting there are some alder bushes growing along the wet areas, and some fruit trees in town.

We make a drive to Texas every year just for smoking wood, and hogs. Red oak, post oak and pecan came back this year.

That would be nice to bring hogs back. Not sure where in Wyoming you're from but we buy the best dang bbq sauce from some people in Casper. Smoking Armadillo is the name of it.