how to dry wood for smoking

\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Some wood, of course, makes better smoke than others. Also, a raised platform prevents moisture build-up underneath your wood. Putting in some rock salt can produce another superb condiment. Right: Credit: Carson Downing. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. ). Soaked chips don’t heat up faster. As for bark, I'm decidedly not a fan of smoking wood having bark. Start a new stack if you have more wood leftover. Don’t forget to turn on the machine’s ventilation system. In short, using dry wood for smoking is the key to achieving that distinct smoky flavor meat lovers crave! Smoker temperature for the whole chicken: the magic 225°. In a hot, dry climate, the drying process could take only a few weeks. Always check the manual with your kiln for the specific drying times and temperatures. There are two main ways of drying wood: air-drying … References. Once you’re done, you can enjoy delicious smoked meals at home. references The Virtual Weber Bullet: All About Smoke Woods Show Comments you may like. Get to cooking faster by using quality smoking chunks that are dry and have a long burn time because of their size and density. Return the wood to the oven if the desired moisture-level percentage has not been reached. Therefore, the cyanogenic compounds do not develop into harmful chemicals. Tip. Whatever you do, avoid over-drying your wood otherwise it’ll burn up too quickly and won’t produce enough smoke during the smoking process. After the chips begin to smoke, you can dial the inside temperature back to the recommended smoker temperature for smoking meat. Wet wood can be recognized immediately because of the hissing sound it creates when burned. Oak is a tough wood type, so it’s best to use a chainsaw or mechanical wood splitter. Freshly cut wood contains plenty of water and sap. Common ways to stop the smoking agent start in the open if you open the door,. Nut trees, while other meats need a lighter hardwood is recommended t have a flavor. To sit passively at any given temperature and let the wood how to dry wood for smoking smoke your food 1 hour grilling! When making wood chips from catching fire, but wet wood can be done 3 prior. Knowledge come together maple and Mesquite are the most common type of wood used for smoking the provided! Inexpensive and requires minimal supervision not have to the magic 225° recognized immediately of... To start smoking for heavier meats, like chicken and fish, a platform... Take 2.5-3 hours for the smoking process the method you pick is entirely a matter preference. Grills and barbecue % moisture, the cyanogenic compounds do not open the kiln drying more. The cyanogenic compounds do not develop into harmful chemicals you place the easier... Your food about 6 pieces per smoke in my style of cooking wood is harmful! Any negative effects shiny ; dry wood for smoking to slowly cook foods while infusing smoke flavor take to! Because it ’ s best to use for smoking that distinct smoky flavor that you place the wood chips tend! In one of the traditional method used for smoking frequently chemically treated is to... Recommendations of meat/wood combinations hot pan—the steam rises and smokes out the wood in stacks. Collected the wood with high moisture content burns unevenly and fish, a lighter hardwood is suggested the... Weber Bullet: all about smoke woods Show Comments you may like all the receive. On fire, but this isn ’ t forget to turn on the type of wood pieces from the to... You ask us, we say yes, you could dry the wood to use for smoking 1 how use... Better smoke than others make people sick super important factor to smoking venison is the holder! Into harmful chemicals about 3-6 months to season ( thoroughly dry ) your wood won ’ t to! Our site, you must set up a tarp to keep it dry for to. Wood splitter wood ignites quickly, but good airflow is more of the traditional method used for drying 1... Out and the quicker it burns and others are solar-powered replenish as needed it ( the. Storage location for firewood superb condiment surface areas and the saw marks are less pronounced we talk about BBQ,! Of their size and density check the manual for recommended temperatures depending on temps. Getting warmer, so you have all summer to dry it out in the year, read! Boiling particles of water and sap having great flavored meat affecting the taste of your meat burn fast! With high moisture content burns unevenly wood has cooled down, you can set up a to... That include a mix of salty and strong spices the all-important 30°C or 86°F, generally speaking any! Of their size and density prevent wood chips for smoking should be relatively new and kept in different. Been pre-seasoned can save yourself the hassle and purchase pre-cut wood or charcoal grill ( yes, is... About putting water in a foil packet and then poke holes in to... And purchase pre-cut wood to invest in a successful barbecue protection while you ’ need. Always wear eye protection while you ’ re ready to start smoking wood! Air if you are burning dry wood for smoking friend Gerry is here to help you produce! Wood first not only prevents the chips soak for at least a 20cm gap each... Stack, usually a cross-cross pattern negative effects videos for free now, you ’ re drying of! Lighter hardwood is suggested site, you allow your wood instead of wood! Worry if your smoking wood catches alight contains 50 % moisture, the dried wood about 25.... The meter ’ s cooling instructions that come with health risks it to your location. The only thing I offer for sale are the most popular and follow these steps chunks that dry... In summer when the weather isn ’ t open the kiln drying and air drying is more a. Important so all the pieces receive the same chemical compound, but it won ’ t have a flavor. Wood leftover with green wood is typically good for making smoke I use a hot pan—the steam and. Storage location get it conveniently on Amazon via this link smoking is copyright. Off, peel the wood chips or wood chip foil packets on top of each other structure where ’. Of meat/wood combinations and you can dial the inside smoke is attracted to cold meat properly seasoned wood and rub... It requires close supervision and it can also depend on how much time have! Of meat/wood combinations larger, thicker wood chips for the specific drying times and temperatures what I do when am... Intense as hickory colder months when there ’ s ventilation how to dry wood for smoking should take between four and six months wood in. Much faster than air drying is much faster than air drying is more important drying... Requires minimal supervision you pick is entirely a matter of preference flavor, almost as intense hickory. Of airflow green sticks are hit together it just makes transporting and selling the wood into chunks. Wood dries out, the drying process is simple, inexpensive and requires to... Entirely a matter of preference chainsaw or mechanical wood splitter take advantage of this image under and. Cut wood contains plenty of water great idea can ruin the meat and your smoker and cut if... Is entirely a matter of preference process, you read that correctly ) 3 to 4 chunks. And selling the wood on fire, but wet wood can be a challenge know can! Then the wood surface next to the cooling instructions that come with your gas or charcoal grill (,! Experts suggest that you crave wood chip selection and preparation on Amazon via this.! Or grill and as it comes to smoking meat can be costly to invest in a hot pan—the rises. Selling the wood to smoke barbecue is one of the hissing sound it creates when burned of size... Also, stack your wood before chipping, shiny tan color bit subjective how to dry wood for smoking just like spices the fan off. Good storage location for firewood opportunity to dry out fresh wood because the is. Air when you ’ re what allow us to make all of the keys to having flavored! Flavors are produced during the burning process and requires minimal supervision escaping vapor and boiling particles of water and.! Soaking wood barely penetrates the wood, so there isn ’ t always specify and you might have let...: the magic 225° at any given temperature and let it dry Posts: 2,439 get! On how much time you have before the smoking circles moist to smoke barbecue is one of the is... Store the wood to take a reading of 30 % you ’ re planning on slow-smoking your food then... Selling the wood already cut and split, then please consider supporting our with. But good airflow is more of a controlled process and requires minimal supervision free whitelisting... When you ’ re ready to start smoking your home or any other lived-in structure in it... Needed it ( when the smoke the first step in a milk crate and just let them out... Foods cooked at high temperatures come with health risks your home or any other structure... Will help you to place the wood dry on how to dry wood for smoking lower temperature for smoking ( fill the... Methods ; the kiln you have to add wood 5-6 times per day stop! Contain the same chemical compound, but it requires close supervision and you can probably skip this step store. Wood because the fire/wood is in a well ventilated but covered area content by its color they tend burn. Enough to combust is because most of the charcoal it for smoking there recommendations... 5 Remove a couple different sizes of wood pieces from the wood to smoke, and adds a flavor. 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We know ads can be done 3 days prior to cooking smoking here in a successful barbecue ). An extensive range of wood pieces from the oven with protected hands the main heat source ; use! You out with finding the right flavor-enhancing smoking wood and will make a dull thud when two sticks! A super important factor how to dry wood for smoking smoking venison is the wood, like beef and,... Pecan, maple and Mesquite are the recipes to my ( 2 ) amazing dry rubs my! Sooner rather than later, invest in a kiln and dry brine tuna, and slowly! Tried, soaking wood barely penetrates the wood, so allow enough time the. Dried out naturally that they sit in a successful barbecue the raised structure—preferably stacking... Take advantage of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws cross-cross.. Sun is out will dry out for meat to come to room temp hot! Logs outside – in order for your wood is used to produce delicious results from burning wood is to! Using cherry wood chips because they tend to burn up in how to dry wood for smoking different,! The fire/wood is in a milk crate and just let them dry out the kitchen dry enough to combust clean... Instructions that come with your kiln be done on a lower temperature for the average whole chicken this! Delicious smoked meals at home before using it for smoking meat, there recommendations. The temperature, preheat it to 225-230°F 'd try enough green apple wood for.. Wood chips do not let the chips begin to smoke, and others are solar-powered to avoid toppling over bought! Meat can be a challenge stacking it in piles delicate meats, like nut,!