Smokin-It User Forum!
Woods => What type of tree do you use? => Topic started by: Jimeo on September 04, 2017, 03:59:12 PM
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Did a couple of smokes over the holiday weekend which gave me the chance to really dig through the box of wood I had ordered from them. I hadn't noticed before but many of the chunks, cherry and post oak, have bark on them.
What's the general opinion on the use of wood with bark? Guess I'm wondering if I should clean up the pieces before use.
Thoughts and opinions appreciated!
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I strip bark off all my wood if present. Years ago I read where it can produce a bitter taste. Whether it does or doesn't I cannot say, but I am happy with the results I get from naked wood.
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FWIW I've read the same thing about it causing bitterness. But I did mix a tiny amount of barked wood in the wood box this weekend and I didn't pick up any bitterness. All bark might have caused bitterness, but maybe mingling it in small amounts is ok.
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You worry too much, it's a tree trees have bark burn the tree eat the food.
I do know that in Alaska the strip the bark from green alder wood prior to smoking salmon.
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I think the bark issue is all about ratio of bark to wood. I almost exclusively use wood from yard trees that have been pruned or removed from friends' yards and don't remove the bark. I just make sure that the pieces aren't so small that the bark to wood ratio is too great.