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Woods => What type of tree do you use? => Topic started by: Jimeo on September 04, 2017, 03:59:12 PM

Title: Bark on Fruita Wood
Post by: Jimeo on September 04, 2017, 03:59:12 PM
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!
Title: Re: Bark on Fruita Wood
Post by: old sarge on September 04, 2017, 10:09:53 PM
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.
Title: Re: Bark on Fruita Wood
Post by: dcbt on September 05, 2017, 06:48:01 AM
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.
Title: Re: Bark on Fruita Wood
Post by: Pork Belly on September 05, 2017, 08:16:07 AM
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.
Title: Re: Bark on Fruita Wood
Post by: SuperDave on September 06, 2017, 09:04:51 AM
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.