Is it bad to mix wood chips with wood chunks?

[Nikk]

Extreme newbie here, just got my model #1 a couple of days ago and I'm about to do my first smoke today - St. Louis style ribs!  I have some wood chips leftover from a previous propane smoker that I barely used (and I came to find out I was approaching smoking entirely wrong), and I was wondering if it's bad practice to use both chips and chunks in the electric smoker?  I currently have some maple wood chunks leftover and the hickory that came with the smoker.

Excited to be a part of the community!

 

[Stevegardner]

Won’t hurt a thing. Did you season your smoker? Highly recommended. Either way, you are fine mixing chips and chunks. Good luck with your maiden smoke!

 

[LarryD]

There's absolutely no problem mixing them.  Just keep in mind that you don't need a lot of wood for ribs.  3 oz maximum.  If you don't have a scale then think of wooden alphabet blocks that children play with; each block is ~1 oz.

 

[Nikk]

Thanks Steve and Larry! I did the initial season and used 2 blocks for my first set of ribs, which came to be right around 3 oz.  Hopefully it's not too much, but I got antsy and started the smoke before I saw the reply that I could mix chips in with it.  This is good to know for the future!  I'll be sure to post some pics when it's done.

 

[Nikk]

Attached is a picture before I started the smoke.  I should note that I didn't forget to add water, it's just not in the picture

 

[LarryD]

Water won't hurt anything and I don't use it for ribs.  Hope you enjoy them!

 

[Stevegardner]

I have never used a water pan in a smoker like this. They are plenty moist without a water pan. Just my opinion, but I have never considered it.

 

[old sarge]

Welcome to the forum from SE Arizona.  Enjoy!

 

[barelfly]

Welcome! And I use both chips and chunks when I smoke things that are shorter in time in the box. Pork belly’s for bacon, fish.

Hope the ribs turn out wonderful!