What Kind Of Wood Is Best For Smoking Food?

There is no easy way of giving a definitive answer since this is all a matter of personal taste. Personally I like the taste of oak. I have friends that say mesquite or hickory is the only wood they will cook with. However, what I have done is put together a chart below from information I have gathered from around the net. I have paired up types of food with the best woods that compliment them well and provided a short description of the characteristics of that wood. This has no scientific merit but it is a compilation of what I have found by reading many many recipes from some of the best grill masters around the county. So here it goes:

Wood Type	Characteristics	Good Food Matches
Hickory	Strong, smoky, bacon style flavor.	Pork, chicken, beef, wild game, cheeses.
Pecan	Rich and not as strong as hickory, similar in taste. Burns cooler, so works good for low heat smoking.	Pork, chicken, lamb, fish, cheeses.
Mesquite	Sweet flavor, delicate flavor. Burns hot, so use carefully.	Most meats, especially beef. Most vegetables.
Alder	Light flavor that works well with lighter meats.	Salmon, swordfish, sturgeon, other fish. Also good with chicken and pork.
Oak	Upfront taste but pleasant flavor. Works well with many textures and flavors.	Beef (particularly brisket), poultry, pork.
Maple	A light smoky taste with a hint of sweetness. Mixes well with corn on the cob ham or bacon.	Poultry, vegetables, ham.
Cherry	Light sweet taste and fruity smoke flavor.	Poultry, game birds, pork.
Apple	Sweet like cherry but a stronger fruity smoke flavor.	Beef, poultry, game birds, pork (particularly ham).
Peach or Pear	A hint of sweetness with a strong wood taste.	Poultry, game birds, pork.
Grape vines	Distinct smell but fruity as well.	Turkey, chicken, beef.
Wine barrel chips	The addition of wine adds great smell and distinct flavor.	Beef, turkey, chicken, cheeses.

*Important: Never use wood intended for any type of construction such as old lumber or furniture. These woods usually are always treated with chemicals and they may make you sick, and to kick you while you are down they also can ruin your grill as well. Happy grilling!

What kind a wood do you use and for what foods?

What Kind Of Smoker Do I Need?

There are only generally 2 different styles of charcoal smokers you should be concerned about. However, any smoker grill is going to give you the best tasting food you have enjoyed. Meat that is cooked on a smoker will produce a very tender and flavorful meal. Barbecue smoker grills are manufactured in several sizes and have a variety of features and options.

The design of a smoker grill is what sets it apart from traditional style charcoal grills. Most people are more familiar with a traditional smoker grill or called a dedicated smoker, these grills are dedicated to only smoke cooking meats. Although, there are those that can be used as either a smoker or traditional style grill called combo grills. Some of my friends own both but I prefer the flexibility of a combo grill. The style of grill that works best for you will depend on your budget and needs. Let’s talk about each of these types of grills.

Traditional Charcoal Smoker or Dedicated smoker.

First is the dedicated smoker. I call it a dedicated smoker because it is specially designed to only smoke meats and it does it very well. The major difference is the shape. These grills are usually upright and kind of a bullet shape. This specialized design makes it perfect for slow cooking and smoking meats. Also this grill is designed so that the outside doesn’t get very hot making it safe since it usually sits low to the ground. Normally inside this type of grill you will find a water bowl and wood chip/charcoal bowl that work together to hold in the flavor and moisture. Meats will need to be smoked for several hours before done, but this time is worth the wonderful flavor you will get.

The Combo Griller and Smoker with Smoke box.

Next is the combo grill/smoker. Actually this style is quickly becoming very popular because of its ability to function as both. If you are entertaining a lot of friends and family then a combo will serve well in this capacity. If you just want to smoke a brisket or some ribs then it will do this task equally as well too. The way this grill accomplishes both tasks well is because of the “smoker box.” This is a secondary chamber that hangs off the side of the grill that will allow you put your charcoal and wood in while the meat will slow cook in the larger section.


The type of grill that you need will greatly depend on budget and needs. If you don't mind having two grills or only want a grill to smoke meat then a dedicated smoker grill will provide you years of great service. On the other hand if you would like a do-it-all style grill then a combo charcoal smoker grill will suit your needs best. Sound off and let me hear your thoughts about these two types of grills.

Charcoal Grill vs Gas Grill

The argument over which is better between charcoal and gas can get pretty heated at times…pardon the pun. What it all actually boils down to is flavor vs. convenience.

Smoker Charcoal Grill
For the purist and those that prefer the great smoked flavor of grilled food then the way to go is a charcoal grill or smoker grill. Sometimes also called a smoke pit. Nothing else can give you that delicious original flavor of smoke. Even those absurd liquid smoke concoctions don’t even come close.

Gas Grill
Now for those that like to be able to pop a steak on the grill quickly with out a lot of fuss then your best bet is to buy a gas grill. Gas grills are for those that feel convenience is a fair trade off for flavor. Shame on you!

There is also the option of an electric grill but I’m not even going to entertain an atrocity of a creation with another sentence on this blog…. ever!

Also, cost should be a factor of this debate since these things don’t grow on trees you know. Chalk up another point for charcoal grills. A very high quality large smoker grill would set you back between $180 to $400 depending upon size and manufacturer. On the other hand you could spend $180 for an el-cheapo gas grill at Wal-Mart to a grill that is well into the thousands so you can look cool and cook bad food.

As you can tell my opinion is a bit biased but hey, this is my blog. If you disagree get your own blog, they are free. So if you have some ammo one way or another on this debate, shoot back and let me hear what you think.

For The True Barbecue Grill & Smoker Fan!

There may be many ways to cook outdoors, but there is only one true way of turning ordinary meat into something special and that’s to cook with a barbecue grill smoker. Sure I could cook with gas with less mess and hassle but to a loyalist like me, gas could never replace the taste that a smoker grill creates.

I, myself, was a gas grill owner until after tasting my father in-law’s smoked brisket. I tried to make my own brisket on a gas grill and it didn’t have near the flavor as his. From that day on I have never cooked with anything but charcoal and wood. I have started this blog to help people by giving them a source of tips, tricks and how to’s about barbecue grills and smokers as well as recipes, ideas and getting the right smoker grill for you.