Ash Wood for Smoking?

[kcquer]

Done some searches here and on the net, tough subject as so many returns are about the residue of burning and not the species of wood.

One description of "fast burning, light flavored" comes up repeatedly, from same source as our wood guide in files.

I have acess to some cheap ash, not sure if its any good or not.

Have you used ash and how do you like it, what is it good on etc.

[The_Kapn]

KC,
Never smoked with ash, but did burn it in the fireplace last year.
Here is what I know:
Hard and dense.
Twisted grain and you need a hydraulic splitter to split it.
Burns hot and quick in fireplace.
Rots quickly if exposed to rain, water, etc.
Bugs love it!
Hope this helps a bit.
TIM

[david]

We use it once in awhile when I can get it. Sort of like oak-light.

[Wayne]

Never used ash. I usually like to stick to fruit and nut trees (pear, apple, cherry, hickory, walnut, hedge, etc) and do not know what family ash belongs to. Lots of old Kansas BBQ cooks swear by hedge. It is also called Osage Orange and is a fruit wood. Turns chicken really, really black but does a nice job on beef and pork. And I never smoke with mesquite. It is just too strong and is reserved for grilling only.

[Neil]

Ash puts out some good heat and good smoke. I like to mix it with cherry.

[midnight]

Ash is what you have in the bottom of your fire box AFTER a cook!

All kidding aside, I use mostly Ash when I smoke. It has a very light flavor so I usualy add another wood for flavor (Apple, cherry, hickory, pecan, etc.) It burns great, and has very nice coals when burned. I usualy debark my wood but I don't think it makes any difference.
Give it a try and see how you like it, I am sure it wont be bad.

[HickoryNut]

Ash smoke is olfactorally offensive to me. Its leaves look very similar to hickory so I often cut up a bit by accident and when it makes it to the firebox, pewee, where's my tongs. I have white ash in my woodlot so I can't speak for the northern varieties.

[tommykendall]

http://www.msue.msu.edu/reg_se/roberts/ash/ashtree_id.html

The leaves of Ash is very similar to Hickory, but with one exception the location of the leaflets on the branch/stem is a pretty good giveaway. I almost made the mistake of loading my truck with Ash in MD.

[Bigdog]

Ash smoke is olfactorally offensive to me. Its leaves look very similar to hickory so I often cut up a bit by accident and when it makes it to the firebox, pewee, where's my tongs. I have white ash in my woodlot so I can't speak for the northern varieties.

Must have been one that was growing in an "ash hole." :oops:

[kcquer]

Ash is what you have in the bottom of your fire box AFTER a cook!

This was the big problem with my searches before posting!
I picked up a few sticks of what's available, it's waayyy green. Figured it probably was by the weight, I've handled a lot of ash over the years at work. Kiln dried ash lumber is very light compared to oak. I may buy a little more just to have around next summer just because it is so cheap, but I think my wood$ would be better spent on cherry, hickory and apple.

[willkat98]

I got white ash

[Bigdog]

I got white ash

You could fix that by spending some time in a tanning booth. :wink:

[midnight]

[/quote]
This was the big problem with my searches before posting!
I picked up a few sticks of what's available, it's waayyy green. Figured it probably was by the weight, I've handled a lot of ash over the years at work. Kiln dried ash lumber is very light compared to oak. I may buy a little more just to have around next summer just because it is so cheap, but I think my wood$ would be better spent on cherry, hickory and apple.[/quote]

If you have other wood availiable (hickory, oak, cherry,etc.) I would use that.
The only other wood I have in abundance is "morning wood" and that don't burn so well :shock:

[MrSmoker]

This was the big problem with my searches before posting!
I picked up a few sticks of what's available, it's waayyy green. Figured it probably was by the weight, I've handled a lot of ash over the years at work. Kiln dried ash lumber is very light compared to oak. I may buy a little more just to have around next summer just because it is so cheap, but I think my wood$ would be better spent on cherry, hickory and apple.[/quote]

If you have other wood availiable (hickory, oak, cherry,etc.) I would use that.
The only other wood I have in abundance is "morning wood" and that don't burn so well :shock:[/quote]Well now i'm an old farker but i remeber my mourning wood burning like hell even after i got to work. That's my story and i'm sticking to it. :wink: