Burning green wood. - Page 2

orangeblood · 11-30-2012, 05:27 PM

why would someone use green wood?...is there a taste difference?

cant imagine why someone would do this other than need.

1MoreFord · 11-30-2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swine Spectator

........ After Hurricane Issac passed through, I cut quite a bit of oak and pecan. It has been drying for the past three months. I am curious about how long I should let it dry. Any thoughts?

Since you're down in southern Louisiana where it's always nice and dry

I'd wait at least a year.

1MoreFord · 11-30-2012, 07:14 PM

When I was a young and dumb teenager and didn't know any better I used green hickory for flavor in an ECB. That's what my father advised me to do in a tone that sounded like he had used it before. My father was an ole timer who was raised on a farm, so I expected he had seen some smoke houses in action and didn't argue. I'd go out on the wooded lot next door and cut down a *small* hickory sapling or a branch off a tree and cut it into lengths that would fit in the ECB. Of course these small sticks went on top of a bed of charcoal. The fresh green wood wouldn't burn for a very long time and the aroma was great. This is the ultimate version of what folks try to accomplish by soaking wood.

If I cut too much wood and tried to use it again later it just didn't work as well-as in smell as good or impart as good a flavor. IMO, it's wood that's in between absolute fresh green and not seasoned yet that's the real trick to cook with. My experience with small amounts of cut today and cooked with today hickory was totally positive but when I've tried to burn a normal sized split of less than fully seasoned wood is where I've always had problems.

CarolinaQue · 11-30-2012, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirPorkaLot

Depends on the cooker.

I use green wood on my offset, and with a HOT fire in the firebox (well in excess of 350F above the fire), I get a nice stream of 250F smoke across the meat.

This past Thanksgiving I made the best Turkey ever (according to the rave reviews), using a 1/2 bag of charcoal as a base fire, I cooked the bird for 5.5 hours on nothing but partially seasoned (cut this past spring) peach wood.

The smoke flavor was delicate & consistent throughout the bird and rivaled some of the best smoked turkeys I've ever eaten.

Don't be afraid of green wood. Experiment with it until you get it right.

Not sure that 6 months or so of drying would still make wood very "green".

I understand what you're saying, and that's why I referenced a bed of coals giving you a 350* fire when using green wood for smoke.

1MoreFord · 11-30-2012, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolinaQue

Not sure that 6 months or so of drying would still make wood very "green".

I understand what you're saying, and that's why I referenced a bed of coals giving you a 350* fire when using green wood for smoke.

IMO 6 months of seasoning usually makes for un-seasoned wood. It won't smoke like fresh cut wood and it won't burn like seasoned wood. AKA the worst of both scenarios. YMMV

CarolinaQue · 12-01-2012, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1MoreFord

IMO 6 months of seasoning usually makes for un-seasoned wood. It won't smoke like fresh cut wood and it won't burn like seasoned wood. AKA the worst of both scenarios. YMMV

I guess that in my mind, "green" wood is in the fresh cut to 3 or 4 months. Depending on the size of the splits and the species of wood, 6 months and out could be pretty decent to smoke with if there's a good enough bed of coals.

1MoreFord · 12-01-2012, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolinaQue

I guess that in my mind, "green" wood is in the fresh cut to 3 or 4 months. Depending on the size of the splits and the species of wood, 6 months and out could be pretty decent to smoke with if there's a good enough bed of coals.

That may work with some woods depending on the size of the pieces but my experience with ECB sized pieces was that even 1 or 2 week old pieces didn't work as well as fresh cut did. I'd be prepared to pull out an offending piece if it doesn't smell right.

tpope · 12-01-2012, 05:03 PM

I have added leaves stripped from a Hickory branch into a good bed of coals. Nice smoke flavor. Could be too much for some.

CarolinaQue · 12-01-2012, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tpope

I have added leaves stripped from a Hickory branch into a good bed of coals. Nice smoke flavor. Could be too much for some.

Not sure I'd burn leaves in my smoker due to many tree leaves putting off serious fumes when burned green.

11-30-2012, 07:14 PM	#18
1MoreFord is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 03-14-05 Location: N. Little Rock and Hot Springs, Arkansas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	When I was a young and dumb teenager and didn't know any better I used green hickory for flavor in an ECB. That's what my father advised me to do in a tone that sounded like he had used it before. My father was an ole timer who was raised on a farm, so I expected he had seen some smoke houses in action and didn't argue. I'd go out on the wooded lot next door and cut down a small hickory sapling or a branch off a tree and cut it into lengths that would fit in the ECB. Of course these small sticks went on top of a bed of charcoal. The fresh green wood wouldn't burn for a very long time and the aroma was great. This is the ultimate version of what folks try to accomplish by soaking wood. If I cut too much wood and tried to use it again later it just didn't work as well-as in smell as good or impart as good a flavor. IMO, it's wood that's in between absolute fresh green and not seasoned yet that's the real trick to cook with. My experience with small amounts of cut today and cooked with today hickory was totally positive but when I've tried to burn a normal sized split of less than fully seasoned wood is where I've always had problems. __________________ Joe

11-30-2012, 05:27 PM	#16
orangeblood Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-16-08 Location: Texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	why would someone use green wood?...is there a taste difference? cant imagine why someone would do this other than need.

12-01-2012, 05:03 PM	#23
tpope On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-13-12 Location: North West, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have added leaves stripped from a Hickory branch into a good bed of coals. Nice smoke flavor. Could be too much for some.