Which Oak to avoid

Dumb Machinist · 04-21-2019, 11:15 PM

I saw an add on Facebook earlier about free wood. I asked if it was Oak, they replied yes. It wasnt until I got home and unloaded the wood that I recalled hearing that certain types of Oak werent to be used for smoking. Is there any truth to this and if so, which typea are to be avoided. Google wasnt much help on finding my answer. Thanks for helping a newb out

stephan · 04-21-2019, 11:20 PM

Not that Im aware of.

Gimmethecash · 04-22-2019, 12:56 AM

Same here.

IamMadMan · 04-22-2019, 03:16 AM

News to me, but then again, maybe I have lived a sheltered life?

ronbrad62 · 04-22-2019, 03:51 AM

Nothing here, either. I have heard that hardwoods and fruit woods are the ones to go with.

mike243 · 04-22-2019, 05:43 AM

Poison oak lol , none that I ever heard of ,smoke with confidence

orangeblood · 04-22-2019, 02:48 PM

since youre close to houston, most of the oak will live, post, white or red oak. none of those will be a problem

4ever3 · 04-22-2019, 03:27 PM

I’ll take poison oak for $1000 Alex...

BigThicket · 04-23-2019, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4ever3

I’ll take poison oak for $1000 Alex...

This. Any other type of oak is fine. I typically use Red Oak these days.

https://www.wikihow.com/Identify-Poison-Oak

OSD · 04-23-2019, 09:11 AM

Oak is good. I haven't heard of any bad species of oak.
And poison oak doesn't count. It's not a tree. It's a small plant, shrub ??, or vine. Much like poison Ivy.

HankB · 04-23-2019, 01:08 PM

I've heard that Elm is not good as are any of the conifers. Never heard of a bad oak.

I've also heard that Black Walnut is bad but I've tried it and it works well for me. It's a nut tree after all. (But they're really bad for horses.)

bschoen · 04-23-2019, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSD

Oak is good. I haven't heard of any bad species of oak.
And poison oak doesn't count. It's not a tree. It's a small plant, shrub ??, or vine. Much like poison Ivy.

Ding ding ding, Alex, get that prize back!. Poison oak is not an oak, but a sumac, oak trees are of genus Quercus, it is in the Beech family. I believe, but do not know, that any thing in the quercus genus is ok for smoking; some may be better than others.

Joe Black · 04-23-2019, 03:47 PM

As long as it’s seasoned, it should be good to go. I’ve never seen any difference.

Rodomac · 04-23-2019, 07:51 PM

Has anyone used oak that has been killed by oak wilt? I have a buddy who sadly has a ranch that has been hit with oak wilt and needs the trees cut. Most of the trees are live oak.
My understanding is that if you let it season for at least a year it will not spread the fungus to other trees and I don’t want to kill any of my oak trees.
So with that, does the fungus change the smoke quality of your BBQ? Does it cause a bitter flavor to your meat?

SMOKE FREAK · 04-23-2019, 08:28 PM

Oak is from the same family of trees as Hickory...
Some types of hickory are better than others and the same is true with oak...But ALL are good for smoking with...

04-21-2019, 11:15 PM	#1
Dumb Machinist Wandering around with a bag of matchlight, looking for a match. Join Date: 12-17-18 Location: Cypress, Texas Name/Nickname : Shaun	Which Oak to avoid I saw an add on Facebook earlier about free wood. I asked if it was Oak, they replied yes. It wasnt until I got home and unloaded the wood that I recalled hearing that certain types of Oak werent to be used for smoking. Is there any truth to this and if so, which typea are to be avoided. Google wasnt much help on finding my answer. Thanks for helping a newb out

04-21-2019, 11:20 PM	#2
stephan is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-02-10 Location: lake grove, new york	Not that Im aware of. __________________ PITMAKER SAFE WSM WEBER KETTLE JENAIR GASSER

04-22-2019, 12:56 AM	#3
Gimmethecash is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-06-19 Location: Pasadena, CA Name/Nickname : Steven	Same here. __________________ AZ BBQ Grills Scottsdale Weber Performer Deluxe MGrills M1, C4, M16 Camp Chef FTG600 Cookshack Amerique 2 x Sous Vide Supreme Minipack MV31X

04-22-2019, 03:51 AM	#5
ronbrad62 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-16-16 Location: Johns Creek, Ga. Name/Nickname : Ron	Nothing here, either. I have heard that hardwoods and fruit woods are the ones to go with. __________________ Ron Join us for the South East Bash in Lebanon, Tn. May 4, 2024 (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...usp=drivesdk)] Bash planning thread here https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/s...d.php?t=305951

04-22-2019, 05:43 AM	#6
mike243 is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-13-16 Location: above knoxville Tn Name/Nickname : Mike	Poison oak lol , none that I ever heard of ,smoke with confidence __________________ WeberPerformer,SpiritE310,Q1000,36"BlackstoneGriddle Masterbuilt electric smoker,PB AustinLX

04-22-2019, 03:16 AM	#4
IamMadMan somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-30-11 Location: Pemberton, New Jersey	News to me, but then again, maybe I have lived a sheltered life?

04-22-2019, 02:48 PM	#7
orangeblood Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-16-08 Location: Texas	since youre close to houston, most of the oak will live, post, white or red oak. none of those will be a problem

04-22-2019, 03:27 PM	#8
4ever3 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-29-12 Location: Tulsa	I’ll take poison oak for $1000 Alex... __________________ Jeremy Old Oklahoma Joe (Opal) GMG TREK (Greta Thunberg) Weber Summit Charcoal (Waylon) MAK 2 Star (Maybel) 2x “Unfortunately nothing wrong with that” Bob C Que… I must be living right (somehow…)

04-23-2019, 09:11 AM	#10
OSD is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-22-05 Location: Pinellas Park, Fl.	Oak is good. I haven't heard of any bad species of oak. And poison oak doesn't count. It's not a tree. It's a small plant, shrub ??, or vine. Much like poison Ivy. __________________ Jim

04-23-2019, 01:08 PM	#11
HankB is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-16-12 Location: Winfield, IL	I've heard that Elm is not good as are any of the conifers. Never heard of a bad oak. I've also heard that Black Walnut is bad but I've tried it and it works well for me. It's a nut tree after all. (But they're really bad for horses.) __________________ Weber Crazy

04-23-2019, 03:47 PM	#13
Joe Black Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-05-14 Location: Greenville, SC	As long as it’s seasoned, it should be good to go. I’ve never seen any difference. __________________ 24"x48" Bell Fab offset 22" Weber Premium Kettle Char-Grill gasser

04-23-2019, 07:51 PM	#14
Rodomac Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 05-27-12 Location: TX Hill Country	Has anyone used oak that has been killed by oak wilt? I have a buddy who sadly has a ranch that has been hit with oak wilt and needs the trees cut. Most of the trees are live oak. My understanding is that if you let it season for at least a year it will not spread the fungus to other trees and I don’t want to kill any of my oak trees. So with that, does the fungus change the smoke quality of your BBQ? Does it cause a bitter flavor to your meat?

04-23-2019, 08:28 PM	#15
SMOKE FREAK Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-03-16 Location: McPherson Kansas	Oak is from the same family of trees as Hickory... Some types of hickory are better than others and the same is true with oak...But ALL are good for smoking with... __________________ Craig