Can you smoke with green hickory or pecan wood?

friedoysters · 05-22-2013, 03:53 PM

I've done a fair bit of research on green hickory and pecan wood and if you can use it for smoking. Lot's of people say you can't and a FEW say you can if you have a big smoker that generate a hotter fire. However, there are a lot of restaurants that brag about using "Green Hickory" and that is all they use. Below are some of those restaurants. Seems to me that if all these restaurants are using green hickory it should be fine if you have a fair sized smoker with 1/4 inch steel. But I'm afraid to use it and I have tons of it. Can anyone advise me?

Here are some restaurants that use it.

http://www.ribshack.net/Full%20menu.pdf
http://www.kcrestaurantguide.com/origins_bbq.htm
http://www.lawrence.com/places/winslows_bbq/
http://woodspitbbq.com/menu_bbq.html

SmokinJohn · 05-22-2013, 04:00 PM

Not having eaten at these places, I can't vouch for them.

I have tried green wood before and the cook was over before it began. Mrs SJ. asked if I were burning small animals as a fuel source.

nucornhusker · 05-22-2013, 08:06 PM

I have used green pecan with pretty good luck, but I've only done that twice. You need to start with a good bed of coals then add a seasoned split every now and then to keep up the coal bed.

This was in my stickburner, I don't think I'd try it as wood chunks in a charcoal smoker. Try it and see what you think. Use either a cheap piece of meat (whole chicken) or an empty cooker to gauge the smell and test it out.

A local restaurant here uses green hickory and pecan from the same source I got my wood from and their food is amazing. They use it for grilling and the aroma and flavor are outstanding.

ssbbqguy · 05-23-2013, 07:11 AM

Is there no patience? Let it season with plenty of air circulation and use it in three to six months. Green woods are best left for advertising debates and to draw attention, like they did. Their food is not reaking of the green taste that most will aquire or they wouldn't be able to sell it. Steve.

cpw · 05-23-2013, 08:11 AM

I've had to cook with green pecan once or twice on a stickburner, only because we didn't have a choice. The only really negative effect of the green wood was that it was a huge pain to keep the fire hot and not smoldering. The meat still tasted fine IMO.

HeSmellsLikeSmoke · 05-23-2013, 08:55 AM

Since we are all looking for a clean burning fire I don't understand why anyone would consider using green wood which is problematic.

jmoney7269 · 05-23-2013, 09:11 AM

My pecan chunks I make start out a little green, but I always pop em in the Traeger @350 for a 3-4 hrs, and presto, perfectly toasted pecan chunks. I don't like the taste of green hardwoods, makes your meat black also.

05-22-2013, 03:53 PM	#1
friedoysters Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 12-10-12 Location: Dallas, TX	Can you smoke with green hickory or pecan wood? I've done a fair bit of research on green hickory and pecan wood and if you can use it for smoking. Lot's of people say you can't and a FEW say you can if you have a big smoker that generate a hotter fire. However, there are a lot of restaurants that brag about using "Green Hickory" and that is all they use. Below are some of those restaurants. Seems to me that if all these restaurants are using green hickory it should be fine if you have a fair sized smoker with 1/4 inch steel. But I'm afraid to use it and I have tons of it. Can anyone advise me? Here are some restaurants that use it. http://www.ribshack.net/Full%20menu.pdf http://www.kcrestaurantguide.com/origins_bbq.htm http://www.lawrence.com/places/winslows_bbq/ http://woodspitbbq.com/menu_bbq.html

05-22-2013, 04:00 PM	#2
SmokinJohn Babbling Farker Join Date: 10-15-12 Location: Anaheim, CA	Not having eaten at these places, I can't vouch for them. I have tried green wood before and the cook was over before it began. Mrs SJ. asked if I were burning small animals as a fuel source. __________________ Double Barrel Drum Smoker, UDS, ECB, Char-Broil gas grill & charcoal grills, Smokey Joe - Certified Moink Baller

05-22-2013, 08:06 PM	#3
nucornhusker Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-29-11 Location: Lincoln, NE	I have used green pecan with pretty good luck, but I've only done that twice. You need to start with a good bed of coals then add a seasoned split every now and then to keep up the coal bed. This was in my stickburner, I don't think I'd try it as wood chunks in a charcoal smoker. Try it and see what you think. Use either a cheap piece of meat (whole chicken) or an empty cooker to gauge the smell and test it out. A local restaurant here uses green hickory and pecan from the same source I got my wood from and their food is amazing. They use it for grilling and the aroma and flavor are outstanding. __________________ Yoder Smokers YS1500, Kamado Joe BigJoe & Joe Jr, IMBAS Certified MOINK Baller

05-23-2013, 08:11 AM	#5
cpw Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-28-11 Location: Savannah, Georgia Name/Nickname : Chad	I've had to cook with green pecan once or twice on a stickburner, only because we didn't have a choice. The only really negative effect of the green wood was that it was a huge pain to keep the fire hot and not smoldering. The meat still tasted fine IMO. __________________ ________________ [COLOR=Orange]Outlaw 2860 Porch Model[/COLOR] Lang 84 Deluxe Yoder YS640 Savannah, GA [URL="http://www.facebook.com/yesdearbbq"]Yes, Dear BBQ on Facebook[/URL] Proudly sponsored by Royal Oak Charcoal and [URL="https://www.atlantabbqstore.com/"]The Atlanta BBQ store[/URL]

05-23-2013, 08:55 AM	#6
HeSmellsLikeSmoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-07 Location: Warren, Vermont	Since we are all looking for a clean burning fire I don't understand why anyone would consider using green wood which is problematic. __________________ Jim - Another transplanted Texan Former KCBS CBJ Large and Medium Big Green Eggs , Black 18.5" WSM, Blue Weber Performer - Stainless, Green Weber OTG Kettle , Brinkmann SnP Pro, and a Stainless UDS. One retired Portable Kitchen grill. Red Thermapen, Maverick ET-732, EdgePro Apex Sharpener. Avatar is the original 1951 Weber Kettle

05-23-2013, 07:11 AM	#4
ssbbqguy is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-09-07 Location: carthage,mo.	Is there no patience? Let it season with plenty of air circulation and use it in three to six months. Green woods are best left for advertising debates and to draw attention, like they did. Their food is not reaking of the green taste that most will aquire or they wouldn't be able to sell it. Steve.

05-23-2013, 09:11 AM	#7
jmoney7269 Banned Join Date: 02-07-11 Location: brenham, texas	My pecan chunks I make start out a little green, but I always pop em in the Traeger @350 for a 3-4 hrs, and presto, perfectly toasted pecan chunks. I don't like the taste of green hardwoods, makes your meat black also.