the smells of tbs

LT72884 · 06-06-2013, 11:24 AM

I have noticed something interesting about tbs and its smell. I have used oak, hickory, apple, cherry and approcot woods in my smoker. I have achieved the wonderful stage of tbs with each wood. Whats interesting is they all smell the same to me no matter what wood is burning. It smells like a nice campfire and a semi sweet flavor to it. However, there has been once and only once when the wood burning actually smelled like apples. Even when i opened the bag of apple logs, it smelled just like apples. I have never had that happen again. Why is it that the bags of chunks you buy at stores all smell the same. The apple smells like hickory and so forth. Maybe it was heart wood i recieved.
Thanks

Garrett · 06-06-2013, 01:21 PM

I think it's because most the wood you buy in bags has been kiln dried and its dry as a popocorn fart. So all the sap that makes it what it is, is gone. Not sure if that is true, just my thought.

Grimm5577 · 06-06-2013, 01:29 PM

I never had apple wood that smelled like apples, but i can smell a difference between mequite, hickory, and pecan woods. not sure if i would notice a difference between apple, pear, or peach wood though.

if it's from a big box store then I would agree with garrett, all that wood has to be kiln dried before sale. opposed to a 3rd party seller that might sell it in a more natural dried state.

DriverWild · 06-06-2013, 01:36 PM

If I had to put a bet down it would have to due with the age / moisture content left in the wood. An outside shot would be the type of apple tree it came from, some might be sweeter or smell slightly different than others i.e. Granny Smith vs Red Delicious.

LT72884 · 06-06-2013, 01:46 PM

Hmm so box stores kiln dry it eh. Thats good to know. I wish i could buy some from the smokehouse down the road but their supplier sells it only by the truck load. Haha. And its big logs for the southern pride style cookers. So diff species of apple trees may smell sweeter. The stuff im looking for, the inside wood is dark in color and smells oh so sweet but it was not bagged, just logs from an orchard and let out to dry for six months.

06-06-2013, 11:24 AM	#1
LT72884 Babbling Farker Join Date: 05-07-09 Location: Draper Utah	the smells of tbs I have noticed something interesting about tbs and its smell. I have used oak, hickory, apple, cherry and approcot woods in my smoker. I have achieved the wonderful stage of tbs with each wood. Whats interesting is they all smell the same to me no matter what wood is burning. It smells like a nice campfire and a semi sweet flavor to it. However, there has been once and only once when the wood burning actually smelled like apples. Even when i opened the bag of apple logs, it smelled just like apples. I have never had that happen again. Why is it that the bags of chunks you buy at stores all smell the same. The apple smells like hickory and so forth. Maybe it was heart wood i recieved. Thanks __________________ http://grillofmydreams.blogspot.com http://thebreadjournal.blogspot.com

06-06-2013, 01:21 PM	#2
Garrett Babbling Farker Join Date: 10-03-12 Location: Gastonia North Carolina	I think it's because most the wood you buy in bags has been kiln dried and its dry as a popocorn fart. So all the sap that makes it what it is, is gone. Not sure if that is true, just my thought. __________________ My arsenal, Stumps Clone, Two Modified offsets, open pit with grate and rotisserie,UDS, Weber One Touch Silver 18.5" kettle, Chargriller Pellet Grill, 36" Blackstone Griddle

06-06-2013, 01:36 PM	#4
DriverWild is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-01-12 Location: Omaha, NE	If I had to put a bet down it would have to due with the age / moisture content left in the wood. An outside shot would be the type of apple tree it came from, some might be sweeter or smell slightly different than others i.e. Granny Smith vs Red Delicious. __________________ Custom RF, Gateway, Weber Performer Platinum, Super Fast Thermopen - Camo

06-06-2013, 01:46 PM	#5
LT72884 Babbling Farker Join Date: 05-07-09 Location: Draper Utah	Hmm so box stores kiln dry it eh. Thats good to know. I wish i could buy some from the smokehouse down the road but their supplier sells it only by the truck load. Haha. And its big logs for the southern pride style cookers. So diff species of apple trees may smell sweeter. The stuff im looking for, the inside wood is dark in color and smells oh so sweet but it was not bagged, just logs from an orchard and let out to dry for six months. __________________ http://grillofmydreams.blogspot.com http://thebreadjournal.blogspot.com

06-06-2013, 01:29 PM	#3
Grimm5577 is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-09-12 Location: Bucks County, PA	I never had apple wood that smelled like apples, but i can smell a difference between mequite, hickory, and pecan woods. not sure if i would notice a difference between apple, pear, or peach wood though. if it's from a big box store then I would agree with garrett, all that wood has to be kiln dried before sale. opposed to a 3rd party seller that might sell it in a more natural dried state.