View Full Version : Shells for smoking?
TOPPER-Q
03-01-2012, 10:00 AM
My family owns a pecan orchard and I've been cooking with pecan for years. We have been selling nuts both whole and shelled. Normally we just chunk the shells out, and I'm talking thousands of pounds a year. So my question is too you seasoned professional types, has any one ever cooked with the shells and how did they do? I talked to a gentleman at a farmers market who apporched my son ( who was selling our pecans ) and wanted to buy his shells so he could use them in his smoker. The guy swore by them, any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, TOPPER.
Q-Dat
03-01-2012, 10:29 AM
They are in fact AWESOME!!! Like the pecan wood, but they seem a little sweeter smelling.
LoneStar Smoke Rangers
03-01-2012, 10:46 AM
I smoke with Pecan and never heard of using pecan shells. I would be interested to try it.
Are you selling/shipping them?
TOPPER-Q
03-01-2012, 10:51 AM
Thanks Q, I had it in my mind that it leave a bitter flavor and never even thought of trying it. This will be done on my next cook, and not to mention save me a lot of back breaking log toting and you know what I mean....
dmprantz
03-01-2012, 10:52 AM
I heard of some one doing that with good results.
TOPPER-Q
03-01-2012, 10:57 AM
I've never even considered the cooking part myself, not to mention the fact that we've been using the shells to fill pot holes in the drive way, when there might be some monetary gains to be made. to answer your question Lonestar, not yet..... but I'll get back with ya.
mtbchip
03-01-2012, 11:43 AM
I've been using the shells from the macadamia tree in our yard for smoke material. Always get good mellow tasty results. There is countless data on the chemical composition of the nutmeat, but little to be found about the SHELL. I know the nut is just about all fat and protein, and the shell being as hard as it is prob 99% "wood like" material. Try 'em, you'll like 'em! Anyone have experience with pistachio, almond, walnut or filbert shells?
TooSaucedToPork
03-01-2012, 11:49 AM
If you are sellin...I am buyin.
Pecan shells are awesome. Excellent flavor profile. Many many uses.
When I had an offset stickburner, soak the shells and use them for when the pit fire gets too hot. Adds great undertones to the meat.
Q-Dat
03-01-2012, 01:12 PM
I've never even considered the cooking part myself, not to mention the fact that we've been using the shells to fill pot holes in the drive way, when there might be some monetary gains to be made. to answer your question Lonestar, not yet..... but I'll get back with ya.
Just had a thought. If you really have that many shells, you might contact Candy Weaver. She's the owner of BBQers Delight Wood Pellets. Not to mention current KCBS president.
They might be able to turn them into pellets.
SirPorkaLot
03-01-2012, 01:24 PM
If you are sellin...I am buyin.
Pecan shells are awesome. Excellent flavor profile. Many many uses.
When I had an offset stickburner, soak the shells and use them for when the pit fire gets too hot. Adds great undertones to the meat.
+1
Same here, if you are selling I'm buying.
ThatsWhatSheSaidBBQ
03-01-2012, 01:26 PM
I've also heard that people use walnut shells...I've heard wierd things like coffee beans as well...Grape vines are also growing in popularity it seems.
Hook'n Bull
03-01-2012, 01:39 PM
Peach pits are awesome as well.
BobBrisket
03-01-2012, 02:28 PM
Some info on fruit pits.
http://voices.yahoo.com/the-unknown-danger-peach-pits-poison-3799134.html?cat=5
I've heard that the pecan shells are good, but not the green husks that surround the pecan shells. Those are full of oil that puts off a pretty acrid smoke when used.
TOPPER-Q
03-01-2012, 04:02 PM
Doing a cook for my Fire dept. on Wed of next week, I give a report and post some pics, thanks for the response and I'm currently talking with my brother-inlaw on how we can get these puppies out in circulation, I'll keep yall posted. P.S thanks for all the input.
AustinKnight
03-01-2012, 07:37 PM
Salt lick uses pecan shells they soak them and through them on the open pit throughout the cook. I don't care for there Bbq though I have had food posing twice from them and there won't be a 3rd, and I have a iron stomach Id like to think :)
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dealm9
03-01-2012, 09:20 PM
i used pecan and pistachio shells for my thanksgiving turkey this past year and it made the best smoke flavor i have ever tasted. like q-dat said, the smoke coming out of the smoker had a sweeter aroma to it, almost like a pleasant fragrance from a air freshener
Stoke&Smoke
03-01-2012, 09:41 PM
I've been using the shells from the macadamia tree in our yard for smoke material. Always get good mellow tasty results. There is countless data on the chemical composition of the nutmeat, but little to be found about the SHELL. I know the nut is just about all fat and protein, and the shell being as hard as it is prob 99% "wood like" material. Try 'em, you'll like 'em! Anyone have experience with pistachio, almond, walnut or filbert shells?
I've used pistachio shells, with no negative effect. Only tried them because after I quit smoking a number of years ago, I was stuffing my face with em, and it seemed a waste to just throw them out. I don't know that they add a lot, but you wont trash a piece of meat using them
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criffaaa1
03-01-2012, 10:16 PM
my father used soaked pecan shells for years in his pit. His que was the best.
Sent via Criffvo
i used pecan and pistachio shells for my thanksgiving turkey this past year and it made the best smoke flavor i have ever tasted. like q-dat said, the smoke coming out of the smoker had a sweeter aroma to it, almost like a pleasant fragrance from a air freshener
Did you soak the shells, or use them dry?
Q-Dat
03-01-2012, 10:49 PM
When I have used them, I just scattered them throughout the charcoal when doing a Minion Method
When I have used them, I just scattered them throughout the charcoal when doing a Minion Method
Dry?
GrillinFool
03-01-2012, 11:10 PM
Pistachio shells? A crap! I'm almost done with a 3 pound bag (working on it for about 6 weeks) and never thought about using the shells for smoking. Definitely saving the rest!
Pappy
03-02-2012, 05:55 AM
When I have used them, I just scattered them throughout the charcoal when doing a Minion Method
+1 ^^
My son & I found a pecan farmer this winter. We bought 350 pounds for $0.10 per pound. I stored them in my garage rafters in burlap sacks so the mice would not get in them.
Scubadoo97
03-02-2012, 06:29 AM
Pistachio shells? A crap! I'm almost done with a 3 pound bag (working on it for about 6 weeks) and never thought about using the shells for smoking. Definitely saving the rest!
Do save them. I used them on a whim and found they work well in my electric smoker and thought about all those that got tossed. It's easy to collect a big bag of shells
frohe
03-02-2012, 06:40 AM
My family owns a pecan orchard and I've been cooking with pecan for years. We have been selling nuts both whole and shelled. Normally we just chunk the shells out, and I'm talking thousands of pounds a year. So my question is too you seasoned professional types, has any one ever cooked with the shells and how did they do? I talked to a gentleman at a farmers market who apporched my son ( who was selling our pecans ) and wanted to buy his shells so he could use them in his smoker. The guy swore by them, any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, TOPPER.
Start bagging those shells up and selling them. Anyone who's done BBQ for any length of time will want them to add to their smokers. Same with your pecan trees - sell the prunings and dead wood.
Q-Dat
03-02-2012, 08:16 AM
Dry?
Oh sorry! Forgot that part. Yeah I just use em dry. I stopped soaking wood a couple years ago, when I found out it was making the meat turn dark.
orangeblood
03-02-2012, 08:23 AM
also try soaking equal parts pecan shells and mesquite chips and throw on top of the fire for grilling chicken. the taste and smell is like sweet mesquite....trust me on this one, you will love it.
1FUNVET
03-02-2012, 08:29 AM
Oh sorry! Forgot that part. Yeah I just use em dry. I stopped soaking wood a couple years ago, when I found out it was making the meat turn dark.
Agree with Q-Dat. I usually buy 75-100# of pecans every year. My wife loves to bake. The shelled pecans go in a bowl and the shells go in plastic cat litter buckets.
TOPPER-Q
03-02-2012, 09:15 AM
Start bagging those shells up and selling them. Anyone who's done BBQ for any length of time will want them to add to their smokers. Same with your pecan trees - sell the prunings and dead wood.
Yeah, two thousand acres and we have been burning the dead fall and clippings and only using what the family needed, DUUUUUH this is gonna happen, attempting to find bigger auto sheller as we speak. Had one fellow send me link for shells, and the company was selling five pounds of shells for 2.50 more than we sell a 5 pound bag of whole unshelled Elliots or Stuwarts. This is a no brainer, little late to fire up a big production due to the season running from Sept. till mid Jan. but probly can round up few hundred pounds to get started. FYI our claim to fame is that all our trees are totally Pesticide and Herbacide free, only fertilized by moo-moo's.
Once again thanks to all for the info and ideas, this is gonna be one helluva big deal for me and my peps. TOPPER-Q
bover
03-02-2012, 09:18 AM
Yeah, two thousand acres and we have been burning the dead fall and clippings and only using what the family needed, DUUUUUH this is gonna happen, attempting to find bigger auto sheller as we speak. Had one fellow send me link for shells, and the company was selling five pounds of shells for 2.50 more than we sell a 5 pound bag of whole unshelled Elliots or Stuwarts. This is a no brainer, little late to fire up a big production due to the season running from Sept. till mid Jan. but probly can round up few hundred pounds to get started. FYI our claim to fame is that all our trees are totally Pesticide and Herbacide free, only fertilized by moo-moo's.
Once again thanks to all for the info and ideas, this is gonna be one helluva big deal for me and my peps. TOPPER-Q
That's good stuff! Be sure to let us know when you're ready to start selling.
SirPorkaLot
03-20-2012, 09:46 PM
I will be doing a pecan shell cook soon. Stay tuned :-D
My family owns a pecan orchard and I've been cooking with pecan for years. We have been selling nuts both whole and shelled. Normally we just chunk the shells out, and I'm talking thousands of pounds a year. So my question is too you seasoned professional types, has any one ever cooked with the shells and how did they do? I talked to a gentleman at a farmers market who apporched my son ( who was selling our pecans ) and wanted to buy his shells so he could use them in his smoker. The guy swore by them, any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, TOPPER.
Hey topper.
I live down the road from one of the largest irrigated Pecan orchards in the Western US.
They take the shells, crush them and and make "charcoal" briquettes out of them, and sell them in the office for something like a buck for a 4 pound bag. Actually, I think they tried to sell them for a lot more, and nobody bought them, so they unloaded them for a buck a bag. If you would like, I can look and see if I have a bag around and send you the pics.
Now..... I hated the stuff. It smoldered terribly, never ignited clean, and just was not up my alley. In full disclosure, while I use pecan on occasion, it is not my favorite wood to cook with. But I am not a fan of pecan shell smoking.
Happy Hapgood
03-20-2012, 10:04 PM
My family owns a pecan orchard and I've been cooking with pecan for years. We have been selling nuts both whole and shelled. Normally we just chunk the shells out, and I'm talking thousands of pounds a year. So my question is too you seasoned professional types, has any one ever cooked with the shells and how did they do? I talked to a gentleman at a farmers market who apporched my son ( who was selling our pecans ) and wanted to buy his shells so he could use them in his smoker. The guy swore by them, any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, TOPPER.
TOPPER Q,
About 13 years ago when I was working in the field as an HVAC Technician, I was dispatched to a pecan shelling plant in Mansfield, LA. Upon arrival, I fixed the warehouse A/C where hundreds of bags of shelled pecans were stored. I had a chance to check out their operation and had to ask, What do y'all do with the shells? I was told that they sell them to BBQ charcoal manufacturers. They did not say which ones but the shells left by the rail car loads.
SirPorkaLot
03-20-2012, 10:08 PM
Hey topper.
I live down the road from one of the largest irrigated Pecan orchards in the Western US.
They take the shells, crush them and and make "charcoal" briquettes out of them, and sell them in the office for something like a buck for a 4 pound bag. Actually, I think they tried to sell them for a lot more, and nobody bought them, so they unloaded them for a buck a bag. If you would like, I can look and see if I have a bag around and send you the pics.
Now..... I hated the stuff. It smoldered terribly, never ignited clean, and just was not up my alley. In full disclosure, while I use pecan on occasion, it is not my favorite wood to cook with. But I am not a fan of pecan shell smoking.
Smoke from Pecan shells can be strong if too much is used, I can't imagine a briguette made out of them, unless it was just a small percentage.
You don't need much.
There are quite a few famous BBQ joints that use pecans in one form or another in their cook. Including Salt Lick in Texas (they use oak & pecan)
farklf
03-20-2012, 10:10 PM
I've used pecan shells. A little goes a long way. I'll buy if you're selling.
lastmajordude
03-21-2012, 02:41 PM
ok...where can you order pecan shells?? You have my interest:rolleyes:
Pappy
03-21-2012, 03:05 PM
I've used pecan shells. A little goes a long way. I'll buy if you're selling.
My son used some last night on some fish and vegetables. He used too much and they couldn't eat it. :sick:
frohe
03-21-2012, 03:16 PM
Pecan's like mesquite, it's strong. A little goes a long way. But used right, you can't beat it.
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