Our Homepage | Donation to Forum Overhead | Welocme | Merchandise | Associations | Purchase Subscription | Amazon Affiliate |
|
Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking. |
|
Thread Tools |
08-17-2016, 08:58 PM | #1 |
Got rid of the matchlight.
Join Date: 05-20-13
Location: Anniston, AL
|
Excess Amounts of Apple Tree Wood
Greetings, I need some advice from some firewood aficionados out there.
A friend has a 40ish foot apple tree that fell in a storm about a month ago. I'm working on a plan to cut it up, but I don't know what to do with all the wood. I don't know the ends and outs of seasoning firewood for smoking. It's been staying right around 95% humidity down here in Alabama, and I know that ain't good for drying things out. I haven't actually seen the tree yet either. Here are my questions: If it's been on the ground for a month is it even worth chipping up for smoking, or is it just firewood now? If you were looking for this type of wood for smoking, would you buy it off a guy with a truck load at a farmer's market? Side of the road? Craigslist? I don't have enough space to store it all at once. Is there any harm in cutting one load at a time, letting the tree sit out there in the elements (95% humidity and raining nearly everyday), and cutting more the next weekend? I appreciate any and all feedback. Thank you. |
|
Thanks from:---> |
08-17-2016, 09:04 PM | #2 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 04-18-14
Location: Lancaster,Ca
|
Yes, Yes, and No to your questions. I would just let people know it's freshly cut so they know they are not getting seasoned wood. I wish it was that easy to get apple wood here in socal.
__________________
Shirley Fabrication 24x65 Wagon wheel model on order. |
|
08-17-2016, 09:10 PM | #3 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 02-08-10
Location: Howell, MI
|
Fwismoker should be here shortly singing the praises of wood fire cooks. As could I. I burn wood into coals in a Weber kettle, both for quick cooks, as well as rotisserie cooks. Cowgirl does a lot of campfire cooks, too.
__________________
Two Weber daisy wheel kettles A: 1979 P: 1993, and an unused ECB |
|
08-17-2016, 09:21 PM | #4 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 12-28-11
Location: Belton, Tx
Name/Nickname : Texas Pete
|
Wood should be fine. I buy all my wood from CL. Cut it now or later. Keep all you can sell the rest. You are a lucky farker.
__________________
Paul (aka Texas Pete) SF 24x36 Midnight Edition / Mak 1-Star /Abe's 48" Insulated Cabinet / 22.5 OTG / 28" BS / Jimmy with CB Roti and pizza kit / Red Box on custom cart / Char-Griller Kettle / Barrel House Cooker / Pit Boss Copperhead / Char-Griller Akorn Jr Sign Up for The 2022 Texas BBQ Brethren Fall Bash Here! (Link) |
|
08-17-2016, 10:04 PM | #5 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 10-26-15
Location: Seattle Washington
|
Cut it up and stack it so that air can flow through it. Cover the top of the pile with cheap ply wood. Should be good for the que in Nov/Dec-ish. We use a lot of apple and alder out here in the PNW. Great trading stock my friend. May I suggest you cure some pork bellies and try your hand at apple smoked bacon. It is awesome.
__________________
John Henry Backyard Rotissorie, Weber Summit Charcoal Grill, Weber Jumbo Joe, I Grill 2 |
|
08-17-2016, 10:13 PM | #6 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 03-14-16
Location: St David, Az.
Name/Nickname : Bill
|
Wow, lucky son of a gun... At least in my area too much apple wood is like saying I got too much money to store. Wish I had that problem. I could maybe get a cord of apple for about $280.00 to $300.00 a cord and still have to drive 150 miles round trip to pick it up. As far as your tree is concerned go ahead cut it up into 14 to 16 inch lengths then split it. At that point you can sell it or stack it cause it's going to need to be seasoned. I would not leave it on the ground unless you are going to pass on it. Once it's seasoned awhile get a miter saw and cut some of it into 2 to 3 inch chunks if you are using a charcoal smoker. Otherwise it will be easier to buy it already to go.
__________________
Bill, from Cochise County Arizona LSG 24 X 36 Horizonatal Offset w/warming oven, 32" fire pit with swinging cooking grate, PK 360 w/Grill Grates |
|
08-17-2016, 11:24 PM | #7 |
is Blowin Smoke!
Join Date: 07-29-15
Location: Pittsburgh,Pa.
|
That's a good problem to have.
__________________
270 Sumo insulated smoker Weber OTG BBQ PRO Grill Dome Backyard Grill 26 inch Pit Barrel Cooker |
|
08-18-2016, 06:55 AM | #8 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 08-03-16
Location: Crivitz, WI
|
Actually, it's fruit wood. So it can be cut and used immediately (yes, that means while it's green). If it's not giving you the kind of heat you want, throw in a seasoned piece of hardwood every now and then.
Companies like Fruitawood (considered the Cadillac of smoking wood) send you green fruit wood and recommend you keep it in a humid environment until you use it. I don't agree with the statement about storage, I think you should do as others said: Get it off the ground and up on a stand somehow (could be a few cinder blocks and boards) and get a piece of plywood over it. BUT it does not need to be dry to use. Good score. Hardwoods NEED to be dry (seasoned) to use as you end up with bitter tastes and creosote if you don't. Fruit wood (and I have confirmed this MANY times with apple) are better when they're green. Order $300 in apple splits or chunks from Fruitawood....they'll send you $300 worth of FRESH cut apple wood. "I don't have enough space to store it all at once. Is there any harm in cutting one load at a time, letting the tree sit out there in the elements (95% humidity and raining nearly everyday), and cutting more the next weekend?" Kind of, in your humidity level range I would be worried about mold/rot. I don't think a few weekend would hurt but I wouldn't take a chance on anything longer than that. I would buy quality smoking wood from any of the sources you listed above. Put a sign on it that directly says: Smoking wood-Apple. There are completely different crowds that buy firewood and smoking wood. |
|
Thanks from:---> |
08-18-2016, 07:06 AM | #9 | |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 08-03-16
Location: Crivitz, WI
|
Quote:
Our DNR office will come after you if you move firewood in any form into the state as well so I must use local wood in the old stickburner (red oak, sugar maple, and apple). I've personally witnessed Illinois residents (and there are a TON of them on holidays that flood into Wisconsin) getting cited for bringing in firewood.....and the fines are hefty. If you run a business that brings in firewood from out of state and you don't have permits I have no doubt you would get a jail sentence. |
|
|
Thanks from:---> |
08-18-2016, 09:30 AM | #10 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 09-27-12
Location: Mayer, MN
|
Like Bigwoods4x4 said, use it as smoke wood while it is green. I wish I had some green apple wood to smoke with now.
__________________
22.5" 1999 Weber Mastertouch Redhead, GMG "Daniel Boone" |
|
08-18-2016, 07:18 PM | #11 |
Got rid of the matchlight.
Join Date: 05-20-13
Location: Anniston, AL
|
Ok, sounds like we're good to go. Thank yall for all the replies. That bacon does sound really good right now.
|
|
Tags |
apple wood, firewood, smoking wood |
Thread Tools | |
|
|