Smoking with Maple wood????????

[Fishin4bass723]

My GF and I cut down part of a Maple tree in our back yard and am wondering if I can use it for smoking? Has anyone ever tried it before and if so what was the outcome?

 

[HeSmellsLikeSmoke]

Maple wood, especially sugar maple, is great with pork and poultry. It is a mild smoke. I use sugar maple all the time.

 

[flyingbassman5]

^^^what smoke said!

 

[nucornhusker]

Yep, sugar maple is good. I had some silver maple but wound up using it for the firepit.

 

[Fishin4bass723]

Do I have to wait or can I use it right away?

 

[Pyrotech]

I bought some to smoke Bacon with, tried it pork some pork chops and I am really enjoying Maple with the pork.

The Maple cured Bacon was used in a Bean and Bacon soup last week. The Bacon was a little to salty to eat as Bacon, but it was awesome in soup.

You should get some real good use out of the Maple...

 

[HeSmellsLikeSmoke]

I don't like to use green wood since I try for a clean burning fire so I age it. Fastest method is to cut it into 2" thick disks then dry it for a couple of months befor chunking it for use.

 

[cliffcarter]

I use red maple all the time, smells like smokey sugar to me. I like the color it gives to chicken-

 

[Gasket]

What every one else said.

 

[SmokyWoodturner]

I agree that maple is mild and good for all my smoking. I tend to stay away from the stronger woods like mesquite though. MHO

 

[Mixin]

Maple is my favourite. We have 4 maples on our property that I regularly "prune" for use in the smoker.

Because the prunings are only 1" diameter or so, I use them with charcoal. I've found they need a few months to dry out nicely (kept under cover). If I leave them too long, and they get really dry (like 2+ years) they don't seem to have as much flavour in them.

I also strip the bark, as it seems to have a slightly bitter smoke when the bark is still on.

 

[tpope]

Yep it is good to use after a cure. Common red maple... Ain't gotta be sugar maple to make good smoke.

 

[Terry The Toad]

I imagine that Wisconsin maple might be a bit different from Florida maple... but I find the maple here to be TOO mild. But, it just might be a personal preference. Season it a while and give it a shot. :-D

 

[Brian in Maine]

Try smoking cheddar cheese with it!:-D

 

[Fishin4bass723]

Try smoking cheddar cheese with it!

I haven't ventured in smoking cheese yet is it hard?

 

[superlazy]

I haven't ventured in smoking cheese yet is it hard?

You have to cold smoke cheese.
Yes Maple is great. I have trim ours soon and will be using it

 

[Montgolfier]

I also strip the bark, as it seems to have a slightly bitter smoke when the bark is still on.

I agree. My experience has been that leaving the bark on causes the smoke to be really bitter.
Anybody else had a similar experience?

 

[cliffcarter]

I agree. My experience has been that leaving the bark on causes the smoke to be really bitter.
Anybody else had a similar experience?

No bitter taste to the chicken I posted, I never remove the bark.

 

[Brian in Maine]

I haven't ventured in smoking cheese yet is it hard?

I have a WSM and put just a few coals on the grate with ice water in the pan and about a two inch by 1/2 inch piece of wood. as I recall it takes about 30 minutes to smoke.