Selecting the right wood...adding a touch of flavor

Wood Type:

Characteristics:

Use With:

Alder

Very Delicate with a hint of sweetness

Fish, Pork, Poultry, Light-Meat Game Birds; also used in the NW to smoke Salmon

Almond

Nutty and sweet smoke flavor, light ash

Any Meat

Apple

Slightly sweet but denser, fruity smoke flavor

Beef, Poultry, Game Birds, Ham

Apricot

Milder and sweeter than Hickory

Great on White or Pink meats; Chicken, Turkey, Pork, Fish

Ash

Fast burner, light but distinctive flavor

Fish and Red Meats

Birch

Medium hard wood with flavor similar to maple

Pork and Poultry

Cedar

Western Red -Only (no other)

Seafood

Cherry

Slightly sweet; Fruity smoke flavor

All Meats

Chestnut

Slightly sweet nutty smoke flavor; mostly used in the UK

All meats

Grapefruit

Nice smoky flavor

Beef, Poultry, Pork, Fish

Grapevine

Aromatic, similar to fruit wood

All meats

Hickory

Pungent, smoky, bacon like flavor- Most common wood used

Pork and Ribs

Lemon

Medium smoke flavor with a hint of fruit

Beef, Pork, Poultry

Lilac

Very light, subtle with a hint of floral

Seafood, Lamb

Lime

Medium smoke flavor, hint of fruit

Beef, Pork, Poultry

Maple

Mild smoke flavor, somewhat sweet

Pork, Poultry, Cheese, Vegetables, Small Game Birds

Mesquite

Strong earthy flavor

All Meats, Especially Beef; Most Vegetables

Mulberry

Sweet and similar to apple

Beef, Poultry, Game  Burds, Pork (especially Ham)

Nectarine

Flavor milder and sweeter than hickory

Meats, Great on White or Pink Meats; Especially Chicken, Turkey, Pork, and Fish

Oak

Similar to Mesquite, but lighter; heavy smoke flavor

Red Meat, Pork, Fish, and Big Game; Red Oak recommended for Ribs

Olive

Smoke flavor similar to mesquite but lighter

Poultry

Orange

Medium smoke flavor, hint of fruit

Beef, Poultry, Pork

Peach

Slightly sweet, woodsy flavor, milder and sweeter than Hickory

All Meats, Great on White and Pink Meats; Especially Chicken, Turkey, Pork, and Fish

Pear

Slightly sweet,woodsy flavor

Poultry, Game Birds, Pork

Pecan

Sweet and mild with a flavor similar to Hickory but not as strong, Tasty with subtle character; an all around superior smoking wood; Smoke the shells as well

Most meats, Especially Poultry, Beef, Pork, Cheese

Plum/

Prune

Milder and Sweeter tan Hickory

Great on White or Pink Meats, Especially Chicken, Turkey, Pork, Fish

Walnut

Very heavy smoke flavor; Usually mixed with lighter woods like Almond, Apple, Pear, or Pecan; Can be bitter if used alone

Red Meats and Game