What is the best wood for smoking BBQ?

What is the Best Wood for Smoking Meat?

• Oak. Oak is the quintessential go-to for smoking meat.
• Hickory. The most versatile choice as it can be used to smoke wood in many ways.
• Maple. One of the most subtle smoking wood, it will impart a more subtle smoke flavor.
• Mesquite.
• Pecan.
• Apple.
• Alder.
• Cherry.

Can you use any wood for BBQ smoking?

Generally speaking, any wood that is hard and free of resin (or sap) is good for making smoke. If the tree makes fruit or nuts you enjoy eating, then the wood is typically good for smoking. Wood smoke is what gives outdoor cooking its outdoor flavor. A great way to experiment with wood is actually on the grill.

What wood should not be smoked with food?

Softwoods. Avoid wood from conifers such as pine, redwood, fir, spruce, cypress, or cedar. These trees contain high levels of sap and turpenes, which results in a funny taste and can make people sick.

Is wood smoking food carcinogenic?

It has to be noted that wood smoke contains some carcinogenic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [3]. PAHs are a large group of persistent organic pollutants consisting of two or more fused aromatic rings [5].

Is oak good for BBQ?

Red Oak. Red Oak is the king of hardwoods and oaks, especially when it comes to smoking meats. Oak is strong, but it does not tend to overpower the taste and texture of the meat. If you are cooking or smoking beef or lamb, this is the best hardwood to use.

What is the mildest wood for smoking?

Mild smoking wood are the fruit woods like apple, peach and cherry. They’re good on white meat, poultry and pork. Middle of the road smoking woods are hickory, maple, pecan, and oak. They’re great with pork, and strong enough to stand up to beef and game meats.

What wood is toxic burning?

Burning poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, or pretty much anything else with “poison” in the name releases the irritant oil urushiol into the smoke. Breathing it in can cause lung irritation and severe allergic respiratory problems, the Centers for Disease Control state.

Is smoked BBQ bad for you?

BBQ fumes and the skin Despite its popularity, outdoor grilling comes with many hazards. BBQ smoke contains a high level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known to cause DNA mutations, respiratory disease , and even lung cancer .

Is barbecue smoke bad for the environment?

Barbecue smoke, especially when created by grilling with charcoal, can be a significant source of air pollution. The person doing the actual grilling will have the highest VOC exposure, but most people around the barbecue will be exposed to harmful emissions, either by inhaling them or absorbing them through the skin.

What is the composition of the wood used for smoking?

The wood that you use for smoking is composed of numerous compounds that are released when it burns. Hemicellulose, lignin, and cellulose present in wood break down at low temperatures to create those complex smoky aromas we look for when BBQing.

What is the best type of wood for a smoker?

Hickory – strong and pungent, hickory is a popular option to go for. Mesquite – possibly produces the strongest smoke flavor. Go for it if you really want a very powerful smoky taste. Otherwise, it can be a little overpowering.

What is bbbbq science?

BBQ Science. This is where the amino acids in foods react with reducing sugars to form the characteristic brown cooked color of foods. The smoke ring involves the chemistry of nitric oxide from burning wood combining with myoglobin in meat to form nitrosyl hemochromogen, the same pigment found in cured meats.