Purchased some wood chips mesquite, alder, and apple. Is there any difference between the amount of wood you use when using chips? Also getting close to smoking my first spare ribs, any tips on which wood to use?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
fresno,
Wood chips tend to burn faster thus less smoke. You might need to use more chips but be careful that they smolder, not catch fire.
For spareribs I like hickory or for a milder smoke either apple or cherry.
George
Wood chips tend to burn faster thus less smoke. You might need to use more chips but be careful that they smolder, not catch fire.
For spareribs I like hickory or for a milder smoke either apple or cherry.
George
How would I know if they would catch fire, and is that a possibility? Also what do I do to prevent that?
They might flame up when you open the door and let in extra oxygen, especially if you've got the heat turned up over 200 or so. You could wrapping the chips in foil with a few holes punched to cut down on oxygen.
I've only used a CS for a month... But twice I've wrapped alder chips w/foil and poked 4-5 holes in the top... Worked fine, but I don't think that the chips actually smoke as long as the chunks... I'd recommend that you weigh the chips--2oz of chips is a surprisingly large handful!!! I used 1oz of hickory (chunk) and 1.5oz of alder (chips)w/4 racks of ribs--came out really nice... Good luck...
I would use Hickory, but then again, all I use is Hickory. I love the stuff. I've never used chips, so I will defer to the others on the amount to use.
fresno,
Sometimes we use chips to help light the charcoal in our brinkman because they do flame easily if the air gets to them. All we use now for smoking is either chunks or sometimes whole pecans. Citrus wood is great and in your area might be easy to get. They say to let it dry first before using in the cookshack. On a brinkman you can use it as green wood, the moisture you put in the water pan is partly reduced by the water in the wood. I'd follow the directions to dry first, especially if using your nice new cookshack!
Peggy
Sometimes we use chips to help light the charcoal in our brinkman because they do flame easily if the air gets to them. All we use now for smoking is either chunks or sometimes whole pecans. Citrus wood is great and in your area might be easy to get. They say to let it dry first before using in the cookshack. On a brinkman you can use it as green wood, the moisture you put in the water pan is partly reduced by the water in the wood. I'd follow the directions to dry first, especially if using your nice new cookshack!
Peggy
I use chips plus chunks when I want a heavy smoke. I replenish the chips once or twice when doing a longer smoke.