Are Wood Chips Better Than Wood Chunks For Grilling?
by Peter Weston
May 29th 2011
If you like to cook outside the house, odds are you've tried several different grilling methods, including smoking food. Many grills now available feature built in smokers but for those who have grills without smokers, they can be ordered as a stand alone. Of course, if utilizing the smoking method, you need to add wood to the fire to have the smoke flavor while you cook. Whether you've got a gas, charcoal or wood smoker, it doesn't matter. You can still achieve the authentic barbeque flavor of smoked meat when you add wood.
When you initially purchase a smoker you'll find that both wood chunks and wood chips are available already packaged, for extra convenience. You will discover benefits to using either wood chunks or chips but there may be times when you favor one over the other. It's important to use wood chips (smaller pieces) when you are looking for smaller bursts of smoke.
Wood chips burn considerably faster than wood chunks, even when you soak them in water. If you'd like only minimal smoke flavor or are just planning to smoke something quickly, wood chips are the perfect choice. You also must make sure you read the instructions on your smoker since many of them are not designed to handle anything but wood chips.
Wood chunks, alternatively, are fragments of hardwood that are usually less than two inches. If you need to create smoke for a longer period of time, wood chunks are better than wood chips. The period of time you'll be smoking is often the determining factor between wood chips and wood chunks since you can achieve more smoke over a longer period of time with one and not the other. If using chips, chances are you'll need to replenish your supply every half an hour.
Regardless of whether you're using wood chips or mesquite wood chunks, you need to avoid allowing them to burn away too fast. If the wood burns too swiftly the smoke can be too powerful and the food can become bitter tasting. In order to increase the length of time for smoke creation and slow down the combustion you can soak wood chips in water for 15 minutes and wood chunks for a half-hour. Of course, the wood should only be moist (not dripping with wetness).
About the Author: Two Trees Products brings high quality barbecue products to the grilling marketplace. Our products include 100% Mesquite Lump Charcoal, all natural self starting 100% Mesquite Lump Charcoal, Regular Charcoal Briquets, Wood Smoking Chips and mesquite and hickory wood chunks and The unique Stainless Steel Charcoal Grill.
About The Author
Peter Weston is an avid BBQ fan, and a writer for Best of the West charcoal smoking chunks.
Syndicate This Content
<p>If you like to cook outside the house, odds are you've tried several different grilling methods, including smoking food. Many grills now available feature built in smokers but for those who have grills without smokers, they can be ordered as a stand alone. Of course, if utilizing the smoking method, you need to add wood to the fire to have the smoke flavor while you cook. Whether you've got a gas, charcoal or wood smoker, it doesn't matter. You can still achieve the authentic barbeque flavor of smoked meat when you add wood.<br />
<br />
When you initially purchase a smoker you'll find that both wood chunks and wood chips are available already packaged, for extra convenience. You will discover benefits to using either wood chunks or chips but there may be times when you favor one over the other. It's important to use wood chips (smaller pieces) when you are looking for smaller bursts of smoke.<br />
<br />
Wood chips burn considerably faster than <a href="http://www.twotreesproducts.com/" target="_blank">wood chunks</a>, even when you soak them in water. If you'd like only minimal smoke flavor or are just planning to smoke something quickly, wood chips are the perfect choice. You also must make sure you read the instructions on your smoker since many of them are not designed to handle anything but wood chips.<br />
<br />
Wood chunks, alternatively, are fragments of hardwood that are usually less than two inches. If you need to create smoke for a longer period of time, wood chunks are better than wood chips. The period of time you'll be smoking is often the determining factor between wood chips and wood chunks since you can achieve more smoke over a longer period of time with one and not the other. If using chips, chances are you'll need to replenish your supply every half an hour.<br />
<br />
Regardless of whether you're using wood chips or <a href="http://www.twotreesproducts.com/shop/woodsmoke/" target="_blank">mesquite wood chunks</a>, you need to avoid allowing them to burn away too fast. If the wood burns too swiftly the smoke can be too powerful and the food can become bitter tasting. In order to increase the length of time for smoke creation and slow down the combustion you can soak wood chips in water for 15 minutes and wood chunks for a half-hour. Of course, the wood should only be moist (not dripping with wetness).<br />
<br />
About the Author: Two Trees Products brings high quality barbecue products to the grilling marketplace. Our products include 100% Mesquite Lump Charcoal, all natural self starting 100% <a href="http://www.twotreesproducts.com/products/" target="_blank">Mesquite Lump Charcoal</a>, Regular Charcoal Briquets, Wood Smoking Chips and mesquite and hickory wood chunks and The unique <a href="http://www.twotreesproducts.com/shop/bullgrill/" target="_blank">Stainless Steel Charcoal Grill</a>.</p><p><strong>About the Author</strong></p><p>(CityNext.Content #44)</p><p>Article Source: <a href="http://citynext.com/">http://citynext.com/</a> - <a href="http://citynext.com/food-and-beverage/cooking-tips-articles/are-wood-chips-better-wood-chunks-grilling">Are Wood Chips Better Than Wood Chunks For Grilling?</a></p>