Which is the Best Wood for a BBQ Smoker?

Unleashing Flavour: Selecting the Finest Wood for Your BBQ Smoker

Let’s cut right to it, we’re here to help you find which is the best wood for a BBQ smoker!  After all, is there anything better than a beautiful cut of meat, or a nice big chunk of your favourite veg, just off the BBQ, the smoke having flavoured it to perfection?  The answer is no, there isn’t!

Whether you’re just starting out on your food smoking journey, or have been doing it for a while, we have no doubt that you get just as excited as we do at the prospect of maximising the flavours you can create from your BBQ.

It’s the most basic of cooking techniques and the one that dates back the longest – cooking over an open fire with the smoke enveloping the food and flavouring it with those rich, deep, sumptuous smoky notes.  We’re salivating already.

So, without any further ado let’s get down to finding out which is the best wood for a BBQ smoker…

Grizzly BBQ Smoker

What Wood Not to Use!

Let’s first note what wood should be avoided at all costs – softwood!  

Softwoods are coniferous trees that use cones to reproduce, so pine, cedar, fir, and redwood are all examples of softwood.

You want to use good, seasoned hardwood for fire pits and wood smokers.

Softwood has much higher levels of air and resin in it.  This has two big drawbacks.  The first being it burns quickly, which is not something you want when smoking your food.  Low and slow is the key to good smoked meat!

The second fact, and the most important is that the smoke from softwood will give your food a pretty horrible taste, and some softwoods will even make the food toxic to eat.

So, avoid softwood at all costs!

We wouldn’t even recommend using it as kindling in your smoker or BBQ.  Keep it far away.

What Makes a Great Smoking Wood?

So, what makes hardwood the best wood for a BBQ smoker?

• It burns slower and longer – which is important for maximising the flavour absorbed by the food.

• They release a clean smoke, meaning the food absorbs the smoky flavour and doesn’t get any additional toxins.

Not all hardwoods are created equal, however, and choosing the right hardwood to use might feel a little daunting given how much variety there is.

Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered and will break down which are the best hardwoods to use, and even better, what hardwood is best suited to what meat. 

GrillSymbol Smoky Beast BBQ Smoker

What Cut of Wood to Use in your BBQ Smoker?

The size of your smoker’s firebox chamber will usually dictate what cut of wood you can use.  So, let’s have a look at the options:

Logs for Smoking

If you’ve got a bigger smoker, then using whole or split logs is a great option.  Once the fire is burning strong, it’s easy to keep it going by adding another log every now and then.

With logs, you also get a great steady stream of clean smoke, so you can be confident your meats are getting good bathing in all that flavour.

Smoker Wood Chips

In general, you’ll use wood chips for gas or electric smokers as they have a smaller smoker box that sits on top of the heating element.

Chips should also be soaked before throwing in the smoker too so they will last longer and burn slower.  You can get chips pre-soaked, which is always useful.

Wood Chunks for Smoking

Chunks are more of an all-rounder when it comes to cuts of wood.  They are a good size to fit just about any smoker, and you can easily throw more on if your smoke is dying down.

They’re usually put onto hot burning coals to set off clean combustion and a good amount of smoke.

Pellets for BBQs and Smokers

Pellets are actually made from wet sawdust and very tightly packed.  They are perfect for smaller smokers or for getting short bursts of smoke when needed.

Cook King Berlin BBQ Smoker

The Top 10 Best Wood for BBQ Smokers

Our top 10 best wood recommendations for a BBQ Smoker are:

1. Maple

2. Hickory

3. Oak

4. Apple

5. Walnut

6. Pecan

7. Alder

8. Almond

9. Mesquite

10. Cherry

So, let’s take a closer look at what we consider the best 5 woods for BBQ smokers (at least to get started with). 

Trust us, if you stick to any of these, you are guaranteed to get some incredible flavours added to your foods!

The Top 5 Best Wood for BBQ Smokers

1. Maple – If you’re looking for a sweet and mild smoky flavour, then maple is a perfect choice.  The sweetness won’t surprise you, and you will get those subtle hints of maple syrup.

2. Hickory – Perhaps the most famous of the smoking hardwoods, it’s also one of the most versatile.  It also offers a sweet, smoky flavour but is heartier than maple. If you use too much or smoke for too long, the flavour can get a bit too strong, which makes it a bit bitter, which is important to watch out for.

3. Oak – If you’re just starting out on your smokers’ journey, then oak is a fantastic choice to go with.  It’s incredibly forgiving as a smoking wood and also delivers everything you could possibly want when it comes to flavour.

4. Apple – Applewood is a lighter hardwood that gives a beautiful mellow flavour to your meat.  You may notice that we like our sweet woods; apple is no exception there!

5. Walnut – Walnut produces a much heavier, beautiful, smoky flavour that can become overpowering if you’re not careful but can also be just about the best-smoked meat if you get it right.  We like to pair it with a milder wood like maple to help balance it a little.

Honestly, the list of hardwoods that are great for smoking is extensive.  All your fruit woods, like cherry, lemon, apricot, and pear, will give a beautiful light flavour.  Your nutty hardwoods will almost give you a deeper smoked flavour.

We advise experimenting with different woods to see what flavours they bring out in your food.  You will find yourself drawn in one direction or another quite quickly.

Mixing woods is also a great way to find new flavours and take your smoking game to the next level!

Flavour Pairings Are Key – How to Get Them Right

The reality is the best wood for a BBQ smoker is the one that pairs just right with what you want to cook and flavour.  So let’s have a look at which of our top woods pairs best with what food:

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Are Wood Chips Commonly Used in Gas or Electric Smokers?

Wood chips are smaller and thus ignite faster, producing smoke quicker. This makes them suitable for gas or electric smokers that don't require a long burn time.

Are Wood Pellets Suitable for All Types of BBQ Smokers?

No, wood pellets are specifically designed for pellet grills and smokers. They are not suitable for traditional wood or charcoal smokers.

Can Different Wood Cuts Be Mixed for a More Complex Flavour?

Yes, mixing different types or cuts of wood can result in a more complex flavour profile, enhancing the overall taste of the smoked food.

Final Thoughts

Which is the best wood for a BBQ smoker?  Ultimately, it’s the one that pairs best with what you want to smoke!

The key is to stick with hardwood, get the right cut of wood for the size of your smoker, and then experiment.  This article is designed to point you in the right direction and give you a launchpad to find the best wood for your smoker.  The rest is up to you!

Finding the best wood for your BBQ smoker is a journey worth going on.  Your taste buds will certainly thank you; we guarantee!