Cedar for smoking

[droptine]

Can anyone tell me if cedar (yellow) is any good for smoking. I saw cedar smoking planks for salmon at some grocery stores , so I aasume it is safe??

 

[richtee]

No... don't do it. Planking is not smoking.

 

[richoso1]

All I can say is that cedar planks are very popular right now even for use in the oven. But, I have heard that you really shouldn't smoke with it. I'll let someone else chime in on this one. Too many variables for me to balance out.

 

[mgwerks]

Cedar, like pine and other softwoods, are most definitely not what you want to smoke your food with.

 

[walking dude]

yeah, throw in some asphalt shingles in there........LOLOLOL

j/k ing...........NO CEDAR, PINE, FIR..........etc.

 

[gitmosmoke]

We use cedar planks for cooking salmon, but not in the smoker. The planks are soaked for a few hours and the fish (usually) is placed on the planks then into the oven or grilled indirectly. The steam from the wood gives a subtle flavor, but the wood should only be lightly toasted not burned at all. Cedar when burned leaves a lot of resin on everything and pops embers everywhere. If you are looking for that kind of flavor try alder in the smoker. Works every time for me and I have switched to it almost entirely.

 

[bbq bubba]

Cedar planking lends some aroma to the meat cooking on it.

Cedar in the fire will burn off nasty oils and give you a rather noxious smoke.

 

[fishawn]

I 2nd the Alder vote.

 

[jminion]

When planking the oils in the wood come to surface and effect flavor but when burned people have a reaction to the smoke that can cause problems like big red welts on skin and your throat swelling shut just to name a couple of side effects.