Opinions on Wood Choice for Chicken

rippinntearin

Smoke Blower

Original poster

May 6, 2011

125

74

St. Petersburg, FL

• Mar 13, 2013

• #1

Afternoon Guys!

So last night I decided to smoke a full chicken coca cola style....my choice of wood was mesquite.  I gotta tell you, personally I think this was too strong of a wood for poultry.  

What are you guys using for wood on poultry?  Cherry?  Apple?  Alder?

Thanks!

Rip...

 

dirtsailor2003

Epic Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Oct 4, 2012

21,947

4,224

Bend Oregon

• Mar 13, 2013

• #2

I like to use apple, alder, peach, pecan for poultry and pork.  I like a little mesquite hickory, and cherry for beef

 

chef willie

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Dec 31, 2010

3,201

376

Willamette Valley, Oregon

• Mar 13, 2013

• #3

Found I've liked cherry on birds lately, having mostly used apple in the past. I pretty much use apple on butts with maybe a touch of hickory thrown in. Just got some pecan chunks so will roadtesting those on birds.

 

jrod62

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

Group Lead

Jun 13, 2011

5,010

41

New Athens IL

• Mar 13, 2013

• #4

Cherry

 

humdinger

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Jun 27, 2012

1,686

90

Shelby Township MI

• Mar 13, 2013

• #5

I like mesquite on birds but I know it can be overpowering so I only use very little. Other than that apple or cherry are the go-to wood for a light smoke flavor. Alder is the lightest and good for fish.

 

05sprcrw

Smoking Fanatic

Feb 7, 2012

324

18

Rural NE

• Mar 13, 2013

• #6

Mulberry, apricot, pear, apple, hickory, mesquite, or oak just depends on my mood and what I have around at the time.

 

dward51

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Nov 24, 2011

2,865

538

McDonough, GA

• Mar 13, 2013

• #7

Usually cherry or apple.

 

kathrynn

Legendary Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Jun 13, 2012

9,442

121

Madison, AL

• Mar 13, 2013

• #8

Apple for sure....nice taste on the chickens.

Kat

 

bbqbrett

Master of the Pit

Jan 17, 2013

1,656

593

About 10 miles from the blue turf!

• Mar 13, 2013

• #9

I usually use hickory.  I have used apple, cherry, pecan, mesquite and one time peach, also a combo of cherry\hickory.

I thought they all had good flavors and it is fun to experiment a bit.  For chicken though hickory has been my favorite followed closely by cherry, than apple.

 

ryschoo

Fire Starter

Feb 9, 2013

62

41

Phoenix, AZ

• Mar 13, 2013

• #10

I used a mix of hickory and apple on my first bird, nice smoke flavor without being overpowering

 

rgacat

Meat Mopper

SMF Premier Member

Feb 5, 2010

270

11

Eastern NM

• Mar 13, 2013

• #11

Last couple I used orange on they were good.
 

 

rippinntearin

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Thread starter

May 6, 2011

125

74

St. Petersburg, FL

• Mar 14, 2013

• #12

Thanks for the excellent advice as always!!!  

Not quite the weekend yet, but hope everyone has a great one!

Rip...