Oak trees in back yard

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

richiesracks

Fire Starter
Original poster
May 5, 2017
51
15
Arkansas
I've got some young oak trees in the back yard with some low hanging branches I trimmed the other day wondering if any one cuts there bigger limbs down into chunks and uses them in there smoker? Is it safe to do?
 
I don't know why it would not work.  I have a ton of pecan limbs that I have cut up and use for smoke wood. My co-worker has a small pecan orchard on his farm and every time a storm blows a limb down, he gives me a call.  He thought it was cool when I took him a pork butt that I smoked over "his" wood.

If it's green wood, I would cut it and split it depending on the size and let it dry.  I know a lot of commercial pits run on green hickory, but I'm not so sure about oak.
 
Oak is probably one of if not the best wood to smoke with. It burns long and hot and has a mild to medium smoke flavor. I use it almost exclusively mixed with apple when I can find it. If the limbs are green cut them to whatever size you plan to use them in and let them dry. Depending on size it may take only a month or two to get them useable.

I buy my wood a season ahead of time. I buy wood in late summer or early fall to be used for the following year. I have a wood crib I store it in for drying.
 
I have live oaks in the yard and have always cut limbs ~2"+ in diameter into short logs and later into chunks on the radial arm saw. A 4" long "log" splits easily. I do the same with pecan limbs from the farm.  I prefer to use wood where I know what it may have been exposed to.
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky