Pellets 100% all natural vs. 70/30 blend

It depends on what you're smoking and what flavor profile you're after. If you want an apple smoke, then just go with the B&B pellets, or get some 100% apple pellets. If you want some hickory in there, then add hickory pellets. It's up to you.

Austin Buckeye said:

I'm sure this has been asked before. If I were to use Apple pellets from a company like B&B with what I believe is 100% all natural wood (no oils or fillers), but the makeup is 70% oak and 30% apple, should I still combine those Apple pellets with Oak or Hickory pellets to be used in my A-MAZE-N PS or use straight B&B pellets (since it is already a 70/30 mixture)?

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As stated above, it depends on what you are going for.  Just realize the more you mix with that Apple blend the less Apple you will end up with.

Having said that I would not blend it anymore UNLESS you want a little Hickory flavor added.  A little hickory can go a long way.

For example, I really like a 70% Apple and 30% Hickory blend.  Now you will only get this by taking 100% apple and 100% hickory and making your own blend.

Also I like some blends but for the most part I prefer having 100% pellets and making my own blends.

For example, the Pit Boss Competition Blend is something like 50-60% Maple, then equal parts (20-25%) Cherry, and Hickory.  This blend is great and the price for 40 pounds can bee $14-$22.  Some stores have even sold it for like $10-$12 from old posts I have seen from the past.

That blend is awesome!  I also find I like my Maple blends more than Oak or Alder blends.  I have a 65% Maple + 35% Mesquite blend.  I like it better than my 70% Alder +30% Mesquite blend.

So of my 3 blends I will use the Pit Boss M/C/H on just about anything.  The Maple/Mesquite on chicken or ribs or anything like that.  The Alder/Mesquite will be chicken or fish (still need to try it with some salmon) because it is very very weak.

My 100% pellets that I still have (ran out of cherry, apple, maple, and pecan) will be 100% Mesquite for all things beef.  100% Hickory for bacon and to blend for other stuff (Hickory makes everything taste like bacon to me, even when I don't want it to), and 100% Alder for Salmon Lox.

I really want to refill my 100% Apple and 100% Pecan sooner rather than later.  Then next is 100% Cherry and when I get around to it 100% Maple, but I can live without Cherry and Maple for a while.

I have found I like Lumberjack pellets for 100% pellets because they are 100% of the wood unless stated otherwise along with no oils or other nonsense, have variety, prices aren't too bad, they have been great tasting so far, and if you go to their site you can create/buy Variety packs!  The variety packs are a little expensive but this way you can try all kinds of pellets to see what you like and don't like then you can settle on a few options.  You also usually find the Lumberjack pellets for sell on Amazon too :)

I hope all of this info helps and best of luck!

Austin Buckeye said:

Thank you. But if, for example I was smoking a pork butt would I need to buy a bag of B&B Apple and use only that or would I need to buy a bag of Apple and a bag of Oak and mix the pellets, say 70 oak to 30 apple? Or since a bag of B&B is a mixture of 70/30 already would I just load up my A-MAZE-N PS with only that or manually mix 2 bags myself? I am a stick burner wanting to make my life easier and purchase the MES40. So normally I would smoke my meat in my offset with a 70% oak to a 30% apple combination.

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If you want a 70% Oak and 30% Apple the B&B Applie is all you need.  It has the wood in the combination you are looking for so you just load up your AMNPS and go :)

FWIW...   Pellets from Todd Johnson are 100% ....    except when you order his blends...  He's a long time member here..  Started his business with members doing the testing... and he supports the forum...

http://www.amazenproducts.com/category_s/62.htm

Just picked up a 20lb bag of B&B pellets(70% oak, 30% hickory) at Walmart for 11 bucks.

Filled 1 row of my tray with the pellets, burned at flame for 10 minutes then blew out the flame. threw it in my smoker with a block of sharp.

They burned no problem, steady smoke, smell very good.

The true test will be the flavor.

Will let you know, but i'm confident the flavor will be very good also..