Chips or Chunks?

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georgew

Newbie
Original poster
Sep 24, 2006
11
10
I'm ready to pull the trigger on 1 cu. ft. of smoking wood and the etailer's blog suggests that for some electric smokers wood chips are preferable to wood chunks.

I have a Brinkman Gourmet bullet/water smoker and would prefer to use chunks (I think!).

Also, I'm probably going to get a mixture of cherry, sugar maple, ash and red oak. I'll be smoking brisket, pork butt and turkey breast for a New Years Day bash.

Any input would be helpful.
 
Larger pieces of wood are always preferable. With a smaller Cooker, such as yours, you can put a small layer of chips 1st, then chunks to get things started. Once the heat is sufficient to smokder the wood, continue with the chunks.

Jeff
 
Wow, Jeff, that's a quick reply!

Good advice, but I'm going to buy either all chips or all chunks. Unless the Brinkman shouldn't use chips at all I'll go with the chunks. Based on your advise I'll use a hatchet to cut some chips off the chunks for the base layer.
 
Then buy the chunks, they will start in about 5-10 minutes…just donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t put your meat in till you start to see some smoke, thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s what I did with my Brinky! Either lay them around between the coil 9 (try not to touch coil with wood) or put a pan on the coil and throw em in there!
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If you are going to be smoking in January you might want to think about insulating that smoker some…check out my inexpensive little project perfect for your smoker! Believe me you will need something if it is real cold!

Smoking Meat Forums Forum Index » Smoking Supplies & Equipment » Electric Smokers » Checking out the outlets
 
Carl,

You have a link to your project? I was thinking of smoking in the garage
 
George have you had a chance to experiment with chunks and chips and see what you like best?

I have always used chips and found now that the chuncks work better in an electric smoker.

When the element is on for just a bit the chunks allow the wood to continue to smoke even when the heat is no longer there.

I still use chips, I just use them on my charcoal grill
 
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