Lignin Levels in North American Hardwoods
I’m going to report the
lignin levels of common North American hardwoods derived from the Klason lignin method, which values the residue remaining after solubilizing the carbohydrate with strong mineral acid. What follows are percentages of
oven-dried woods with temperatures ranging from 68°F/20°C to 248°F/120°C.
Acer saccharum Marsh./Sugar Maple = 22%
Alnus rubra Bong./Red Alder = 24%
Betula alleghanienstis Britton/Yellow Birch = 21%
Carya glaubra (Mill.)/Sweet Pignut Hickory = 24%
Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch/Shagbark Hickory = 21%
Fagus grandifolia Ehrh./American Beech = 22%
Fraxinus Americana L./White Ash = 26%
Populus tremoides Michx./ Quaking Aspen = 19%
Prunus serotine Ehrh./Black Cherry = 21%
Quercus alba L./White Oak = 27%
Quercus prinus L./Chestnut Oak = 24%
Quercus rubra L./Northern Red Oak = 24%
Quercus stellate Wangenh./ Post Oak = 24%
What do all these percentages mean when it comes to your barbecue? You can assume that the higher numbers mean there are larger numbers of compounds at work to flavor your foods. It’s obvious that woods like
hickory and
oak have great percentages of phenol, guaiacol, and dimethylphenol, since these woods tend to produce the boldest flavors. Those hardwoods like
cherry,
alder, and
maple have the compounds of methylguaiacol and isoeugenol coming forward in the flavors which results in sweeter and more toned coloring to meats. Another factor that must be kept in mind when examining lignin is the heat level the wood is exposed to. Cook at a higher temperature and these compounds can become muddier as combustion occurs more rapidly producing ash accumulation that can change flavors and aromas quickly. All factor in to the resulting flavor, color and aroma of barbecued foods, whether animal protein, vegetable, fruit, or other. This just further supports that wood-fired cooking is an art that requires a balanced hand that understands the importance of controlling as many factors as possible, primary of which is cooking temperature and airflow to bring out the highest percentage of beneficial compounds the wood can offer.
