Wet Or Dry Wood?

[jon foster]

What does everyone use when smoking, wet wood or dry wood?

Jon.

 

[chefrob]

there is going to be a lot of different comments on this but ultamately it is what works best for you and your type of smoker. i have found that in my offset soaked large chunks work best but in my gasser with a charcoal pan mod smaller dry chunks work best.

 

[jon foster]

I'm asking because I've tried both wet and dry wood. It seems the dry wood smokes better. We have a GOSM. The wood box is just a couple of inches above the burner and when water is in the box it usually spits, spatters and boils over. There's lots of steam but not much real smoke until the wood dries out and starts burning.

Jon.

 

[flash]

Petty much 50-50, do what you like best.

 

[slim]

i start with dry and add wet

 

[orlandosmoking]

I've found that dry works best in my MES.

 

[beer-b-q]

My preference is Dry...

 

[rickw]

Dry in the WSM and it has to be dry for the Horizon.

 

[old poi dog]

Dry wood seems to work better for me.

 

[smokeguy]

For me, dry in the MES and a combo in the ECB to spread the smoke time out.

 

[bluefrog]

If you watch the wood as it heats up...the water in wet wood boils off then the wood starts to burn. With dry wood you skip the boiling part. At least that is my experiance. I can't find any benefit to soaking wood even though so "bbq experts" recomend soaking.

Scott

 

[flash]

Of course, you don't want the wood to burn either.

 

[iresq]

Does the form of the wood make a difference? I can understand not soaking larger chunks, but what about those store bought bag of chips?

I just picked up 2 bags of chips (1 apple, 1 jack daniel's oak) for my first smoke this weekend using WSM. Given the surface area and moisture content of this chips, they look like they would burn up in no time.

 

[mballi3011]

I'm a dry Guy here.

 

[flash]

Chips will always get burned up quicker than chunks. I was taught to soak chips or chunks 35 years ago, so still do so. To me it just seems they will start smoldering sooner if dry, but some may like that.

 

[tjoff]

I have a GOSM big block and use both wet and dry, however not at the same time. If I am smoking something where it will take more than 3 hrs I try to soak the chips or chunks. The seam to last a little longer. On short smokers I usually go with dry.
You said that the water boils over and steams. to clarify are you put the wood in the smoker box and putting water in it?

 

[hoser]

I run a GOSM too, and never soak my wood...just asking for headaches doing that IMHO

 

[meateater]

Ive been soaking chips and burning chunks dry. This is all subject to change anytime during the year.

 

[travcoman45]

Dry: AKA well seasoned wood.

 

[vince]

Dry here, I have soaped the wood in the past, but found the dry work good enough for my liking