When are wood chunks no longer useful?

[johnnylaw101]

New smoker here... I’ve used my smoker 3x now, and I have some left over wood chunks in the smoke tray. When do I toss them out ? Should they go down to complete dust/ash?

 

[Chasdev]

Depends on how far gone they are..if they are almost gone, as in lightweight compared to unburned, then toss them out.
BUT if I were low on wood or having to scramble to come up with same, I would use them until dead.

 

[johnnylaw101]

Depends on how far gone they are..if they are almost gone, as in lightweight compared to unburned, then toss them out.
BUT if I were low on wood or having to scramble to come up with same, I would use them until dead.

I guess that’s my Q: how can you tell if they are dead? No more smoke coming out ?

 

[kruizer]

Welcome to SMF from Minnesota.

 

[jcam222]

What kind of smoker? In my charcoal cabinet i shake outthe basket after a cook and its cooled. Whatever is solid that remains I leave that’s true for lump charcoal and wood chunks. To me it’s done when it turns to ash.

 

[chopsaw]

I only dump ash . Anything else stays , with the added new chunks .

 

[pc farmer]

I only dump ash . Anything else stays , with the added new chunks .

What kind of smoker? In my charcoal cabinet i skakexour the basket after accook and its cooled. Whatever is solid that remains I leave that’s true for lump charcoal and wood chunks. To me it’s done when it turns to ash.

Same here. Shake out ash and keep the rest then add new.

 

[johnnylaw101]

What kind of smoker? In my charcoal cabinet i skakexour the basket after accook and its cooled. Whatever is solid that remains I leave that’s true for lump charcoal and wood chunks. To me it’s done when it turns to ash.

It’s a Landmann Smoky Mountain

 

[Bearcarver]

You could put them in an enclosed container & bang it around. Then keep the big pieces.

Bear