Woods to use

[thedisciple]

Is there anyone who can tell me if you can use sassafras wood I have read that you can bit not the bark has to be taken off please can someone answer this we have an abundance of it thanks so much and God bless you all

 

[noboundaries]

I looked this up a while back. I'll see if I can find the specifics, but I remember that it is NOT recommended to use sassafras.

 

[noboundaries]

Here is a list of woods acceptable for smoking.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/woods-for-smoking.50439/

Toward the bottom of the list it says to avoid using sassafras. There's a reason though. It is either poisonous or carcinogenic, especially used long-term. I'll see if I can find that missing fact.

Found it. Sassafras creates safrole, which is known to cause cancer and liver damage. That doesn't stop people from using it though. Some folks like the taste.

There was a similar story I read a while back about a guy who loved the taste of meat smoked with hemlock in spite of the warnings. He ended up dying of stomach cancer at at 45.

 

[yankee2bbq]

Good info. Thank you for your research.

 

[gary s]

Good morning and welcome to the forum from a cool, foggy and damp day here in East Texas, and the best site on the web. Lots of great people with tons of information on just about everything.

Gary

 

[thedisciple]

Here is a list of woods acceptable for smoking.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/woods-for-smoking.50439/

Toward the bottom of the list it says to avoid using sassafras. There's a reason though. It is either poisonous or carcinogenic, especially used long-term. I'll see if I can find that missing fact.

Found it. Sassafras creates safrole, which is known to cause cancer and liver damage. That doesn't stop people from using it though. Some folks like the taste.

There was a similar story I read a while back about a guy who loved the taste of meat smoked with hemlock in spite of the warnings. He ended up dying of stomach cancer at at 45.

Thanks so much for the info I know now not to use it