Comments on: Why I cook with wood http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/ All the Hot You Can Handle Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:20:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Chas http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-27873 Thu, 01 May 2008 16:16:09 +0000 http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-27873 Great article Robert. The information on cooking woods was excellent and the best I have seen on the net. Thank you Great article Robert. The information on cooking woods was excellent and the best I have seen on the net. Thank you

]]> by: Cindy http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-22592 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:47:20 +0000 http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-22592 Can you use Mahogany to cook on a campfire with?? Can you use Mahogany to cook on a campfire with??

]]> by: alithia http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-7149 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:02:13 +0000 http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-7149 Hi, Robert. Thanks so much for your response! I was mostly concerned about finding out if sycamore is toxic. What I'm hearing from various sources is that it's not toxic--just not an ideal wood for smoking purposes. You asked if I've ever burned it and say that you find the smell to be nasty. Yes, I've soaked it and used it to create smoke while grilling, and I personally find the flavor it imparts to be pleasant, light, and slightly sweet--maybe something like maple, which I also use. (I think sycamore is even in the maple family.) I wonder if the difference is that I try to use branches with the bark stripped off. Or it could be that we just have different tastes! At any rate, sycamore is certainly not an <i>ideal</i> wood for smoking because it doesn't last long. I just use it sometimes 'cause it's free and plentiful for me, and because it puts out a lot of smoke very quickly, faster than maple or oak which also grow on my property, If I'm in a hurry and doing something like a steak or corn that are only going to be subjected to the smoke for a short time, with sycamore I can get the whole thing going without a lot of prep. I soak them a few minutes and sometimes put them in a foil packet with big holes punched so they don't burn up too fast to be useful. Hi, Robert.

Thanks so much for your response! I was mostly concerned about finding out if sycamore is toxic. What I’m hearing from various sources is that it’s not toxic–just not an ideal wood for smoking purposes.

You asked if I’ve ever burned it and say that you find the smell to be nasty. Yes, I’ve soaked it and used it to create smoke while grilling, and I personally find the flavor it imparts to be pleasant, light, and slightly sweet–maybe something like maple, which I also use. (I think sycamore is even in the maple family.) I wonder if the difference is that I try to use branches with the bark stripped off. Or it could be that we just have different tastes!

At any rate, sycamore is certainly not an ideal wood for smoking because it doesn’t last long. I just use it sometimes ’cause it’s free and plentiful for me, and because it puts out a lot of smoke very quickly, faster than maple or oak which also grow on my property, If I’m in a hurry and doing something like a steak or corn that are only going to be subjected to the smoke for a short time, with sycamore I can get the whole thing going without a lot of prep. I soak them a few minutes and sometimes put them in a foil packet with big holes punched so they don’t burn up too fast to be useful.

]]> by: Robert Fernandez http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-7126 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:01:24 +0000 http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-7126 Alithia, I'm sorry that no one's answered your questions, but this isn't a forum where people post and questions are answered. It does happen, but don't expect it. Next time feel free to drop an email. You'll get a better response. ELM and EUCALYPTUS wood is unsuitable for smoking and grilling, as is the wood from SASSAFRAS, SYCAMORE and LIQUID AMBER trees. Have you ever burned Sycamore? I have a huge tree that is always dropping branches and twigs in my yard. I burn them all the time. The smoke is arid and nasty. I wouldn't want that taste on my food. I don't know about elm, but I trust my sources on the proper woods for smoking. I don't think any of the woods listed as "bad" are toxic, but they sure don't make your food taste good. I hope that answers your questions. Robert Alithia,
I’m sorry that no one’s answered your questions, but this isn’t a forum where people post and questions are answered. It does happen, but don’t expect it.

Next time feel free to drop an email. You’ll get a better response.

ELM and EUCALYPTUS wood is unsuitable for smoking and grilling, as is the wood from SASSAFRAS, SYCAMORE and LIQUID AMBER trees.

Have you ever burned Sycamore? I have a huge tree that is always dropping branches and twigs in my yard. I burn them all the time. The smoke is arid and nasty. I wouldn’t want that taste on my food.

I don’t know about elm, but I trust my sources on the proper woods for smoking.

I don’t think any of the woods listed as “bad” are toxic, but they sure don’t make your food taste good.

I hope that answers your questions.

Robert

]]> by: r layton http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-7056 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:49:02 +0000 http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-7056 Can elm be used for just cooking--not smoking? What's wrong with sycamore? How do we get answers to these questions? Can elm be used for just cooking–not smoking? What’s wrong with sycamore?

How do we get answers to these questions?

]]> by: alithia http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-6644 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:25:56 +0000 http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-6644 Can someone explain exactly <i>why</i> sycamore isn't suitable for smoking? I know it's not a hard wood, but I've used it because a mature sycamore tree grows on my property. Is it not recommended merely because it's not a hardwood so it burns faster, or is it actually poisonous? Can someone explain exactly why sycamore isn’t suitable for smoking? I know it’s not a hard wood, but I’ve used it because a mature sycamore tree grows on my property. Is it not recommended merely because it’s not a hardwood so it burns faster, or is it actually poisonous?

]]> by: Reuben Vollmer http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-1541 Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:35:12 +0000 http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-1541 Great, useful information on cooking woods. I gutted an old DCS gas grill and built a steel fire box insert with a rear charging door and a grate elevator and internal baffle. It is a pleasure to use and share with our guests. I find that starting a fire with fruit or nutwood kindling using a propane torch works quite well. I also find that charcoal makes a good starter and provides a lot of heat to bring the barbeque up to temperature. Great, useful information on cooking woods. I gutted an old DCS gas grill and built a steel fire box insert with a rear charging door and a grate elevator and internal baffle. It is a pleasure to use and share with our guests. I find that starting a fire with fruit or nutwood kindling using a propane torch works quite well. I also find that charcoal makes a good starter and provides a lot of heat to bring the barbeque up to temperature.

]]> by: Brian Lightsey http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-1182 Mon, 26 Feb 2007 03:14:47 +0000 http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-1182 You said, "Don’t use any wood from conifer trees, such as PINE, FIR, SPRUCE, REDWOOD, CEDAR, CYPRESS, etc." Why is this? I heard using Cedar was OK. Is it toxic??? You said, “Don’t use any wood from conifer trees, such as PINE, FIR, SPRUCE, REDWOOD, CEDAR, CYPRESS, etc.” Why is this? I heard using Cedar was OK. Is it toxic???

]]> by: bambino http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-1156 Sun, 18 Feb 2007 09:59:22 +0000 http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-1156 Interesting comments.. :D Interesting comments.. :D

]]> by: Dr. Biggles http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-1091 Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:12:02 +0000 http://getyourgrillon.net/2007/01/26/why-i-cook-with-wood/#comment-1091 In my not so humble opinion, gas grills are only good for recyclin'. If they can't tell the difference between anything grilled over wood versus gas, they don't have any excuse to be breathin' muh airs. But that's fine, if gas is what they want, go ahead. They're the ones that have to eat that awful crap anyway. Shudder. Biggles In my not so humble opinion, gas grills are only good for recyclin’. If they can’t tell the difference between anything grilled over wood versus gas, they don’t have any excuse to be breathin’ muh airs.
But that’s fine, if gas is what they want, go ahead. They’re the ones that have to eat that awful crap anyway. Shudder.

Biggles

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