| Smoke is an integral part of the barbecue process. | | | | Smoke is an integral part of the barbecue process. |
| It has been recognized since the ancient times as the | | | | It has been recognized since the ancient times as the |
| best way to preserve meat for long periods of time, | | | | best way to preserve meat for long periods of time, |
| and now it is the most recognized way of adding | | | | and now it is the most recognized way of adding |
| flavor to your barbecue or to anything you can | | | | flavor to your barbecue or to anything you can |
| cook. Yes, people nowadays use smoke to | | | | cook. Yes, people nowadays use smoke to |
| enhance the flavor of meats, and one way of | | | | enhance the flavor of meats, and one way of |
| making great smoke is to use barbecue wood chips. | | | | making great smoke is to use barbecue wood chips. |
| Barbecue wood chips are considered as one of the | | | | Barbecue wood chips are considered as one of the |
| most effective sources of fuel for grilling and | | | | most effective sources of fuel for grilling and |
| barbecuing. Many barbecue enthusiasts these days | | | | barbecuing. Many barbecue enthusiasts these days |
| prefer the wood chips than the chunks, logs, and the | | | | prefer the wood chips than the chunks, logs, and the |
| charcoal for a number of good reasons. One of | | | | charcoal for a number of good reasons. One of |
| those is the fact that barbecue wood chips are | | | | those is the fact that barbecue wood chips are |
| generally inexpensive. They are marketed | | | | generally inexpensive. They are marketed |
| throughout the world and are easy to use and | | | | throughout the world and are easy to use and |
| prepare. They even come in different types of | | | | prepare. They even come in different types of |
| wood, so the flavors vary accordingly. | | | | wood, so the flavors vary accordingly. |
| Speaking of flavor, the barbecue wood chips are | | | | Speaking of flavor, the barbecue wood chips are |
| prepared from different kinds of wood which in turn | | | | prepared from different kinds of wood which in turn |
| provide a different flavor to what you cook. There | | | | provide a different flavor to what you cook. There |
| are heavy woods and there are fruit woods. But, | | | | are heavy woods and there are fruit woods. But, |
| according to some, the difference between these | | | | according to some, the difference between these |
| types is very subtle. Well, below are few of the | | | | types is very subtle. Well, below are few of the |
| most well-known kinds of barbecue wood chips. So | | | | most well-known kinds of barbecue wood chips. So |
| consider the following: | | | | consider the following: |
| * Alder - The Alder barbecue wood chips are | | | | * Alder - The Alder barbecue wood chips are |
| generally identified for their light flavor that is said to | | | | generally identified for their light flavor that is said to |
| work best with poultry and fish. This is actually | | | | work best with poultry and fish. This is actually |
| the traditional wood for smoking Salmon. | | | | the traditional wood for smoking Salmon. |
| * Fruit - A number of flavors are associated with this | | | | * Fruit - A number of flavors are associated with this |
| kind of barbecue wood chips. There include cherry, | | | | kind of barbecue wood chips. There include cherry, |
| apple, and apricot; all of them are recognized for their | | | | apple, and apricot; all of them are recognized for their |
| mild and sweet flavor that is great for smoking ham | | | | mild and sweet flavor that is great for smoking ham |
| and poultry. | | | | and poultry. |
| * Hickory - One of the most marketed types of | | | | * Hickory - One of the most marketed types of |
| barbecue wood chips is Hickory. This is known for | | | | barbecue wood chips is Hickory. This is known for |
| its strong flavor that makes it perfect for grilling | | | | its strong flavor that makes it perfect for grilling |
| meat. However, because of its strong effect, it is | | | | meat. However, because of its strong effect, it is |
| important to make sure that you do not use hickory | | | | important to make sure that you do not use hickory |
| barbecue wood chips excessively as an excessive | | | | barbecue wood chips excessively as an excessive |
| use of it will turn your meat bitter. | | | | use of it will turn your meat bitter. |
| * Oak - This is but another strong wood for | | | | * Oak - This is but another strong wood for |
| smoking. Just like Hickory barbecue wood chips, the | | | | smoking. Just like Hickory barbecue wood chips, the |
| oak is ideal for beef and lamb, and although it is | | | | oak is ideal for beef and lamb, and although it is |
| strong, it is not overpowering. This is perhaps the | | | | strong, it is not overpowering. This is perhaps the |
| reason that the oak barbecue wood chips are now | | | | reason that the oak barbecue wood chips are now |
| considered as the most versatile type of hard | | | | considered as the most versatile type of hard |
| woods. | | | | woods. |
| * Pecan - This wood burns cool. It is also provides a | | | | * Pecan - This wood burns cool. It is also provides a |
| delicate flavor to your barbecue. And, according to | | | | delicate flavor to your barbecue. And, according to |
| some, this is so far the subtler version of hickory | | | | some, this is so far the subtler version of hickory |
| barbecue wood chips. | | | | barbecue wood chips. |
| There are other types of woods perfect for | | | | There are other types of woods perfect for |
| smoking or barbecuing, such as almond, black walnut, | | | | smoking or barbecuing, such as almond, black walnut, |
| citrus, grapevines, mesquite, maple, ash, beech, | | | | citrus, grapevines, mesquite, maple, ash, beech, |
| cottonwood, guava, fig, and lot more. They are | | | | cottonwood, guava, fig, and lot more. They are |
| used by directly adding them to the coals, or by | | | | used by directly adding them to the coals, or by |
| soaking the barbecue wood chips in water which will | | | | soaking the barbecue wood chips in water which will |
| burn up pretty fast and create smoke when added | | | | burn up pretty fast and create smoke when added |
| to the fire. They are also packaged nowadays, | | | | to the fire. They are also packaged nowadays, |
| but it is still very important to choose which best | | | | but it is still very important to choose which best |
| suits your personal grilling style. | | | | suits your personal grilling style. |