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Is soaking wood chunks necessary?

by Mike
(Derwood, MD)

I have a new Brinkman Propane Vertical Smoker and have been reading different views on soaking wood chips and chunks. Most people say it makes sense to soak the chips because they are small and will burn. What about soaking chunks? Is it necessary to soak smoker wood chunks in water?

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Is soaking wood chunks necessary?

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by: Anonymous

The only thing that soaking really does is add to the time that the wood lasts. The downside is that you don't get as much smoke, which is why you add the wood to begin with. In a limited oxygen environment the wood can only smolder anyway, so there is really no reason to soak the wood.
I only soak wood when I am smoke/grilling on charcoal for a short period, such as 30 minutes. When putting the wood directly on hot coals, it seems to help with both the smoking and the time the wood lasts.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Should Wood Chunks Be Soaked
by: Bill

I've found that soaking chunks of wood doesn't really help that much. Try splitting a chunk of smoker wood that's been soaking in water for an hour and see for yourself just how deeply the water has soaked in...not very far.

If using an electric smoker, or placing wood on top of hot charcoal, just wrap the wood chunks in foil, and prick a small hole through the foil at the top.

You can also bury a couple of wood chunks under the charcoal when you initially load your charcoal bowl/ring with briquettes. Being under the surface of the coals, the wood will gradually smoke away, and won't usually burst into flames.

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