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Soaking Wood

by Michael
(Minneapolis, MN)

This fall, I bought a Klose barbecue smoker. It has a firebox large enough to take split cut logs (16"-18"). Up until recently, I've been using wood chunks, which require soaking before adding to charcoal. But now I have some very good hickory and apple logs to work with. I've used them three times and have soaked the logs before putting them into the firebox, but is this necessary? They definitely provide a lot of smoke, but since the logs are larger, would they smoke just as well without soaking them?

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Soaking Wood

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starstarstarstarstar 		My .02
by: Anonymous

I wouldn't Soak. Klose pits are designed to be primarily wood burning. Soaking the wood will only produce a colder, less efficient fire. Cold fires tend to produce Thick White Billowy Smoke, that kind of smoke create LOTS of creosote and very over powering smoke flavor. So, it isn't the amount of smoke, it's the effectiveness of the smoke. What you want is Thin Blue Smoke. Even if you can't see it. As long as you can smell it, it's providing flavor. I would not soak them, and I would use Oak for heat and only add the Hickory and Apple for flavor.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Soaking BBQ Pit Wood
by: SmokerBill

There's no need to soak the wood in water when using a pit smoker. Use dry wood, and just enough so you have a clean burning fire that keeps your smoker temperature where you want it.






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