Best Wood For Smoking Brisket
For every BBQ enthusiast, choosing the best wood for smoking is one of the critical decisions. Each wood is a unique combination of flavors and aroma to the meat, and that’s why the smoke coming from each wood has distinctive properties. When you are smoking brisket, you need to choose the best wood for it as it is an excellent cut of meat to smoke. That’s why it is essential to know what the best wood for smoking brisket is. Take a look at the most used woods for smoking different types of meats and foods.
Different Types of Wood for Smoking
When you decide to find wood for smoking, you suddenly realize there are dozens of woods available for smoking. Well, we have analyzed woods and select these woods for smoking brisket.
1. Oak
When you decide to find wood for smoking, you suddenly realize there are dozens of woods available for smoking. Well, we have analyzed woods and select these woods for smoking brisket.
2. Hickory
A popular smoking wood used worldwide to create juicy smoked foods, hickory is known for its complex profile that is savory and strong. The nutty notes it delivers to brisket are super delicious, and it offers a lot of smoke, so a little goes a long way. However, make sure not to overdo it, or you will have to enjoy bitter brisket.
Overall, this wood is best for smoking brisket. If you are a traditionalist, put hickory at the top of your list.
3. Mesquite
Mesquite is another great choice for smokers and eaters. Offering an intense punch of smoked flavor, this wood is well known to Texas barbecue lovers.
Remember, mesquite burns quickly, so make sure to have enough to get the job done. Smoking with mesquite is effortless, but you have to take care of not overdoing it, just like hickory. You can blend it with any other wood to soften the blow a little.
4. Apple
Just like other fruitwoods, apple is popular for a mildly sweet flavor. Despite creating heavy smoke, the flavor of applewood is not strong. That’s why you can use apple alone or combine it with any other wood to create some sweet notes mixed with bold flavors.
5. Cherry
If you are looking to add sweetness and lightly smoked flavor to brisket, cherry wood is made for you. For subtle flavors, this is a great option. However, if you want to create a strong flavor, it is recommended to blend with maple or oak. Such a combination will not only improve the smokiness.
One of the best features of cherry is that it darkens the bark of the brisket, which makes it look even more delicious. The smoke of cherry often adds a bit touch of dark red color to the meat. So if you are looking to add color and subtle flavor, cherry is made for you.
6. Pecan
Although pecan is not commonly used, you can give this wood a try. The unique, sweet, and nutty flavor perfectly adds a rich taste to briskets. The taste will be either too bitter or sweet; however, you can blend it with another wood like oak or maple to create your desired taste.
7. Maple
Just like oak, maple is highly recommended for those who are new to smoking. The mild taste is ideal as it is hard to overdo for beginners. Some may find maple too subtle for brisket, but it is an excellent choice to add natural flavor to your meat. Also, you can use leftover wood for turkey and chicken.
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Benefits of Flavoring brisket with wood smoke
You can easily cook brisket without any smoke, but why would you do that? The cooking time of both ways lasts for hours, so you can take the benefit of that time and infuse your favorite smoke flavor into the meat.
You don’t need to marinade or rub massage for smoking. This procedure is so delicate that it doesn’t penetrate deep into the cut of meat. All you need is to expose meat to smoke for some time add smoky flavor to it. The best thing is that you will enjoy the juicy flavor with each bit.
Although most health-conscious people avoid brisket but adding smoked flavor to it can help to reduce the sugar intake. The smoke flavor is better than sauce as most barbecue sauces are composed of brown sugar. Smoke is all-natural, and therefore, don’t add even a single carb or calories to your food.
Additionally, you can choose and blend your favorite woods to enjoy different flavors.
Choose the right size woods for smoking brisket
Size really does matter when it comes to smoking. It is important to select the right size and style of wood for the best electric smoker or grill. If you don’t choose the right wood size, it may result in over or under-smoking your meat.
• Chips
Chips are best for electric smokers as they don’t utilize an open flame for a heat source. They are excellent for smoking on gas grills in homemade foil smoking packs or smoker boxes. Chips are easy to burn for adding the desired flavor to your meat. You can easily find chips in nearby stores, and also they are convenient to handle.
• Pellets
Pellets are commonly used in electric smokers and smoker boxes on gas grills. As they are compacted sawdust, so they tend to burn out fast. The best way to use pellets as a source of heat is to use them with an auto-feed auger.
• Logs
Full logs are ideal for the old school of smoking. Of course, not many smokers are big enough for logs, but they are typically used with offset smokers. The offset smoker has a large firebox that has the capacity to burn several logs at once.
• Chunks
These hefty solid wood pieces are the way to go if you are smoking on your charcoal grill. You just need two or three chunks for a full smoke, but you can easily add more if required.
Best Woods for Smoking Brisket—Top 5 kinds of wood for 2021
1. Camerons Oak Wood Chunks
Oak is one of the best woods for smoking briskets, thanks to its medium smokiness. The mild taste won’t overwhelm the brisket, and that’s why most people love to use it for kid’s parties.
You can use Camerons Oak Wood Chunks by themselves; however, pairing them with cherry or applewood chips can add a slightly fruity flavor to your meat.
They are kiln-dried wood chunks that quickly ignite and produce smoke to create a delicate smoked flavor.
Pros
- Don’t overpower the brisket
- Delicious smoked flavor
- Ignite quickly and burns evenly
- 100% natural wood with zero additives
- Affordable price
Cons
- Chunks may vary in size
2. Weber Mesquite Wood Chunks
If you are looking for classic Texas taste, then Weber Mesquite Wood Chunks are your best friend. However, the flavor of this wood is a bit intense; that’s why you should combine it with any other mild wood.
If you are a beginner, this wood is not recommended for you. Make sure to reason the instructions before using them.
Pros
- Best for Texas-style briskets
- Excellent quality
- Bid bold flavor
- Recommended for lamb and beef
- Low price
Cons
- Intense smoky flavor
3. Jack Daniel's 01749 BBQ Smoking Chips
One of the reputable brands known for producing high-quality wood chips, Jack Daniel’s 01749 BBQ Smoking Chips can turn your brisket into delicious meat. You can create another great flavor by combining it with oak.
These wood chips are created right from the Old No. 7 barrels. One of the best features of this wood for smoking brisket is that you can use it with electric smokers, charcoal grills, and gas grills.
Pros
- Burns for a long time
- Great Oak and Whiskey taste
- It can be used with different smokers and grills
- Made Directly from Jack Daniel’s Aging Barrels
- Best for briskets
Cons
- Ordinary packing
4. Western Premium BBQ Products Hickory BBQ Chunks
Want to add a slightly nutty flavor to your brisket? Western Premium BBQ Products Hickory BBQ Chunks are here to help you. Available in heat-treated form, these chunks smoke quickly when placed on a smoker or grill to allow you to prepare your food faster.
However, the chunks may vary in size; therefore, it is recommended to cut them in pieces to the right size to prevent uneven burning and smoke. You can also use the chunks you need and preserve large pieces for a later time.
Pros
- Heat-treated with zero additives
- Elegant nutty flavor
- Produce smoke quickly
- Best for different meats
- Available in small and large size
Cons
- Chunks vary in sizes
5. WESTERN 80485 BBQ Smoking Chips
This BBQ smoking chip variety pack is best for those who are using chips for the first time, want to create their own flavor or the one who can’t decide which flavor is best. Idea wood chips for electric smokers and gas grill, WESTERN 80485 BBQ Smoking Chips allows creating your own distinctive combination.
The best thing about using these chips is that there are many different flavors available in the pack. Last but not least, it comes with a reusable smoker tray for your convenience. For best results, it is recommended to place the wood chips in a foil pouch or a smoker tray.
Pros
- Great smoke and flavor
- Maple, Peach, Apple, and Cherry flavors
- Includes reusable smoker tray
- It can be used with different smokers and grills
- Best for beginners
Cons
- Small wood pieces
Final words
You can smoke brisket on low and slow or hot and fast heat, but it takes 2-4 hours to prepare properly. Experimenting is the best practice to find the right flavor for what you want. Just like other things in life, mixing woods is an option for you. For instance, if you love sweet from sugar maple and also the savory from mesquite, the combination of both kinds of wood can allow you to enjoy both a single bite. Don’t use light or starter fluid as the brisket may absorb that flavor too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
• How much wood do I need to smoke briskets?
It depends on your smoker or grill to select the wood size and amount. Typically, 2-4 fist-sized wood chunks are good enough to create smoke for brisket. If you have an offset smoker, wood is the main source of heating.
• Is apple wood best for brisket?
Apple wood gives the brisket a decent fruity and sweet flavor. That’s why apple wood is incredibly popular among smokers. You can also use apple for ham and poultry meats.
• Can you mix woods for smoking brisket?
Yes, you can mix different types of wood chips to create a unique flavor. Make sure to soak wood chips for about 2 hours before smoking.