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golddigger14s
Site Supporter
Location: Faxon, OK Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2011 Posts: 17806
Real Name: Chuck
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Should I soak my wood chips for my smoker or not?
_________________ "The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." Thomas Jefferson "Evil often triumphs, but never conquers." Joseph Roux
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Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:24 pm |
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bubblewhip
Site Supporter
Location: Redmond Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2020 Posts: 975
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Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:28 pm |
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survivor
Site Supporter
Location: Kent Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2013 Posts: 1653
Real Name: Andy
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I don’t.
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Fri Sep 25, 2020 5:18 pm |
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Pvanderzee
Site Supporter
Location: Bow Joined: Tue Apr 2, 2013 Posts: 2688
Real Name: Phill
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Smoke comes from inefficient combustion. Wet wood burns less efficiently. Therefore, wet wood will produce more smoke. Just ask anybody who burns their brush and yard debris.
_________________Sinus211 wrote: Z66 and I still fuck on the regular. zombie66 wrote: Mikey is a Bossy Bottom.....
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Fri Sep 25, 2020 5:21 pm |
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usrifle
Site Supporter
Location: RENTON Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 Posts: 20748
Real Name: John
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If he had a smoker that used charcoal, I would say briefly soak the chips. With an Electric smoker? I have no idea. I would refer to the manufacturers instructions.
_________________ Mr. Q wrote: so basically, if you have to smoke some asshole, make sure they become fertilizer and then Bounce? got it.
Guntrader wrote: Huh, maybe I was an asshole.
NRA Member/RSO SAF 5 Year Donor GOA Member
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Fri Sep 25, 2020 6:21 pm |
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Traut
Site Supporter
Location: Downtown Newcastle Joined: Sat Mar 5, 2016 Posts: 3440
Real Name: Traut
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Don't soak. Smoking for preservation is a process of drying or partial dehydration. By soaking the chips, you are adding moisture into the equation which is what you are trying to remove. It also actually takes more heat to get rid of all the extra water, which depending on your smoking style can also not be a good thing. Too much heat during preservation style smoking actually bakes the meat which makes it more prone to early deterioration and spoilage. For food that will be consumed fairly soon and the smoking is for flavor and part if the cooking process, it doesn't make too much difference, but I still think it takes longer, and it's just another unnecessary step. YMMV
_________________ I always thought growing old would take a lot longer.....
So, when does that "Old enough to know better" shit kick in??? I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake.
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Sat Sep 26, 2020 3:10 am |
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golddigger14s
Site Supporter
Location: Faxon, OK Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2011 Posts: 17806
Real Name: Chuck
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So far 2 to 2. Need a tie breaker.
_________________ "The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." Thomas Jefferson "Evil often triumphs, but never conquers." Joseph Roux
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Sat Sep 26, 2020 5:43 am |
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Wacarry
Site Supporter
Location: Olympia Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 Posts: 3696
Real Name: Kelley
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When I used an electric smoker, I never soaked the chips. Always dry. However, my buddy always soaked his chips. Our smoked salmon was nearly indistinguishable.
We were both too stubborn to try the other way, but both our smoked foods came out tasty.
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Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:42 am |
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survivor
Site Supporter
Location: Kent Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2013 Posts: 1653
Real Name: Andy
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It is my understanding that the reason you soak wood for smoking is to prevent it from actually producing a flame. So it kinda comes down to an air / fuel mixture. Too much air and your dry wood can catch fire. And a hot fire produces less smoke. So if you cannot reduces the air intake. Like say when smoking using charcoal. Than you may need to soak your chips to inhibit flames.
So if your smoking chips catch fire / produce a flame. Then you should soak your wood chips. If they do not catch fire / produce a flame. Then no need to soak your wood chips.
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Sat Sep 26, 2020 9:09 am |
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JohnMBrowning
Location: Bothell Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 Posts: 4843
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survivor wrote: It is my understanding that the reason you soak wood for smoking is to prevent it from actually producing a flame. So it kinda comes down to an air / fuel mixture. Too much air and your dry wood can catch fire. And a hot fire produces less smoke. So if you cannot reduces the air intake. Like say when smoking using charcoal. Than you may need to soak your chips to inhibit flames.
So if your smoking chips catch fire / produce a flame. Then you should soak your wood chips. If they do not catch fire / produce a flame. Then no need to soak your wood chips. This.... Try it both ways and see what works better -- it will depend more on your smoker than 'yes or no'. I've given up on chips in the WSM --- seen too many times that they flash burn and light all the coals - using chunks is much better. I was gonna try soaking the chips, but figured they would dry out pretty quickly anyways and do the same thing.
_________________ Plan B is actually repeating Plan A.... it just involves much more alcohol.
Of the ten voices I hear in my head, only three keep telling me NOT to shoot.... Do I go with the majority or common sense?
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Sat Sep 26, 2020 9:30 am |
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usrifle
Site Supporter
Location: RENTON Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 Posts: 20748
Real Name: John
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survivor wrote: It is my understanding that the reason you soak wood for smoking is to prevent it from actually producing a flame.
That is why you would soak them. I use Chunks, not Chips because the Chips will just dry quickly and burn off.
_________________ Mr. Q wrote: so basically, if you have to smoke some asshole, make sure they become fertilizer and then Bounce? got it.
Guntrader wrote: Huh, maybe I was an asshole.
NRA Member/RSO SAF 5 Year Donor GOA Member
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Sat Sep 26, 2020 9:38 am |
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JohnMBrowning
Location: Bothell Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 Posts: 4843
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_________________ Plan B is actually repeating Plan A.... it just involves much more alcohol.
Of the ten voices I hear in my head, only three keep telling me NOT to shoot.... Do I go with the majority or common sense?
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Sat Sep 26, 2020 9:43 am |
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survivor
Site Supporter
Location: Kent Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2013 Posts: 1653
Real Name: Andy
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Oh yes good point. On the chips vs chunks. I only use chips in my Little Chief smoker. It’s electric. And I don’t soak them. In my big offset smoker/ BBQ I use actual logs. So yeah if your smoking on charcoal. Don’t use the chips. But even with chunks you may choose to soak them if they flare up.
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Sat Sep 26, 2020 9:46 am |
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Old Growth
Site Supporter
Location: Nisqually Valley Joined: Wed Oct 5, 2016 Posts: 4809
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But don't the wet pellets swell up and fall apart and plug the feeder thingy up?
Lol!
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Sat Sep 26, 2020 10:24 am |
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Pablo
Site Supporter
Location: Everson, WA Joined: Sun Jan 6, 2013 Posts: 28149
Real Name: Ace Winky
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golddigger14s wrote: Should I soak my wood chips for my smoker or not? Depends solely on your heat source. Electric with some type of pan, no. Some hot charcoal, yes.
_________________ Why does the Penguin in Batman sound like a duck?
Because the eagle sounds like a hawk.
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Sat Sep 26, 2020 10:44 am |
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