Smoking with Hackberry wood

[lcarreau]

Jawja got me to thinking about this. I have lots of it. Anyone ever use it in the smoke? I burned some in the fireplace last night and it sure was good for that.

-Lonnie

[jawjaboy]

Sorry 'bout that Lonnie. Here lately when I get to thinking, I usually wind up in trouble. So, I've about quit doing it.

We don't have hackberry in our neck of the woods, otherwise and I would have already tried it.
.

[Pitmaster]

Jawja got me to thinking about this. I have lots of it. Anyone ever use it in the smoke? I burned some in the fireplace last night and it sure was good for that.

-Lonnie

I've not known anyone to use it or try it. I've hung out on BBQ lists for over 10 years. I wouldn't use it. I've not heard of anyone trying it and I'm sure I would have ran across someone saying it was good if it is.

The general rule of thumb is that fruit and nut woods are good. Although some of them aren't that great to use for smoking. Walnut comes to mind. If you do try some I wouldn't use much to BBQ with.

Since you have some you might try grilling over a fire made of it to see how it does.

[lcarreau]

I've not known anyone to use it or try it. I've hung out on BBQ lists for over 10 years. I wouldn't use it. I've not heard of anyone trying it and I'm sure I would have ran across someone saying it was good if it is.

The general rule of thumb is that fruit and nut woods are good. Although some of them aren't that great to use for smoking. Walnut comes to mind. If you do try some I wouldn't use much to BBQ with.

Since you have some you might try grilling over a fire made of it to see how it does.


In the other thread, I posted a link to a commercial outfit that sells it for 'cue. It is all over the place where I live. They are very hardy, ugly looking trees. I like the idea of grilling something on it. With as much as I have, I just gotta try it out.

***edited to add***

The hackberry is a fruit tree.

-Lonnie

[AdamN]

On this list they have it as suitable for smoking, I guess it depends if you like it or not.

http://www.deejayssmokepit.net/Downloads_files/SmokingFlavorChart.pdf

Page 5 under "other wood suitable for smoking"

I would try it.

[lcarreau]

On this list they have it as suitable for smoking, I guess it depends if you like it or not.

http://www.deejayssmokepit.net/Downloads_files/SmokingFlavorChart.pdf

Page 5 under "other wood suitable for smoking"

I would try it.


I saw a couple other sites like that where descriptions of the flavor would be mentioned for some woods and then at the bottom was a list of "other" suitable woods. Hackberry consistently makes the list, but I have not seen a description to compare it other woods. My favorite wood right now is Pecan and I have quite a bit of that as well.

-Lonnie

[lcarreau]

I did some ribs with the hackberry tonight. It was not bad at all, but not as good as Pecan. Compared to pecan, it did not give as much smoke ring and I found that it gave a lighter smoke flavor. I am thinking Hackberry is good as fuel, but either it does not penetrate as well, or its just less smokey. The smoke that it gives off is definitely lighter in color. I plan to use it as an extender for better woods that I have. It does not add any unpleasant flavors that I could detect. It just does not give a lot of smokey flavor. I would consider to be the opposite end of the smoke spectrum from Hickory.

From my limited experience, Pecan is just about the best wood for the stuff I cook.

-Lonnie