Since our start as a company in 2005, we’ve heard this question asked more times than we can count. Is there any way to use wood chips with my pellet smoker?
The equipment manufacturer protection response is, No. But, as with any thought of a new potential sales market, many manufacturers wanted a means of saying “yes”.
Leading the Way
Years ago, there were attempts to integrate hardwood sawdust in the pellet hopper. Thinking that sawdust is so fine it would never cause an equipment breakdown, many pellet owners used this method. In the end, it never gained legs due to no change in overall flavor.
It wasn’t until recently that one grill/smoker manufacturer wanted to step into the pellet smoker market. You might say, that’s nothing new but this was a different effort. Instead of just making a piece of equipment, this manufacturer tested the affect of combing pellets and wood chips on the equipment. He found it worked!
Did We Follow?
We include a database on our site called, Match Your Cooker that allows for product match to be made to hundreds of equipment brands on the market. There are all types of equipment listed: ceramic cookers, kettle grills, electric grill/smokers, offset smoker, commercial-grade brands, bullet smokers, etc. One group of equipment that we don’t include and won’t plan to include is pellet smokers.
The reason is simple. The majority of pellet grills and smokers instructions clearly state to only use pellets. There is an unspoken understanding that if you go against this instruction, you will void any warranty.
Minuto® Chip Option
SmokinLicious® prides itself on helping others navigate the wood cooking world. For this reason, we can state that using our Minuto® Wood Chips in sizing #4 IS an option for pellet smokers. The key is in the mix between the pellets and wood chips. There are many suggestions for using equal parts of each but we feel it is more important to always blend a larger percentage of pellets to chips. The hopper is designed for the compressed wood pieces that are called pellets. Wood chips are not compressed. The other key factor is to only use wood chips that are sifted or screened into one concise size. Remember, pellets are uniform. The wood chips must mimic this uniformity.
This could finally be the first modification in using a pellet smoker for increased smoke flavor. It’s a great time to experiment. A great time to share your findings with others who love the ease of use of the pellet smoker but want just a bit more for the flavor outcome.
A ‘MUST HAVE’ RESOURCE FOR CERAMIC SMOKER Posted By: Dr. Smoke
We know you are all likely aware of the excessive number of cookbooks and resource books available in the area of grilling and smoking, and I’m sure you’ve purchased your share. I’m also sure you’ve experienced periods of disappointment when you finally get the opportunity to delve into the pages of that book only to find that the recipes don’t all relate to cooking on the grill or ceramic smoker, and the tips are in short supply.
With that being said, I want to give my stamp of approval on a great resource for all you advocates of ceramic cookers out there!
Smoke It Like A Pro on the Big Green Egg & Other Ceramic Cookers by Eric Mitchell is the ultimate resource for all things done on ceramic cookers! Over the years, I’ve lamented about the need for a cookbook that includes all the detail to actual cook the recipes on the smoker and/or grill! Finally, Mr. Mitchell does just that!
His personal commitment to ceramic smokers truly shows not only in the beautiful photographs of the foods and cooker techniques, but in his simplistic terminology and focus on the small details that will make this resource a favorite. Even if you don’t own a ceramic cooker, you will gain great tips on fire starting and manipulation of the fire for fuel and flavor, as well as exceptional recipes – my personal favorite is that extensive dessert listing that is all done on the cooker.
Now available online and at select bookstores, Smoke It Like A Pro on the Big Green Egg & Other Ceramic Cookers by Eric Mitchell will get you firing up that cooker despite the weather! “Bon-Bar-B-Q!”
Dr. Smoke- For our friends that own a ceramic smoker, here’s a helpful resource you shouldn’t pass up- “Smoke It Like a Pro” by Eric Mitchell!
For additional reading and insight on ceramic smoker, here’s a list that will interest you:
As there are always new equipment lines and models released, we will provide updates to this listing. We also encourage you to send us a message when you don’t see a manufacturer/model listed so we can get it added.
For now, we introduce you to our Wood Master’s Guide to SmokinLicious® culinary woods for Pizza Oven.
Barrel Smoker Logs
The following equipment/models would be suitable for the SmokinLicious® Barrel Smoker Log/ Full Cut Log . These logs are only suitable for the largest pizza oven’s cooking area. Commercial-grade wood-burning pizza ovens would use these too:
Braza Brick Wood Fired Pizza Oven
Forno Bravo: Primavera 60 Outdoor Oven, Napoli Commercial Pizza Oven
American Barbecue Systems model: “The Judge”, “The Smokehouse 6042”
Authentic Pizza Ovens: Portable Maximus Oven, Traditional Brick Famosi Wood Fire Oven, Traditional Brick Lisboa Wood Fire Oven, Stone Domed Pizza Oven, Traditional Brick Pizziaoli Wood Fire Oven, Traditional Brick Braza Wood Fire Oven
Bella Outdoor Living: Medio Wood Burning Pizza Oven
ilFornino: F-Series Mini Professional Stainless Steel Wood Fired Pizza Oven, Platinum Series Wood Fired Pizza Oven, Piccolino Wood Fired Pizza Oven, Professional Plus Wood Fired Pizza Oven, Professional Series Wood Burning Pizza Oven, Elite Plus Wood Fired Pizza Oven, Grand G-Series Wood Burning Pizza Oven
LaToscana: Forno Easy Pizza Oven
Mugnaini: Medio 110 Barrel Outdoor Oven, Masonry Oven Kits Piccolo 80/Medio 100/Medio 110/Prima 100/Prima 120/Piccolo 60
NXR Professional Ranges: Burning Wood Dome Pizza Oven
Wood Stone: Bistro Home Ovens 3030/4836/4343/4355, Mountain Home Ovens Mt. Chuckanut 4’ & Mt. Adams 5’
Charwood
Some pizza ovens offer the option to run on charcoal. Our Charwood product is perfect for those ovens! Since our charwood still has the wood core with a charred outside, both heat and flavor are found.
For ovens that specify using an anthracite coal only which is a hard, mineral coal, charwood would not be an alternative. Any residential oven that requires gas assist, should not use charwood.
Ovendesign: Circular Pizza Oven, Portable Wood-Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven (rear model and standard)
Uuni Pro (Ooni Pro)
[dropcapRemember[/dropcap], often the wood can make the difference between flavor and burn taste. As always, our Wood Guide Team is ready to answer your additional questions and further assist you for the perfect wood-fired experience!
Charcoal Smoker Grills–For those that have followed us for years, you know we are proud that almost from the start of our Company, we were committed to providing a guide for equipment to cooking wood product match. We refer to our guide affectionately as “Match Your Cooker”.
In this article, we are covering our recommendations for charcoal-wood burning grill equipment; these are grills that capable of using charcoal and wood for authentic charcoal grilling. As there are always new equipment lines and models released, our plan is to provide regular updates. We also encourage you to send us a message when you don’t see a manufacturer or model listed.
For now, we introduce you to our wood master’s guide to SmokinLicious® cooking woods for specific smokers.
We hope you view this guide as a helpful resource for selecting the perfect culinary wood for your equipment. As always, our Wood Guide Team is ready to answer your additional questions and further assist you with the perfect grilling and smoking experience!
Our drawing of the typical offset food smokers, which come in a variety of sizes! Study our “Match Your Cooker” list for wood use.
For those that have followed us for years, you know we are proud that almost from the start of our Company, we were committed to providing a guide for equipment to cooking wood product match. We refer to our guide affectionately as “Match Your Cooker”.
In this article, we are covering our recommendations for smoker equipment; these are cookers that are dedicated for use as a smoker, usually hot smoking at that. As there are always new equipment lines and models released, our plan is to provide regular updates. We also encourage you to send us a message when you don’t see a manufacturer or model listed so we can add this to our listing.
For now, we introduce you to our wood master’s guide to SmokinLicious®cooking woods for specific smokers.
American Barbecue Systems model: “All Star”, “The Pit-Boss”, “The Bar-Be-Cube”
Backwoods Smoker model: “Party”, “G2 Party”, “The Fatboy”, “G2 Fatboy”, “The Pro Junior”, “The Piglet”, “Piglet Plus”, “The Competition Hog”, “The Pro-Competition Hog”, “The Whole Hog”
Dr. Smoke- When it comes to the performance of your food smokers, we have a ton of helpful info that will make your unit work superbly to flavor food. Feel free to tap into our “Match Your Cooker” wood master’s guide on our website.
For those that have followed us for years, you know we are proud that almost from the start of our Company, we were committed to providing a guide for equipment to culinary wood product match. We refer to our guide affectionately as “Match Your Cooker”.
In this article, we are covering our recommendations for ceramic and komado style grilling equipment; these are grills that are made from ceramic, clay, terracotta or crushed lava rock that allow the grill to reach extremely high temperatures – usually at or above 750°F! They are also capable of using charcoal and wood either independently or in combination.
As there are always new equipment lines and models released, our plan is to provide regular updates on this listing. We also encourage you to send us a message when you don’t see a manufacturer or model listed to ensure it is added to the list (email drsmoke@smokinlicious.com).
For now, we introduce you to our wood master’s guide to SmokinLicious® culinary woods for ceramic and komado grills.
Single Filet Wood Chunks for Ceramic Smokers & Grills
We hope you view this guide as a helpful resource for selecting the perfect culinary wood for your equipment. As always, our Wood Guide Team is ready to answer your additional questions and further assist you with the perfect grilling and smoking experience!
* Although considered a komado grill, this brand is not made with any ceramic, clay, terracotta, or crushed stone.
** This brand is only designed for use with wood chips and includes a patented smokin’ chip feeder.
Ceramic smokers & grills are very popular. For more reading on how these units can best work with wood as a food flavoring element, check out these articles:
Smokinlicious® wood Blocks are perfect for a J&R Equipment
A PERFECT MARRIAGE FOR J&R EQUIPMENT
One key factor that is often not considered when the decision is made to purchase commercial-grade equipment like J&R Equipment is the cooking wood product that the unit derives its flavor from. Don’t be fooled by the statement that “any wood will be fine”, as there IS a difference! In fact, only hardwood should be used as a cooking wood, never softwoods, but even some hardwoods are not ideal for wood-fired cooking and flavor. Some bark is toxic, other woods are too high in resin, and others don’t possess a balance of flavonoids to make them pleasant to the palate.
Our video featured here highlights the study, testing, and care we take to ensure a perfect marriage of cooking wood to equipment. Get the full potential from your J&R Equipment investment by using only hardwoods DESIGNED for cooking! Be informed, don’t hesitate to ask questions, and find the best source for the investment you’ve made and will continue to make. Remember, the success you pine for in your menu is directly dependent on the skills of both your kitchen staff AND equipment.
¼ Cut Wood Logs
Unfileted Wood Blocks
Single Filet Wood Chunks
Grande Sapore® Wood Chips
Minuto® Wood Chips
