5 Easy Tips on How to keep wood chips from burning in the smoker

How to keep wood chips from burning in the smoker

Wood chips are one of the most important things to consider if you become a charcoal grill master. On the other hand, Wood chips must be handled with caution since they can catch fire, and you don’t want to damage your steak before you ever sample it. It is difficult to utilize wood chips, so we have compiled some of the points on how to keep wood chips from burning in the smoker in this article.

The most popular methods are to put wood chips in a container or aluminum foil and limit the quantity of air that gets to the wood chips. Using big pieces of wood chips is another good option to make it smoke for a longer period. A smoker box is the best option for getting lots of smoke while grilling anything.

How to keep Wood Chips from Burning in the Smoker?

Meat that has been smoked takes longer to cook than meat that has been grilled. For example, beef brisket may require 5 or more hours of smoking. As a result, you must be careful not to burn your smoking bits too soon. Because there will be no smoke for the meat to absorb if your smoking pieces quickly burn to ash, they will not impart any flavor to the heart.

1. Increase the size of the wood chips.

The size of the wood chips is the first and most crucial factor to consider. The longer it takes for the chips to burn, the bigger they get. To put it another way, utilize the more significant wood chunk to achieve excellent smoke and evenly cook your meat. Never use wood that isn’t dense enough. Such fuels don’t burn evenly and produce enough smoke to cook the meat properly.

2. Use wood chunks that burn for an extended period.

Chips and chunks are made from a variety of wood species. Each one has a different burning range. Some burn quickly, while others take a long time to burn. To smoke the meat entirely, use substantial smoking pieces that burn for a long time.

  • Cider and pinewood chunks, for example, burn too quickly. As a result, could you not use them to smoke meat? Worst of all, the meat cooked over cider wood has a harsh flavor.
  • Firewood from oak, hickory, and pecan, on the other hand, has a long burn time.
  • Compared to other wood species, hickory is the finest for smoking meat. It lasts a long time and delivers consistent cooking ignition.

Types of Wood Pellets for Grilling and Smoking

3. Use a smoker box made of metal.

Whether using wood pellets or chips, a metal smoker box is another technique to keep them from burning. How does it assist? The metal smoker box blocks or reduces the flow of oxygen. As a result, the wood bits do not catch fire. In other words, it controls the oxygen flow to prevent the chips from catching fire. As a result, you can build a smoker bag to cut down on the oxygen flow.

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4. Make damper adjustments.

Your smoker’s dampers can also be adjusted to keep the wood chips from catching fire. It aids in managing wood-burning speed and the delay of the cooking process to ensure equal cooking of the meat. More air will flow into the damper if you open it. As a result, the smoker heats up quickly and burns through the wood soon.

On the other hand, partially closing the damper will keep the temperature in check. As a result, adjust the dampers to maintain a consistent temperature. It will aid in the gradual burning of the wood. Remember that the hotter the fire, the more wood bits will burn faster.

How to use a Smoker?

5. Don’t place Wood Chips directly on a Grill.

Another good approach to extend the burn time of the timber chunks is to avoid placing them immediately on the grill. You can set the plank chunks in aluminum foil instead. It allows you to burn your fuel pieces slowly and extends their life.

Which Smoker Box is Best for Smoking?

A smoker box made of cast iron is best to use. It helps to decrease oxygen flow; the wood chip, in exchange, burns slowly. You can get a variety of smoker boxes constructed of various materials. Stainless steel and aluminum, for example, are common metals used to build a smoker box.

  • Cast-iron smoker pouches are preferable, even if they are lovely for decreasing heat.
  • It has a more remarkable ability to insulate.
  • It can reduce heat levels and prevent fuel bits from setting a fire.
  • Your timber pieces will smoke in exchange, allowing the meat to cook evenly and delivering the ideal smoky flavor.
  • The best aspect about a cast-iron smoker box is that it includes a lid. You can open or close it to obtain the smoked meat you desire.

Can I use seasoned Wood Chips?

The quality of the smoking wood determines the best taste for the smoked meat. The consequence will be the same if you utilize low-quality gasoline that contains fungus, mold, and mildew. Using it can make your meat appear blackish rather than juicy. As a result, the seasoned wood chunks are difficult to burn and emit insufficient smoke. So, instead of using seasoned tree chips, use high-quality wood for cooking the meat thoroughly.

Frequently Asked Questions

When to add wood chips to the smoker?

A decent rule of thumb is every five to six hours. Some pile one or two cups of chips on top of the ones they’ve already used.

What is the most important thing to consider while smoking with wood chips?

The most crucial thing to consider each time you smoke is the quality of the smoke you’re getting. The better the wood chips you use the better will be the end results.

What should I use as fuel for my smoker?

You can use any kind of wood that you want for your smoker. I usually use oak, maple, hickory, cherry, apple, and pecan.

What should I look for when buying a smoker?

When you’re looking at smokers, you want to make sure that it has a tight seal, good temperature control, and good airflow.

Conclusion

To keep the wood chips from burning in the smoker when smoking meat, it is best to use larger and thicker wood chips to prevent the pieces from catching fire too quickly. You may also use a metal smoker box to restrict the oxygen flow and keep the wood particles from catching fire. Some use soaked chips, but it is not the best option. Soaked chips can make the meat moist while smoking. Using the guidelines, you can now experiment with smoking meat.

Happy, Smooth Grilling.

2 thoughts on “5 Easy Tips on How to keep wood chips from burning in the smoker”

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