Smokin-It User Forum!

User Guidelines and Instructions => Guide to Smoking Times, Temps, Woods => Topic started by: alanfred on January 06, 2019, 11:30:04 AM

Title: Does wood chunk size matter?
Post by: alanfred on January 06, 2019, 11:30:04 AM
As a newbie I may be sweating the small stuff, lets say the smoke calls for 4oz.

1 - 4oz chunk ?
2 - 2oz chunks ?
4 - 1oz chunks ?

My gut tells me, the more chunks the more surface area = more smoke, and what I've learned from reading many posts I don't want to over smoke.

 It's taken me a long time in life to break away from my favorite motto, "If a little is good, a lot is better"

Title: Re: Does wood chunk size matter?
Post by: LarryD on January 06, 2019, 11:53:05 AM
My gut tells me, the more chunks the more surface area = more smoke, and what I've learned from reading many posts I don't want to over smoke.

Hmm...  just speculating as I've done no experiments.  I would start by modifying your "more surface area = more smoke"  to include "at one time, but not overall" because there is a finite amount of 'smoke' potential for a given mass of wood.

For short smoking sessions I tend to use more, smaller chunks to make sure they'll be used up before the end of the session and get the smoke rolling quickly.  For long smoking sessions I tend to use larger blocks to try to extend the the smoke period through the session.
Title: Re: Does wood chunk size matter?
Post by: alanfred on January 06, 2019, 12:22:04 PM
This forum is great, love it, thanks.
Title: Re: Does wood chunk size matter?
Post by: BobM on January 06, 2019, 01:46:41 PM
How much wood would a wood chunk be if a wood could chunk wood? :o
Title: Re: Does wood chunk size matter?
Post by: Pork Belly on January 06, 2019, 02:45:22 PM
You are thinking about it too much, toss a chunk in there and run it. Also if a recipe calls for ____ oz., think about what you like. If you like more smoke flavor then run a little bit more. I would make those adjustments in small amounts don't jump from 4oz to 9oz.