Author Topic: Bark on Fruita Wood  (Read 2166 times)

Jimeo

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Bark on Fruita Wood
« on: September 04, 2017, 03:59:12 PM »
Did a couple of smokes over the holiday weekend which gave me the chance to really dig through the box of wood I had ordered from them.  I hadn't noticed before but many of the chunks, cherry and post oak, have bark on them.

What's the general opinion on the use of wood with bark?  Guess I'm wondering if I should clean up the pieces before use.

Thoughts and opinions appreciated!
Jim in Marietta Georgia
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old sarge

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Re: Bark on Fruita Wood
« Reply #1 on: September 04, 2017, 10:09:53 PM »
I strip bark off all my wood if present.  Years ago I read where it can produce a bitter taste.  Whether it does or doesn't I cannot say, but I am happy with the results I get from naked wood.
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dcbt

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Re: Bark on Fruita Wood
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2017, 06:48:01 AM »
FWIW I've read the same thing about it causing bitterness.  But I did mix a tiny amount of barked wood in the wood box this weekend and I didn't pick up any bitterness.  All bark might have caused bitterness, but maybe mingling it in small amounts is ok.
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Pork Belly

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Re: Bark on Fruita Wood
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2017, 08:16:07 AM »
You worry too much, it's a tree trees have bark burn the tree eat the food.

I do know that in Alaska the strip the bark from green alder wood prior to smoking salmon.
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SuperDave

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Re: Bark on Fruita Wood
« Reply #4 on: September 06, 2017, 09:04:51 AM »
I think the bark issue is all about ratio of bark to wood.  I almost exclusively use wood from yard trees that have been pruned or removed from friends' yards and don't remove the bark.  I just make sure that the pieces aren't so small that the bark to wood ratio is too great. 
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