Pardon if this is an over posted subject. I’m practicing smoking on my Weber kettle, I’m out of hickory chunks, and I need more wood for different types of protein.
Would y’all recommend wood chunks from a big box store? Online? Or what?
Plus 1 for Ace Hardware. They tend to have a decent variety. By me they are the only place I can ever buy oak. For apple, hickory or mesquite, Home Depot by me has very large bags for a decent price.
I once found 3 bags of cherry wood chunks at our local clothing department store when they had there store closing.....never had any sort of grilling stuff there before, bought all 3 for like 5$
After rereading my post, and responses, I realize it sounded off. I really meant to ask if wood purchased from big box stores is better than wood purchased from other sources. Sorry, for the muddled mess!
I wouldn't say the big box store wood is the best, but I have had pretty good luck with B&B chunks. The pecan has become my default wood for smoking in a Weber kettle.
Equipment:
'88 Vintage Fire Magic gasser with over 4000 cooks to its credit
Large Big Green Egg
18 Inch Weber Kettle (Rescued from neighbor's trash)
Rotisserie for 18 inch kettle
Dyna Glo propane smoker
Pit Barrel Cooker
Smokey Joe with mini WSM mod
Garcima paella burner
Anova Sous Vide
Slaiya Sous Vide (gift)
LEM grinder, sausage stuffer and meat slicer (all gifts)
The best I've found around here is from Publix Supermarket. The brand is Fire and Flavor. The box stores offerings tend to be oddly shaped and the bag contains a lot of chips and bark. The Fire and Flavor lump charcoal is also quite good (at least compared to Cowboy and/or Royal Oak which seem the most common around here).
Find a local wood source and cut chunks the size you need. Just be warned: those chunks will keep getting bigger until you’re running a stickburner! 🔥😎🔥
Talking to and cooking for neighbors and friends about BBQ excessively has gotten me some wood, cherry and apple from neighbors who were cutting down a tree and oak from a friend. I've bought from HD and found it satisfactory. Best score was some hickory and cherry from Mudkat at our last Va meatup.
I used to buy bags of chunks from Home Depot or Lowes. A lot of variation in size in those. Last time I stocked up on wood chunks, it was at Academy, as they sell B&B charcoal and wood chunks. Been very happy with the B&B charcoal and chunks - I keep a selection of hickory, post oak, cherry and apple.
I go to a local landscape supply store that stocks firewood of multispeices (oak, hickory, etc) and buy a bundle there. take it home, make mini splits and then chop 'em into chunks. $15 bundle lasts me a couple years.
Weber Genesis S330 with GrillGrates
Weber Summit Kamado E6
Weber Performer with SnS, DnG and Pit Viper mod
Weber 26" kettle with SnS, DnG and Pit Viper mod
Traeger Flatrock Griddle
PKGO
Fireboard (2)
Thermoworks Smoke
Thermoworks MK4 (2)
Themoworks Thermapen ONE
If you've ever been to a BBQ competition down in So. Cal, look for the woodshed tent. Their either competing and/or selling, but the young ladies they have in their booths are pretty special.
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