After wanting one for years, I just purchased a Lang stick burner which should arrive in a couple of months. I have a stack of old oak firewood that has been sitting outside for probably two years uncovered. It still seems solid (not rotted or corky) but has definitely turned dark and grayish in color. The bark falls off easily.
Is that wood ok to burn in a stick-burner or should you use only seasoned but not "aged" and "darkened" wood?
(I sure don't want to go to all this expense and use wood that could somehow damage my new smoker or give the food a poor taste. Thanks so much for any advice you might have!
I am surely not the expert in this matter. Someone with more expertise will soon be along. But, I know the wood will burn. Shoot, I’ve seen 100 plus year old buidings go up, so I don’t figure it will damage yer cooker. Now the taste of yer food, I would suspect would be ok also, I mean what’s 2 years vs 1 year. It would seem there is not much to worry about. If I were out in the woods & makin a fire, how would ya tell how old a fallen log is & it wouldn’t matter much. Just my 2 cents. Did ‘t know if I said howdy when ya joined, so howdy.
That looks good to me. The gray color, cracks and bark coming off are good signs as long as there is no mold or rot under the bark. I actually wouldn't even attempt to burn air dried oak until it was that gray color. But you're going to want to find a way to keep it dry or it will eventually rot.
Another vote for using the wood you have pictured. I have about a half cord of wood that's been sitting out for 2 years, but unlike yours, it is completely ruined by Louisiana heat, humidity, and rain. It's not so much the years as the mileage, as the saying goes. : )
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