Wine soaked pellets??

[SmokeyPete]

First time using a pellet popper. Do you soak the pellets still before poring them into the hopper? Only used gas smoker in the past and always soaked wood chips in wine.

[Steve R.]

I don't have a pellet grill, but I'm pretty sure soaking is exactly what you DON'T want to do with pellets. I personally wouldn't do it with chips, either.

[EdF]

I'd expect any soaking to make the pellets expand and turn to powder, but that's just a guess. Wouldn't add much anyway. I suppose if you wanted to experiment you could get a product like the AmazingTube, soak some chips in it, and put it on the grid. But you don't want to be messing with your fuel source.

[dsohmer]

First time using a pellet popper. Do you soak the pellets still before poring them into the hopper? Only used gas smoker in the past and always soaked wood chips in wine.

Don't soak your pellets. Moisture is their mortal enemy.

[Donw]

Do not soak the pellets! Keep them dry and away from any liquids, rain, or even high humidity.

[bten]

It will not work. soaking them will cause them to swell and turn to pulp. If that gets into your hopper, it will turn into "pelletcrete" and jam everything up.

[klflowers]

+1 on all of the above. A bag of pellets that I thought was sealed got damp and I was left with sawdust.

[MBMorgan]

No soaking ... or moisture of any kind at all ... just like everyone above said.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

Wet pellets equal hours of work dismantling your grill... Trust me, I know from experience. Not fun. Do everything in your power to keep em dry.

[Potkettleblack]

Wet pellets = giant wet pellet glue that functions much like cat barf. Do not soak them in wine, beer, water, or anything, unless you have some other use for them beyond your smoker.

Funny story, you can actually use them for cat litter. People do. And swear by it.

Also, there's no need to soak your chips for your traditional smoker.

[EdF]

Until you said it, I didn't understand what I was thinking about in my answer: Feline Pine!

[Potkettleblack]

That’s the stuff. We contemplated it, but are too chicken to ditch the easy to get clay clumping.

[EdF]

The Feline Pine works really well. Been using it for decades.

[Troutman]

Personally, I'd rather taste the meat then the wine. Save that Merlot for your wine glass

[panteracfh3]

1000% agree. Save that wine for a nice glass while you’re having dinner.

Soaked/wet pellets will clog the grill/auger and then you have bigger problems on your hands

[Potkettleblack]

Save the merlot for a red wine reduction. In my house, we're not drinking the F'ing merlot. #Sideways

[CandySueQ]

Hoping to bring back an old flavor -- wine soaked oak! But don't soak your pellets in wine. These pellets are made from oak used to impart tannins into red wine.

[Potkettleblack]

If I thought it would make a difference, due to the efficiency of burn in pellets, I'd be looking for used wine stave oak pellets, as I made some of my best stuff with used wine staves as the smoking wood back when I was an uneducated kettle jockey. Was the greatest smoking wood, imho.

[CandySueQ]

Got a box of stave pieces which arrived yesterday. The "original" wine soaked oak was made from squares of oak that'd been totally immersed in wine for some period of time. It was dark red all the way thru.

[Potkettleblack]

Candy. I love you. ;-)

[Murdy]

I can't imagine much of the flavor would transfer to the meat in any event (I'm using chips that I soak in water, but I can't see wasting the wine). Better off in a marinade or a pan sauce.

[bten]

I have some wood chips from Tabasco barrels that really impart a nice flavor

[Huskee]

I honestly can't imagine much wine flavor would come into your meat soaking wood chips/chunks in wine...after all, you're burning the wood, you're making smoke. What would happen to those chemicals that make the wine flavor, would they remain intact once burned and turned into smoke? Methinks not. I'd make a wine sauce or marinate the meat in wine or a wine marinade. Or my personal favorite- have a glass or two of wine with the meal.

[EdF]

Or even while making the meal! ;-)

[Huskee]

EdF touche!

[EdF]

Great minds think alike!