Best Wood For Brisket?

[mclifford973]

Hello. I am going to try the beef brisket recipe tomorrow. I'd like to add wood to my smoker. Any suggestions? I'm in Michigan.

I have applewood (did the bacon two weeks ago - awesome). That was like real wood, not chips. I really enjoyed cooking with that. I was hoping I might find more wood (different flavor though right?). Just asking which kind is good for beef.

I read this article. http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_tech...with_wood.html I will still use some briquets (yes blue bag)...but I liked sawing the logs to fit and the smoke smell..very good. So I would like to try other woods or what goes well with beef. Thanks!

[Huskee]

The very first brisket I ever did I did with some apple chunks added to charcoal, apple works great with beef. Arguably some of the best woods to use with beef would be oak, hickory, pecan. I have found there's nothing apple doesn't work with. You're in great shape!

How are you enjoying our Michigan summer? It's sure been nice lately, although a touch hot (here's where southerners and westerners laugh at us), and this weekend, at least where I live, is set to be cooler and gorgeous- 80s and sunny.

[HorseDoctor]

Really hard to go wrong with apple. Probably my favorite wood. Oak is also excellent. I like either or both for a long smoke/cook. I've got hickory trees all over my woods and every storm gives me more to work with but I use it rather sparingly to cook. I find it is a stronger flavor than oak or apple and (in my hands) best suited to adding a little smoke to short cook like steaks, burgers or chops. Hickory tends to get strong & bitter when I use it for a long smoke.

[mclifford973]

Thank you. I will try the apple.

The Michigan summer is good. Warm now. 80F-90F. Today is 82F. It's not bad when the humidity is low, but some days the humidity is hot and the air feels thick. Those are days you dont want to stand by a fire. lol

[DWCowles]

Hickory, Hickory and Hickory

[Mikedyer74]

I always go Oak with brisket if I can find it.

[richinlbrg]

I was thinking oak or cherry, but can't go wrong with Apple - my favorite.

[Jerod Broussard]

Love cherry, but have used plenty red oak. I think whatever is abundant, and is suitable, is the best.

[(Otherguy)]

The Texans in my family have prevailed: I'm a sworn advocate of mesquite chunks for beef. The key is to use it very sparingly - just a chunk or two early in the cook. It's a strong flavor and too much is tragic.

[(mr.brisket)]

When I do brisket I use either hickory or oak

[Spinaker]

I love using Hickory for brisket, I am to big of a you know what to try mesquite. I am always afraid of over powering the meat.

[gcdmd]

Hickory won at the Texas A&M 2014 Brisket Camp blind taste test.

[(Otherguy)]

Thing is, hickory always makes me think of bacon. And we all know bacon's a crowd pleaser, but I save hickory for pork. I'm into oak and mesquite - with a light touch - for beef. I'll look into apple. I have some that I use with hickory for pork.

[Ernest]

Pecan is king

[DWCowles]

I hate to burst your bubble Ernest but Hickory is the king of all wood for bbqing. Not that Pecan, fruit wood or any other kind of wood isn't good but Hickory wood is the traditional bbq wood.

[Ernest]

Pecan is just Hickory junior, a cleaner hickory junior.

[Potkettleblack]

DWCowles - Pecan trees are Hickory trees. same branch of treedom.

[Spinaker]

HICK-ORY, HICK-ORY, HICK-ORY

[Papa Bob]

DICK-ORY DOCK, I CANT REALY TASTE THE DIFFERANCE I SMOKED FOR 25 YEARS (QUIT 19 YRS. AGO) MAYBE THAS WHY BUT I COUDNT TELL APPLE FROM CHERRY OR OAK MAYBE MESQUITE OR HICKORY BUT I DOUGHT EVEN THAT

[Jerod Broussard]

I used Hickory and wasn't impressed. Seemed more suited to pork.

Now Cherry, that stuff rocks......