Have you been debating whether or not to use apple tree wood to smoke on the grill?  Apple tree wood is increasingly being used for smoking by BBQ fans. This could be due to the fact that apple-smoked food is quickly becoming a crowd favorite.

Is apple tree wood, however, suitable for smoking? Yes, to put it bluntly. But, the outcome is dependent on the type of food you’re smoking and the length of time it takes to complete the process, among other things.

Applewood pairs incredibly nicely with pork, particularly ham. It’s also great for smoking meats like lamb and some shellfish. While it can be used to smoke chicken, the smoking process should be given special attention in terms of overall cooking time.

The mild, fruity flavor is known to overpower chicken, especially when smoked for an extended period.

Applewood imparts a particular sweetness to smoked foods. It adds a slight sweetness to most meats, but it’s not overpowering. As a result, applewood pairs well with lighter fare like ham and fish.

Just keep in mind that smoking meat using apple tree wood is an art form. You don’t have to go for the first apple tree you come across. For the greatest results, you must know which apple tree wood to utilize in terms of type and density.

Other things, apart from the wood you use, will influence your smoking process. The type of smoker you choose, the manner of smoking, and the cooking temperatures are all important considerations.

But there’s no need to be concerned. I’m here to address all of your burning questions about whether it’s best to smoke apple tree wood or not. I’ll also give you advice on how to approach the entire procedure properly.

In addition, you’ll learn about the things to look for while choosing the best apple wood for smoking.

Applewood-smoked 

In recent years, applewood-smoked meals have grown in popularity. It gives a delectable flavor that can’t be found anywhere else, from pork ribs and beef brisket to fish, chicken, and steak.

But, exactly, what does “applewood-smoked” imply? Keep reading for an in-depth explanation of applewood smoked and how it may complement your outdoor grilling talents if you’re having trouble grasping the notion.

The basics

Any meal that has been cooked over an applewood-burning fire is described as “applewood-smoked.” Food is grilled or smoked on applewood chunks, splits, or logs on a grill or smoker.

When the applewood is lighted, it emits smoke that imparts a semi-sweet, apple-like flavor to the dish. Cooking food over wood has been a tradition for thousands of years, and it is becoming increasingly popular in recent years.

Applewood is a popular cooking wood because of its exceptional capacity to produce wonderful, flavorful food.

What is applewood?

Applewood is made from the Malus pumila tree, which bears apples. The apple tree is thought to have originated in Central Asia, although it is now produced and farmed in countries worldwide.

The apple tree is grown for its fruit in most areas. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), global apple output in 2014 was more than 84 million tons, with China accounting for nearly half of that total.

While apple trees are still grown for their fruit in most areas, some are harvested for their wood.

Apple tree

Applewood has a number of characteristics in common with other fruit-bearing trees. The apple tree is a deciduous tree that sheds its leaves once a year in the autumn to prepare for the winter.

It’s stronger and denser than softwoods like cedar, pine, and fir because it’s hardwood. Applewood is a good fuel for wood-burning fireplaces since it burns hot and stays lit for a long time.

When you cook over an applewood fire, the same sweet flavor that you get when you bite into an apple can be absorbed into your dish.

Smoking

When used in the context of cooking, the term “smoking” refers to the technique of slowly cooking food over wood to expose it to delicious smoke. According to The Herald, smoking dates back to the prehistoric age, when cavemen would smoke vast amounts of meat to keep it safe from bacteria and pests.

Millions of people throughout the world still use it for cooking meats and vegetables today.

Smoking bbq

Smoking is defined by the fact that it exposes food to smoke from burning wood. The tastes of different types of wood vary. Hickory cooking wood, for example, produces a powerful flavor.

In contrast, pecan produces a gentle nutty flavor, and apple wood gives a delicate, sweet flavor that is wonderful on pork, chicken, and a range of other meals.

When it comes to flavor, the quality of the wood matters a lot. If you cook with damp, moldy wood, you’ll get a lot of black smoke, which will make your food smell and taste musty. That is something that no one desires!

Cooking over wood that has been through a rigorous kiln drying process yields the greatest results. This will guarantee that the wood is dry, dense, and free of contaminants. When you cook with premium applewood, you’ll receive nothing but apple taste, so don’t settle for anything less than the best!

Buyer’s guide

Density

Take note of the wood’s dimensions and shape. What kind of pieces, chips, or logs do you prefer? The type you choose is determined by the type of smoke you want to produce.

The smoke usually comes out of chunks in a slow, continuous stream. As you may expect, chips burn much more quickly and emit a lot more smoke.

Thin apple tree twigs or chips, rather than thicker logs, are recommended for best results. Controlling the heat and flavor of your meat becomes much more challenging with logs. To be honest, any form of wood can be used in this way.

Apple tree wood chips or twigs are not only easy to come by, but they also burn faster. Avoid logs unless you’re a seasoned connoisseur who knows how to control smoking temperatures.

Amount

After the size, consider how much apple tree wood you’ll need. The amount of wood you use will, of course, be proportional to the size of your smoker.

Type

Use wood from evergreen apple trees as little as possible. This type of wood is soft, has a lot of air, and has a strong-smelling sap. As a result, it burns a lot more quickly.

Not to mention that such wood imparts a peculiar flavor to your meat. Instead of soft, go with hardwood. Also, avoid using moldy wood while you’re at it. Why? Toxins found in some molds might be harmful to your health.

Fresh versus dry wood

Consider whether the apple tree wood is dry or moist before proceeding. It contains more sap, burns unevenly, and gives your strange meat flavors. Your best bet is dry wood.

Bark versus no bark

Many smokers are torn between removing the bark from their apple tree wood and leaving it alone. It’s up to you whether you keep it or not. Some people like to remove the wood’s entire bark, while others do not.

Most of the bark is removed, but not all of it. Because bark contains more air than heartwood, it burns more easily.

Things to remember

When smoking apple tree wood, there are a few things to bear in mind. Keep the following factors in mind.

Type of smoker

For this activity, I recommend purchasing one of the top wood pellet smokers. The wood in a smoker is used to smoke and flavor the meat rather than to cook it.

That is why it is critical to use the appropriate smoker for the job.

Method of smoking

There are various types of smoking methods, as you are surely aware. You must use a slow cooking method when smoking meat with apple wood.

This implies you should never cook your meat over a high heat source directly. A wood smoker with a separate smoker unit is ideal.

If your grill doesn’t have a separate space for your meat away from the heat, push the wood chips to one side and your meat to the other.

Smoking temperature

When using apple wood, keep the temperature between 95 and 110 degrees. You can always add wet chips to reduce the heat if your wood chips or twigs are prone to burning quickly.

Smoking using apple wood

Food smoking is a talent that takes time and practice to master. Let’s talk about the whole process now that you have your wood and smoking guidelines.

One thing to remember is that the amount of smoke produced by the wood is the key to precisely smoking your food. When you use too much smoke during the smoking process, your meat will taste bitter.

Apple tree wood creates light smoke in general. Therefore it’s vital to keep it at that level. Also keep in mind that apple wood burns slowly and produces a consistent amount of smoke.

Just make sure you remember to use it after it’s completely dried.

I’m not sure how much apple wood you should use at any particular time. This is because the flavor of your meat will be determined by factors such as:

The size of the cooking chamber of your smoker

The more capacity you have, the more wood you’ll require.

The amount of air that enters and exits the smoker

This will be determined by how frequently you peek inside the cooking chamber, the number of air vents on the machine, and whether or not there are any leaks.

Whether the meal has been marinated or has been basted in any way

If you’re smoking basted meat, you’ll need extra fuel because the smoke has a harder time penetrating such surfaces.

Humidity and weather conditions

When you’re smoking foods on a warm sunny day, your smoker doesn’t have to use as much fuel. Because of the extreme weather conditions, this is the case.

You will use more fuel if you smoke meals late at night.

Types of meat for smoking

Dense slices of meat will necessitate a greater amount of wood. Thin cuts will require less wood.

Tips for smoking with applewood

Whether it’s your first time using applewood to smoke food or you’ve been doing it for years, there are a few things to keep in mind. Keep the heat low when smoking meals using applewood or any wood.  When you cook your meal “low and slow,” you get the best results.

This gives the smoke plenty of time to seep into your meal, keeping it juicy throughout the cooking process. Various strategies for maintaining your food cooking at a consistent low and slow temperature depending on your smoker or grill setup.

The Flame Boss 500, which monitors your smoker’s temperature and can maintain it stable for hours at a time, is one gadget we highly recommend.

You don’t need to soak applewood chunks if you’re cooking with them. It’s a common myth that you should soak your wood before cooking.

However, this does nothing but slow down your fire and add steam. It adds no taste to the dish and is a waste of time.

Procedure

You can smoke your meat now that you have these useful tips at your disposal by following these simple steps:

  • Prepare your meat. Check to see if it’s chilly. Why? Cold meat is better penetrated by smoke. Allow your meat to come to room temperature as little as possible.
  • To avoid meat from drying out during the smoking process, use moist meat. To achieve this, use a spray bottle to mist your meat. Alternatively, you can add flavor to your meat by moistening it with apple juice.
  • Rub the meat with the spice rub of your choice. This procedure has a significant impact on the flavor of your meat. Smoke, more than anything else, adheres far better to the spice or herb layer on your meat.
  • Make use of a smoker that has a water pan. Water has been shown to reduce evaporation, keeping your meat wet.
  • Early on, but only when the fire is hot, put your wood into the smoker. This is due to the fact that meat absorbs more wood flavor at the beginning of the cooking process and while it’s cold.
  • The length of time the meat takes to smoke depends on the cuts and the type of meat you’re cooking. A pound of pork, for example, takes between 60 and 90 minutes to smoke. This is assuming you keep the temperature between 195 and 205 degrees. The chicken will take about 1 hour and 20 minutes to cook.

Benefits 

For starters, applewood has a low resin content. This is significant since many softwoods, such as pine and fir, are resin-filled.

When this resin is burned, it produces harsh soot that contaminates the food. Because of its low resin concentration, applewood is immune to this problem.

If you’ve never had applewood-smoked food before, you might be amazed at how tasty it is. Applewood is high in sugar molecules, which caramelize the outsides of meats and vegetables.

In addition, the smoke from burning applewood imparts a sweet, savory flavor to food.

If apple flavor isn’t your thing, try cherry, maple, pecan, or hickory woods instead. Because they are resin-free and have excellent flavor, all of these hardwoods make excellent cooking timbers.

Each flavor is distinct and pairs well with a variety of dishes. The best approach to figuring out what you enjoy is to give it a shot.

Applewood size

When it comes to applewood smoking, there are many different sizes to choose from. If you’re attempting to figure out what wood to use for cooking, the size of your smoker is the most important factor to consider.

Apple chunks are the right size for cooking inside a kamado/ceramic style barbecue like a Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe, or Primo. You can start with charcoal and then add 2-3 large applewood chunks to your grill.

For optimal taste, add the applewood right before you add the food you’re smoking. Many people recommend cooking with wood chips, but we’ve discovered that wood chunks outperform chips in every manner.

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Apple cooking wood splits are a terrific option if you’re using an offset or vertical smoker. Our cooking splits are 8 inches long and 1-2 inches thick, half the length of our logs.  You can use them alone or combine them with charcoal in a smoker box.

Finally, nothing beats apple cooking wood logs if you’re cooking over an open fire or in a huge smoker. These massive logs are 16 inches long and 3-5 inches thick.

When you want to offer a lot of food with an applewood smoked flavor, they can produce a lot of flavors and a fantastic experience.

Where to get apple cooking wood

There are a plethora of venues where you can get applewood. You may use your neighbor’s downed tree or purchase something from the local hardware store.

The majority of applewood on the market has begun to rot, contains excessive moisture, and may even include mold or fungus. That’s not something you want to use in the kitchen.

This applewood goes through the most stringent drying process in the business, spending 48 hours in a 250°F kiln. Because the wood is new when it enters the kiln, it hasn’t begun to rot. It’s still solid and hard, but it’s also quite dry and clean.

This is an amazing smoking experience that you must try for yourself to believe.

Last words

Hopefully, you now have all of the information you require to smoke food with apple wood. To conclude this article, I’ll stress how excellent apple tree wood is for smoking food.

All you need to know is what kind of food to smoke, what kind of apple wood to use, and how to smoke in general.