Best Wood for Smoking Snack Sticks – How to Choose the Right Kind of Wood

Smoking meat has been practiced for many thousands of years. Many people enjoy this activity at family reunions and large parties.

If you want to smoke the perfect snack sticks, you need to find the right type of wood. The smoking process, as well as the result, can be affected by choosing a suitable wood.

You can use any kind of wood as long as it has a smooth, even surface. 

Some of the best woods for smoking snack sticks include pecan, hickory, mesquite, apple, and maple. 

For best results, you should also look for wood with low moisture content.

 The obvious choice is chestnut or mesquite, but they are the most popular of all of them. 

In this article, I will discuss the best wood for smoking snack sticks, as well as the different criteria to consider to choosing the right option for you.

What Kind of Wood Is Best to Smoke Snack Sticks?

There are many different types of wood that you can use for smoking snack sticks.

Depending on the type of meat you have and the effect you want, you can find the options that suit you best.

Hickory

One of the best ways to smoke meat is with the use of a cooker. It has a rich and strong smell that reminds people of bacon.

Adding a sweet smell and taste to your meat can be accomplished with the use of wood such as hickory.

Apple

If you want a subtle and mild effect, apple could be the right choice for you. It has a fruity flavor that works well with many types of meat.

Due to its mild taste, it can take additional time for the apple flavoring to penetrate the food.

Cherry

It’s similar to applewood in that cherries add a sweet but mild flavor to your meat. It is a great option for any meat that you have on hand.

Pork and poultry have a subtle reddish color thanks to the addition of cherry.

Grapevine

grapevine is an excellent choice if you want a fruity but strong flavor. It has a stronger flavor than apples and cherries.

Some people think it is a bit overwhelming. Combining it with other woods to tone down its overpowering flavor is one of the best ways to use it.

Maple

A popular choice, maple is an excellent choice for those who like a bit of sweetness in their snack sticks. It works well for poultry, but can also be used for pork.

Oak

Smoking meat in oak is one of the most popular ways to do it. It is still subtle even though Oak adds a more robust, smokey flavor.

It can be mixed with cherry and apple to make it more intense, but it won’t have a strong, pungent flavor.

If you are smoking poultry, be extra careful because oak wood tends to overwhelm it.

Pecan

It is no surprise that it is on the list because it is a member of the hickory tree family. It has an intense flavor similar to that of hickory.

It burns slowly, so make sure you have enough time to spare before using this wood. The flavor of the meat can be destroyed by this.

Combining it with other types of wood, such as oak or hickory, is the best way to use pecans.

Walnut

Black walnuts can be a great option when smoking. It isn’t for everyone and you should be aware of that.

The taste of walnuts is very strong and bitter.

It works well for meat that has a strong natural flavor, like beef or pork. It is possible to combine it with other woods to get a smooth flavor.

Alder

It is possible to smoke snack sticks out of alder wood. It is great for milder meat such as poultry, but it is also great for smoking pork.

Mesquite

mesquite is a must if you want a strong and intense aroma and a recognizable flavor. It makes smoking red meat very pleasurable.

Mesquite might not be a good choice if you don’t have a lot of experience with smoking.

It is one of the hottest burning woods, and it takes a while to learn how to use it properly.

If you’re not careful, you can burn your snack sticks in a flash.

Tips to Choose the Best Wood for Smoking Snack Sticks

There is no universal choice when it comes to choosing the best wood for smoking snack sticks. Depending on your preferences, you need to select the right wood for smoking.

Check out the criteria that should be considered when choosing wood.

Amount of Smoke

Apples and cherries are very fruity and provide a mild smell. These types of wood are great for beginners, as they are often used in competition.

Flavor

A mild, fruity flavor can be found in the woods like apple and cherry wood. There is a strong and intense aroma of walnuts and Mesquite.

If you prefer the strong taste, walnuts and Mesquite are excellent choices. It is important to keep in mind that they can be overwhelming and not for everyone.

Wood Chips vs. Chunks

The wood size is determined by personal preferences. Many people use wood chips because they are easily available.

It is recommended to soak them the night before smoking to make them burn fast. Wood chunks don’t need to be soaked, but they are not as widely available.

Type of Meat

There are snack sticks that can be made of any meat. Smoking specific kinds of meat in some woods are better than in others. The flavor and intensity you want to achieve are related to this.

Things to Avoid When Smoking Snack Sticks

There are things you should avoid when smoking snack sticks if you want to keep yourself and others safe.

You shouldn’t buy wood from people that you don’t know

It is not possible to guarantee the origin and type of the wood. It is better not to borrow wood from anyone to avoid safety problems.

Don’t use chemically treated wood

Painted and chemically treated wood react with fire differently. If you don’t want firefighters joining you, stay away from wood that has been chemically treated.

Some types of wood are not recommended

Cedar, cypress, elm, eucalyptus, pine, spruce, or elderberry should not be used for smoking. They do not taste good, and you risk ruining your snack sticks with them.

Conclusion

Now that you have choices for the best wood for smoking snack sticks, it is time to make a decision.

You should keep in mind flavor, smokiness, and meat type when designing your meat flavor profile.

Combining different types of wood is something you can always experiment with.

Finally, impress your loved ones by creating your signature flavor with your wood mix.