Maple and Birch

[gdakins]

Has anyone smoked with either Maple or Birch. I have some of both in my wood pile and wonder if it would be good to smoke with and if so what meats are good with it.

 

[Scott Piccolo]

Maple is a popular wood to smoke with. Mild like a fruit wood and would go well with just about anything (maybe not fish). I am not sure about birch, but as a hardwood, it should be fine for smoking. Do a search in here for smoke woods and you will find a link to a chart with all the woods that can be used to smoke and what foods they recommend them for. Hope this helps.

 

[Shawn W]

I've used a local birch (paper birch I think). I don't worry about the bark with all smoke wood but I take it off with birch.

To compare it to something I'd say closer to hickory than anything else I've tried.

 

[wade ley]

I have used maple before on pork and it is a great change of pace to the apple and the hickory.

 

[Allan Jones]

Go here http://tinyurl.com/5wr6sw
for a chart of various woods and their taste.

 

[Lee Morris]

I agree with Wade. Maple is great on ribs and butts.

 

[Brad H.]

I use maple with chicken

 

[r benash]

Maple is a good wood. I have used it many times in the paste for pork and chicken.

AFA Birch - never used it, but wouldn't be afraid to. Should be a pretty mild smoke. I noticed that the local super market sells white birch in bags next to the other bags of hardwood firewood.

 

[Scooter B]

I'm wondering if this holds true for ALL varieties of Maple. I have heard lots of people talk about sugar maple, but there are a bunch of other varieties like Silver or Norwegian that are very common in my area.

 

[Dudley Rose]

I'm thinking that Black Birch might be nice. It's the original taste for birch-beer soda. If you chew the bark of new branches, it's sweet and tasty, like birch beer. I'm thinking about cutting some. Anyone ever try it?

 

[Bryan S]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dudley Rose:
I'm thinking that Black Birch might be nice. It's the original taste for birch-beer soda. If you chew the bark of new branches, it's sweet and tasty, like birch beer. I'm thinking about cutting some. Anyone ever try it? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Black Birch/Sweet Birch, is the preffered Birch too use. IIRC.

And Maple Leaf Lump for all those hosers up north.

 

[Shawn W]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bryan S:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dudley Rose:
I'm thinking that Black Birch might be nice. It's the original taste for birch-beer soda. If you chew the bark of new branches, it's sweet and tasty, like birch beer. I'm thinking about cutting some. Anyone ever try it? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Black Birch/Sweet Birch, is the preffered Birch too use. IIRC.

And Maple Leaf Lump for all those hosers up north.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>Ahh, Maple Leaf Lump, <inhale>, a mix of maple beech and birch lump charcoal.

I take bark off paper birch because it is very oil and gives off a thick black smoke (it've very easy to light this stuff even if it's dripping wet). I dunno about the black birch.

I think I wouldn't go out of my way to order birch smoke wood but try smoking it if ya got it.