Bartlett Pear Tree Wood for Smoking?


 
Mike P.

Mike P.

TVWBB All-Star
I have 5 of these trees on my property. They do not produce pears and I've been told it's because they are "Male" pear trees.

Does anyone know if they would be considered a fruit wood suitable for smoke wood?

Thanks in advance for any and all replies.
 
definitely.
If not sprayed with any pesticide, good to go right away.
If sprayed, peel bark.
Either way, not necessary to "season", just go for it.
 
Yes. Should be fine for smoking, probably similar to apple.

Did an arborist tell you they were all male? You just might need a different kind of pear to fertilize them. I seem to recall that at least with apples you needed different types to pollinate each other. Some information I found on pear tree polinatino says nothing about male trees (but does say that Bartletts should be self fruitful.) It also points out the importance of bees.
 
I use lots of pear wood for smoking, you are going to like it!! Softer smoke and good for beef chix and pork!!
 
Thanks for the replies Guys. WOW! Smoking wood in my own yard!
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I've gotten a lot of smoking wood from my yard including maple (box elder specifically) black walnut, mulberry, cherry and lilac. Neighbors have contributed oak, silver maple and pear. I just need a neighbor with apples and hickory.
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Edit: I just scored some apple from a guy in the next town over who had to get rid of a crab apple tree.
 
@Hank B. How does the black walnut work? I have always been reluctant to try it even though I have around 20 Black Walnuts on my property. I always thought it may give me a little bitter taste but I have always used any wood that produces a fruit or nut. How bout drying the nuts and using them as a wood as there is not much else to use the nuts for(too much work to pick and peel for the nut inside.)
 
Hi James,
I've never tried the nuts though this would be the year - heaviest crop I recall! I just checked my notes for a "smoking wood test" and wrote:

Overall this smoke is very mild. It could hardly be tasted with the beef and pork. Color was light as well as told by the tilapia which was pretty pale. Salmon had a nice mild smoky taste.
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That's not what you might expect.
 
FWIW, I've been using some 3 year old plum wood that a neighbor donated to the cause after spring pruning. I cut it all down to chunk size and stored it in a rather thoroughly perforated 35 gallon plastic garbage can. I'm quite pleased with it especially on pork and poultry.
 
I have plum, cherry and apple in my shed. All from trees I've either cut down or gifts from friends. All fruitwoods have seem to work fine.
 
Can any one tell me if pear wood is similar to apple or any other "fruit" woods? My in-laws have a huge fruit farm of 100's of acres of fruit trees. Once a year I go and cut up a couple of apple trees into slabs. At home I just use a hatchet and make chunks..
 
The outfit I get my splits from told me that pear is similar to white oak but a little mellower. Good for all meat types!!
 
Thanks for the replies Guys. I'll be cutting a few limbs (about 4" diameter) and let them season some before using. The bark is fairly thin on these trees.
 
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