Home Depot Red Oak

[Dave L.]

I noticed that Home Depot and Lowes sells red oak for home projects. I've used it for things around the house. Could this wood be used for smoking. I don't think it's been treated with anything.

 

[Brad Olson]

If it hasn't been treated it'll be fine, but if it's been kiln-dried it might have a lower moisture content than air-dried wood which might mean less flavor. I use kiln-dried scraps from a local woodworking shop and usually soak them in water for awhile before putting them on the fire.

Brad

 

[Jerry N.]

It is probably all right to do this, but unless you can confirm that there were no chemicals used in the processing of the wood, I wouldn't do it. Plus, I would imagine that this would be one of the most expensive ways to acquire smoke wood.

 

[Jeff T Miller]

I use wood scraps from projects I make. Some people work around wood and scraps are free. Myself I don't use red oak when I have white oak around. Not a whole lot of other species used in construction that is suitable for smoking though.