Nut Shells as Smoke Wood

[j biesinger]

I was reading a "high brow" food blog and the author posted something about smoking scallops with pistachio shells. It got me thinking about using nut shells in general (something I don't see mentioned much).

Anybody have relevant information?

here's what I'm thinking:

1) it would be difficult (and costly) for an individual to collect enough shells to smoke with, but there has to be piles of shells somewhere (diamond?).

2) does the fact that there isn't much talk about smoking over shells mean they don't provide good smoke or they just aren't commonly available.

3) I'm thinking you might have to handle them similar to whole spices, wrapped in foil, since they might be oily.

4) I've seen gardening stores stock bags of cocoa shells for mulching flower beds. My mother-in-law uses them occasionally and make her garden smell like fudge for about a day. I'm curious how they would burn.

5) I could see a single coconut shell providing enough smoke, but I wonder if it would have much flavor.

 

[Larry D.]

One year when my brother-in-law's pecan trees had a crop of small, thick-shelled pecans with not a whole lot of nut inside, I used the whole pecans for smoking. They worked pretty well, and at the end of the cook it was interesting to see little, whole pecans that had been transformed into charcoal. I don't see why nut shells wouldn't work as well, or better.

 

[Shawn W]

I'd think at worst you may try a shell type whose smoke doesn't taste good ... though it's possible you might get something undesireable. Tobacco -> nicotine, cannabis, coca leaves, opium poppies ... nm

Don't know if this is fact or urban myth but the reason native sweat lodges actully worked to relieve pain was that wood they used had naturally occurring ASA (aspirin) and it was somehow released.

I'll be interested to hear what you think of them if you try them.

 

[j biesinger]

though it's possible you might get something undesireable. Tobacco -> nicotine, cannabis, coca leaves, opium poppies ... nm Smiler

Hmm, bbq that is actually MORE euphoric and addictive...that might be undesirable.

Larry, I'll take that as one anecdotal piece of evidence in the positive column, thanks for the input.

 

[Dan H.]

i saw an open pit cook on television and they used wet shells to control a fire underneath. If it was to hot they'de plop down some wet shells and they would smolder away and appearantly smelled great, if you want to send me some, i'll try it for you

! I think i'de say green light to the shells. You may have a new thing goin who knows.

(picture of a trophy)
Nickel City Smokers 1st place w/ there legendary nutshell smoked baby backs.

 

[Kent Perry]

I live near a pecan grower who offers shelling of pecans. I can tell you that pecan shells work well for smoking. I don't know about the rest.

 

[Shawn W]

I'm not trippin', found :

...Muskogees use willow extensively for sweat lodges, brush arbors and medicines. Willow bark contains salicin, an analgesic and ingredient in several aspirin-like compounds. There are many ailments for which willow and aspirin are effective. Cutting or pruning willow encourages additional branches to sprout. A willow's life cycle reflects the natural cycle of life's many stages, too...

here.

I was honestly getting at examples of vegetation smoke that let off peculiar stuff.

 

[Pat Smith]

We've used pecan hulls too. Our friend has a large stand of pecan trees on his farm and my dad brought back a couple of grocery sacks full of pecan hulls from when they had their pecans processed. Works pretty dang good.

Pat

 

[j biesinger]

ok, sounds like pecan shells work well and willow might offer some pain relieving (could use some of that after 36 hrs of a comp).

Anybody try or heard of someone trying cocoa, coconut, or other nuts (pistachio, walnut, hazelnut...)?

 

[j biesinger]

In the few years since I started this thread, I haven't had much luck finding the cocoa shells. Today, I happened to stumble on a bag, and for $5.99, I figured I try them out. They smell just like I remember them, but they weren't very woody. I did a test burn and they kept themselves lit, it was hard to get a read on the smoke as it was kind of light and unremarkable. Next step is to fill up the smoke daddy and let it rip on a hunk of meat.

 

[Wolgast]

Ive herd/read alot about how the pecan shells work great. I have a big walnut tree in my garden and often get 100 L in a seasson. I will have to do aa test burn and se. I will report back.

 

[Bob Sample]

j you sure you want to eat food that was smoked with something that was intended for mulch? There is probably all kinds of nastiness in there.

Daniel black walnut wood is bitter, I asked about it once and was warned but tried it anyways. I would go light on the shells the first time.

 

[Ron G.]

I've tried Pecan hulls and Hickory Nut hulls so far, and they both seemed to work pretty well.

My dad collected about a bushel of hickory nuts near a tree where he was hunting, and shelled them out over about a month while watching TV (made the best variation on Pecan Fingers that I've ever had!) He saved the shells and gave me a big bag of them.

I still used smoke wood (mixed a little maple & pecan with the hickory hulls) - so I cannot speak to using only nut hulls.

I used sort-of minion method, and spread the hulls on top (working them into the crevices) of the un-lit before dumping the lit chunks on top.

 

[Dann B]

I've used pistachio shells with decent results. If you go through a 5 lb bag of 'em, you'll have quite a few shells.

 

[Steve Petrone]

A couple of months ago, I wrote about using whole pecans for smoke in the kettle when grilling. They were fantastic! Unfortunately, the squirrels found my stash. They took every last nut in one night.

I have not tried them in the smoker but in the grill there're awesome.

 

[Gary H. NJ]

I had heard that they use coconut shells for fuel when grilling satay in Indonesia. A couple years ago, I had a couple coconut shells (had made my own coconut milk for a curry) and tossed them on the coals on my OTG. They went off like rocket fuel. Whoosh! Kinda cool actually. My point is to be careful using any oily nut shells. May be flammable!

 

[j biesinger]

j you sure you want to eat food that was smoked with something that was intended for mulch? There is probably all kinds of nastiness in there.

I was hoping someone could provide some expertise here as I have the same question. My thoughts is that these shells are the byproduct of the chocolate process and nothing more, and if they were somehow chemically enhanced, that would be an advertised selling point. The bag is totally lacking in info other than to keep your pets from eating it, but that can be interpreted in many ways other than "its chemically treated." For what I paid for a giant bag, I'm pretty sure its just shells.

I found a thread on the smoking meats forum identical to this except the op had access to the shells through a nearby plant. He hadn't used them yet nor has anyone else.

My point is to be careful using any oily nut shells. May be flammable!

they kind of smoldered, no fireworks

 

[John Lantern]

Originally posted by Ron G.:
I've tried Pecan hulls and Hickory Nut hulls so far, and they both seemed to work pretty well.

My dad collected about a bushel of hickory nuts near a tree where he was hunting, and shelled them out over about a month while watching TV (made the best variation on Pecan Fingers that I've ever had!) He saved the shells and gave me a big bag of them.

I still used smoke wood (mixed a little maple & pecan with the hickory hulls) - so I cannot speak to using only nut hulls.

I used sort-of minion method, and spread the hulls on top (working them into the crevices) of the un-lit before dumping the lit chunks on top.

Does anybody else have any experience using hickory shells? My sister has a hickory tree and gets bags full of these falling in her yard. I like a bit of hickory but it is tough to get around me. Plenty of white oak and maple. If adding some shells can add a little of that hickory bite to chunks of maple or oak, that'd be great.

 

[Matt Heebner]

I was given about 30 lbs of cracked hickory shells from a landscape business owner friend of mine. I have been using them here and there for various smoke sessions, tossing in handfuls. They do provide some smoke, light smelling compared to the wood obviously. However just be aware that they are a more 'oily' nut and will ignite with some flame, but it usually short lived. I have not had any negative effects using them. I do however get better smoke from actual wood.

 

[K Kruger]

Just put them tightly in foil pouches, as you might pellets or chips. No ignition, just smoke.