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Old Apple Trees for Smoke Wood? Safe?


 
S

Stone

TVWBB Super Fan
An old apple orchard near me just tore up a whole bunch of old, dead trees. They're stacked in a big pile. I thought about going by to grab a bunch for smoke wood. I remember reading somewhere that years ago apple trees were sprayed with fertilizer that contained arsenic (cyanide?). Is this something I need to be concerned with, or should I just grab some wood?

Oh -- And I just upgraded to the 22.5". (Why? I don't know.) I assume it works the same at the 18.5"? Should I plan on adjusting anything in my cook method? I usually do a minion method.
 
I'm not familiar with the arsenic/fertilizer angle but you could always de-bark the wood before you cook with it.
 
I have purchased a lot of apple wood over the net - never know where it comes from. I would use the wood (without bark if you are worried).

Ray
 
Fertilizers are usually fed at the root system? If they sprayed it was prolly an insecticide which should mostly be applied to the fruit and supporting branches.(it's just a topical spray)
Orchards are going to do it rite cause chems cost money. I would rather choose wood from an orchard compared to what the average joe schmoe does in his backyard.
Depends how old and dead they are?
Might not be much left flavor-wise, but still worth a shot.

Tim
 
I just did a little google search (probably should have started there). From what I found, there are two issues: One, apple (and other fruit) trees naturally soak up arsenic from soil; Two, certain phosphate fertilizers increase the arsenic content in the trees. Apparently, some studies have found levels of arsenic in apple juice.

Well, I'm not sure anything I saw concerns me too much. I'll stop by and take a look at the trees.
 
Alot of arsenic in the old pressure treated lumber that leached out and folks used them for years for planting beds and garden fencing.
I wouldn't worry about it but there's plenty of organic wood available on-line.

Tim
 
my family has about 200 acres of apple trees. Remember that everything sprayed is food safe. You eat the apples right?
 
I would say no Problem @ all! If you still are unsure...Burn a peice of that apple wood and smell the smoke. If it makes you hungry...USE It,i know i would!
 
I remember a scare a bunch of years ago about apples being sprayed with Alar that supposedly enhanced the color of the apple but was thought to cause cancer. Never heard much more about it after the initial furor died down.

Maybe just as a precaution I would ask if those trees were sprayed with it and how long ago. I would suspect that it's been a LOT of years since it was used.

Russ
 
thanks all.

I just got my 22.5 smoker yesterday. This thing is huge. going to put a brisket on tonight.
 
I get all my apple wood from an orchard near my house, I just make sure to remove the bark before using it to smoke food. Haven't gotten sick yet!
 
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