Can I Use Wood Chips in a Pellet Smoker?

Wood chips are a great addition to a pellet smoker since they are incorporated into the bark of the wood.

They can also add a pleasant aroma to the finished smoking product. So, can I use wood chips in a pellet smoker?

Yes, you can use wood chips in a pellet smoker. However, it’s best not to use them unless you’re cooking meats that are high in fat, such as beef brisket and pork shoulder.

Wood chips should be added after the initial cooking period and before smoking the meat for several hours. Otherwise, the meat won’t be properly cooked.

You should also avoid wood chips that have a high moisture content, which can result in the pellets burning too quickly and ruining the taste of the meat.

On the other hand, wood chips that have low moisture content will burn slowly and have a minimal impact on the meat’s flavor.

Can I Use Wood Chips in a Pit Boss Pellet Smoker?

Wood chips are an excellent fuel for pellet smokers.

They’re cheap and environmentally friendly. However, not all pellet smokers can use wood chips.

Most pellet smokers have air intakes that are too small for wood chips to burn efficiently. As a result, wood chips produce less heat and smoke than pellets do.

However, there are some pellet smokers that do accept wood chips, such as the Pit Boss Pellet Smoker.

Can I Use Wood Chips in a Pellet Tube?

Wood chips are a type of biomass fuel that can be used to fuel pellet stoves and pellet boilers.

Wood chips are fuel that is produced when wood is chipped or shredded into smaller pieces. These pieces can range in size from 8 mm to 10 mm and are then used in pellet stoves or pellet boilers to generate heat and hot water.

Wood chips often contain bark and sawdust, and as such, they are not considered suitable for burning in open fires, hearths, or barbeques.

Wood chips can be burned in pellet stoves or pellet boilers that are designed to burn biomass fuels and wood pellets.

Wood Chips vs Wood Pellets in a Smoker

Wood chips are a popular choice for smokers because they’re easy to use and provide a lot of flavor. Wood chips are also economical and easy to find.

While wood chips are great, they can be messy to use, and they do need to be replenished every once in a while.

Wood pellets are a better alternative because they burn more consistently, and you don’t need to refill them very often.

However, while wood pellets burn more consistently, they don’t burn as hot as chips. As a result, wood chips are preferable for low and slow cooking, whereas pellets are preferable for high heat cooking.

Wood chips also produce more smoke than pellets. This is why wood chips are often used for smoking meat, but not for grilling.

This is because smoke is what you need to impart flavor to meat, so wood pellets are a better option for grilling.

Wood chips also burn faster than wood pellets. So why use wood chips when pellets burn longer? Wood pellets burn slower because you need to cook your meat on low heat for a long time to achieve the perfect barbecue flavor.

Wood chips burn faster because they burn hotter, so you don’t have to cook meat at such a low temperature.

Wood pellets are a better choice for smoking because they burn more consistently and you don’t have to refill them as often.

On the other hand, wood chips are more ideal for grilling because they produce a lot of smoke and heat.

How Often to Add Wood Chips to Pellet Smoker?

Every 2 to 4 hours, you’ll need to add about a cup of wood chips to the smoker.

Many people, though, continue to use the smoker without any additional wood chips and still get great results.

Increasing the number of wood chips increases the heat in the smoker, which results in better-tasting food.

Toxicants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cigarettes may be transferred onto food during the smoking process.

Research was done to determine how much PAH is transferred onto smoked fish from cigarettes used inside the smoker box.

The concentration of these toxicants in the smoked fish was found to be significantly higher when the cigarette butts were reused multiple times before disposal compared to new cigarette butts used only once.

Why Is It Needed to Soak Wood Chips in Water for Smoking?

Wood chips for smoking should be soaked in water for at least 3 hours.

Soaking the wood chips in water ensures that they’re completely saturated with water before being placed in the smoker.

Soaking wood chips in water before smoking is important because dry wood chips will produce a smoky flavor.

Furthermore, soaking wood chips in water before smoking prevents them from igniting during smoking.

Finally, soaking wood chips in water before smoking ensures that they’re evenly soaked and moist.

Is Cedar a Recommended Smoking Wood?

No, cedar includes a high concentration of resins that can cause the meat to be tough and chewy.

On top of that, cedar wood is quite strong, and that strength makes it a poor choice for smoking. It’s best to use softer woods such as hickory and pecan.

Aside from not burning properly, using some woods can lead to a burst of flame when added to the smoker.

Using cedar wood to smoke meat can result in meat that is too tough to eat due to its high resin content.

Also Read: Why Is Traeger Grill Pellet Box Smoking Too Much

Final Words

Wood chips are an excellent source of fuel for pellet smokers.

They’re cheap and easy to find, making them an attractive alternative to pellets. Additionally, wood chips have a pleasant aroma and flavor that can lend a unique flavor to food cooked in a pellet smoker.

However, there are a couple of drawbacks to using wood chips in a pellet smoker. First, they’re harder to control than pellets because they burn faster and can burn hotter as well.

Because of this, wood chips are best for smoking meats that are cooked longer at a low temperature. Second, wood chips create a lot of ash, which can make the pellet smoker dirty and clog the auger.

Because of these drawbacks, it’s best to use pellets as the primary fuel source in pellet smokers and wood chips to add flavor.