What's the best wood for smoking chicken?

PICK THE BEST SMOKE

When smoking chicken, choose wood chips that will complement the bird. Pecan, mesquite, cherry and apple are all popular wood chip flavors. Hickory is a hard wood that has a sweet to strong taste that is almost bacon-y It burns hot and slow.

Is hickory wood good for smoking chicken?

Hickory is a popular favorite when it comes to smoking many kinds of meat. It has a strong, robust natural taste that is savory and resembles bacon. While it represents the signature taste of Southern BBQ when smoking red meat, you can get excellent results by pairing hickory with chicken.

Is cherry wood good for smoking chicken?

When it comes to choosing a good smoking wood for chicken, most people tend to lean toward wood from fruit trees (Apple and Cherry are excellent choices). Some other woods that pair well with and complement smoked chicken are: Maple: Contributes a sweeter flavor.

Is apple wood good for chicken?

Kicking off this list is one of the most popular wood chip types for smoking chicken, and it's for good reason. Applewood has a subtly sweet and fruity flavor that's a bit mellower than some other fruit-based smoking woods (e.g. cherry, maple, pecan).

Is maple a good wood to smoke chicken?

Maple. Of the different types of hardwood used for smoking meat, maple is one of the lightest. It's commonly used for delicate foods like vegetables and cheese, however it goes well with chicken and poultry.

10 Best Woods For Smoking Chicken 2019

Is mesquite good for smoking chicken?

Mesquite smoked chicken will turn your bland, boring whole chicken dinner into a tender chicken dinner that's packed with flavor. The secret lies in flavorful dry rub and the mesquite wood chips.

Are hickory pellets good for chicken?

Chicken – Pecan, Apple and Cherry – Chicken is not a very strongly flavored meat so you can go lighter. Veggies – Hickory and Mesquite – Again, it's a short cook time so I like stronger flavored woods here. Steaks – Pecan, Hickory or Mesquite. Salmon – Apple and Cherry — or in a pinch, Pecan.

Is pecan good for smoking chicken?

Pecan wood has a sweet, nutty, and rich flavor, similar to hickory, which is great for poultry. Pecan wood is also strong enough to stand up to beef, pork, and game meats as well. The smoke wood comes in both chips and chunks, with the difference being that chips burn faster than chunks.

What meat is best smoked with hickory?

Hickory: The wood of choice for Southern barbecue. It imparts strong, hearty flavors to meats and is used mostly to smoke pork shoulders and ribs.

Is Red oak good for smoking chicken?

Red Oak is the king of hardwoods and oaks, especially when it comes to smoking meats. Oak is strong, but it does not tend to overpower the taste and texture of the meat.

What temperature should I smoke chicken?

Whole Chicken:

Smoker temperature - 250°F. Smoking time - 30 to 45 minutes/pound. Finished temperature - 165°F.

Can you mix hickory and cherry wood?

For a more mild flavor, we recommend mixing the Hickory with a fruit wood, such as cherry or apple, to achieve a unique balance. BBQ Island Maple/Hickory/Cherry Pellets give off a sweeter and more mellow flavor, similar to alder. This pairs great with vegetables, ham, and poultry.

How long does it take to smoke chicken?

The size of your bird will dictate how long your chicken takes to cook. Roughly speaking, it takes about 3-5 hours to smoke a whole chicken, or approximately 45 minutes per pound at 250 degrees F.

What meat goes well with mesquite?

Mesquite Flavor Bisquettes especially pair well with beef, pork, game, fish, seafood, water fowl, and nuts. Additionally, try mesquite smoke for grilling steaks, vegetables, and other quick-cooking, flavorful foods. Pro tip: Mesquite wood's strong flavor can overpower mild poultry, pork shoulder, ribs, and fish.

Which is better mesquite or hickory?

Hickory is a medium-intensity wood that pairs well with pork, although we would also recommend using it when grilling chicken or beef. Mesquite has a much stronger flavor and is best reserved for cuts of beef, particularly brisket.

What wood should you not smoke with?

Never, under any circumstances, use EASTERN CEDAR, CYPRESS, ELM, EUCALYPTUS, SASSAFRAS, LIQUID AMBER, PINE, REDWOOD, FIR, SPRUCE, or SYCAMORE for smoking meats or other types of food.

What should I smoke with apple wood?

Apple: Apple wood has a mild, sweet & fruity profile. Although it can be used to smoke virtually anything, it imparts a milder smoke flavor that's a better choice for pork, poultry and fish. However, it can overwhelm poultry if smoked for too long.

How long do you smoke a whole chicken at 225 degrees?

Differences In Cook Time

Expect a cook time of about 2 1/2 to 3 hours for a 5 lb. chicken at 225 to 250 degrees F. With the whole chicken, the smoke time will be around 5 hours for a 5 lb. chicken at 225 to 250 degrees F.

What pellets are good for chicken?

Alder: This is a mild and usually neutral pellet. You can use this on about anything, beef, chicken, pork, lamb, turkey, fish and vegetables.

Are apple pellets good for chicken?

Apple. Add a lightly fruity smoke to mild flavored meats, baked goods and vegetables. Apple wood pellets combine so beautifully with chicken, you'll never want to cook it any other way again.

Can you use maple pellets for chicken?

OVERVIEW. Mild with sweet undertones, Pit Boss all-natural maple premium barbecue hardwood pellets enriches your pork, poultry, seafood, and baking. Grill up shrimp or chicken, bake your cobbler, or smoke any of your favorite meats.

Can you mix hickory and mesquite?

Yes, you can. It is possible to mix hickory and mesquite together to get a good flavor in your food. If you aren't decided about whether to use hickory or mesquite, mixing them offers you a good middle ground. Therefore, you will have a smoke blend that isn't as strong as mesquite but offers more flavor than hickory.

Are Mesquite pellets good for chicken?

The sweet and hearty cherry wood flavor paired with the Texas classic mesquite is sure to wake up the flavors even more. It adds a nice touch to any steak or sausage, and if you can handle the heat, try it with spicy jerk chicken.