Wood chips are the perfect fuel for your BBQ smoker. But can you make your own? Learn how to make wood chips for grilling with our easy step-by-step guide.
Thinking about how to make wood chips for grilling? Wood chips give you a unique smoky taste. There are not many methods that can give the same result. Let’s take a look at how to make your own, shall we?
Why make your own chips?
There are several benefits to making your wood chip. The most obvious is that it’s cheaper. You can use the pieces of wood you have which makes it cheaper. As long as you are confident that the wood will give you the flavor you need to smoke your food. It’s WILL save you time too.
The best types of wood
Various types of wood can be used for grilling. However, it is important that you make a conscious decision about the art you choose. This is because everyone has a specific taste that they impart, so choose wisely. Here are some options to choose from:
Hickory
This wood has a sweet, smoky flavor and is often used for wood chips to smoke food. It has a strong flavor so you have to be careful how much you add to the grill. It burns for a long time and is great if you plan on running the grill for hours.
Because hickory has such a strong flavor, it’s often mixed with softer woods so it doesn’t overpower the flavor of the food. This is especially true for foods like white meat or shellfish. Hickory works well for smoking cheese and most meats.
Applewood
The wood of apple trees has a slightly sweet flavor, making it a good choice for white meats like fish and chicken. It’s also a common choice for ham, cheese, cured meats, and bacon. It is preferred for its light and smooth smokiness.
Cherry
Cherry wood imparts a slightly mild flavor with an acidity that pairs well with pork, duck, poultry and venison. However, don’t let this selection fool you. Cherry wood goes well with almost all types of meat, dishes and vegetables. The mild flavor makes cherry wood shavings easy to use.
Pecan
Pecan wood is very similar to hickory, although not as strong as hickory. If you know the taste of pecans, think of the same flavor being put into your food. The nutty flavor pairs well with beef, lamb, and even poultry. Think of the types of foods that go well with a nutty flavor and you can’t go wrong with the wood.
Oak
Oak wood is not as light as fruit tree wood, which means the taste is not as sweet. Although it is a strong wood, it is still lighter than hickory. It has a neutral taste and burns for a long time.
Peach
Peachwood – One of my favorite aromas. Its sweet scent is an amazing addition to various things including food. When you use peach wood to smoke food, it imparts the same delicate, sweet notes found in fruit. Peachwood goes well with white and pink meat.
What tools do you need?
If you want to make wood chips at home, you’ll need a few tools. Wood chips can be made from almost any wood. The point is to end up with small pieces that YOU can put in your smoker. Tools YOU will need include an ax or a saw, as long as you can cut a piece of wood into small pieces. This is the case when you make the tiles by hand.
The other you have is to run the wood through a wood chipper or grinder.
Tutorial
Now let’s look at how to make your wood chips. To use a wood chipper & YOU may need a rental as it may not be a machine YOU have at your shop. Most portable shredders generally pick up branches about 2 to 3 inches in diameter.
If you have a larger piece of wood than this, you may need to go for an industrial grade wood chipper. If you’re using an axe, cut the wood into small pieces. This is the easiest method, but it’s also often simply the most difficult, since you probably already have the necessary tools.
A small ax is good for chipping the wood off the tree trunk. Remember that you are not trying to cut the trunk in half, but to get small pieces. Therefore, cut at an angle and you are cutting small pieces at a time. The downside to using an ax is that you probably won’t cut as many small pieces as you would with a wood chipper.
When using a wood chipper, this is one of the easiest methods. The downside is that you may need to rent a machine. When using a shredder, make sure the machine is on level ground and not tilted. Then be sure to safely set the direction and speed of the machine. Always follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.
If the chipper has wheels, make sure they are locked. Once IST is set up, make sure you plug it in properly, and then you can pop the chips into the machine. Be sure to follow the instructions for the size of wood you can put in the chipper. When you put the wood in the chipper, mix dry and wet leaves to help the chipper.
How to store wood chips for DIY grilling
You can store your wood chips in boxes with holes. Make sure the potatoes are in a cool, dry place. A box with holes keeps the chips dry. You can also store the chips in a plastic container with holes for air circulation.
Writer & content creator. BBQ fanatic!
