Various Wood Chip Options for Smoking Meat

When it comes to smoking meat, great results start with the type of wood you choose for your smoker. The hot temperatures and quick burning attributes produce a momentous burst of smoke that gives meat a distinct flavor unparalleled to meat cooked any other way.

BBQ Smoked Meats 317-688-7290

BBQ Smoked Meats 317-688-7290


There are several different wood chip options available on the market, all of which deliver unique and individual flavors that can be used alone, or combined to create new tastes. If you are preparing to smoke pork, beef, poultry, nuts, cheese, or fish, you might want to review which wood chip options will give you the type of flavor you are aiming for. Continue reading to learn which options you have to choose from, and how they differ in flavor profiles, composition, burning points, and more.

The Classics:

Hickory – Hickory wood chips are popular because they deliver strong, sweet, bacon-like flavors that are capable of pleasing any palate. Although many claim that hickory wood is too pungent, the aromas produce a strong flavor that is suitable for all cuts of meat.

Maple – In contrast to hickory, maple wood chips deliver a more subtle flavor that can be described as mildly sweet. It is a great “go-to” option for any type of poultry, including chicken, quail, turkey, and small birds. It is also a good choice for grilling cheese and vegetables.

Mesquite – If you are looking for a strong, unpretentious, earthy flavor, mesquite is the classic option to choose. It has one of the hottest burning points among all other wood chips, and works well with any type of red or dark meats, including beef, bison, lamb, and more.

Oak – As a classic wood chip option, using oak can is a full-proof choice because it can be used for any type of meat. It gives off a medium smoky flavor that is slightly lighter than hickory or mesquite. It is commonly blended with other woods, such as cherry, hickory, or apple, but works great by itself too.

Fruit Flavors:

Apple – If you are looking for a fruity flavor that isn’t too strong, apple is the way to go. It delivers subtle sweet apple flavors, and works well with most meats, especially ham. It is a suitable choice for some seafood as well.

Pear – If you smoking poultry and small birds and would like a unique flavor, choose pear wood. You can expect a light, sweet, and fruity flavor.

Cherry – Cherry wood is one of the most popular choices for smoking meats because it can be used for everything. It gives a mild, sweet fruity flavor, and works well with poultry, beef, pork, small game, and more.

Peach – Peach wood delivers a very similar result as pear and other fruit wood chips. It’s a great option for small birds, poultry, and pork.

Mulberry – Mulberry wood chips are a terrific match for pork, poultry, and fish. Because it is very similar to apple wood, it is commonly skipped over as an option. But it is an interesting flavor that is great for white meat and fresh water fish.

Grape Vine – Grape vine wood chips are great for those who want a strong fruit flavor in their product. Even when used sparingly, they will provide a robust, tart fruity flavor that works well with poultry, lamb, pork, and small game birds.

Olive – Olive wood produces results that are very similar to mesquite wood chips. It is slighter lighter in flavor, and works best with chicken.

Nut and Flower Varieties:

Pecan – Pecan is actually another classic. As a fruit nut variety wood chip, you can expect stout fruity flavors in any of your smoked meats. Compared to hickory and mesquite, its flavors are milder.

Walnut – Walnut wood is great for red meats and wilderness game. It delivers a strong and slightly bitter flavor, so it is often combined with other varieties to soften the flavor.

Alder – Alder is a very delicate wood variety that produces soft, mild sweetness in smoked meat. Although most commonly used for salmon, it is also a great option for other kinds of fish, as well as poultry and pork.

Rackz BBQ in Carmel

Rackz BBQ Carmel, IN 317-688-7290

Rackz BBQ
317-688-7290

If you are craving delicious barbecue smoked meats and homemade side dishes, come to Rackz BBQ in Carmel for authentic flavors and great prices! We offer a wide selection of barbecue classics, house-made sides, and tasty desserts, all prepared using the freshest local ingredients. We also offer call ahead take out ordering and catering! Call 317-688-7290 to learn more about our current menu selections and specials, anytime.

Recommended Tools for Smoking Meats

Accurate temperature monitoring and heat absorption are two critical aspects of producing high quality smoked meats. In order to be successful at either, it is important to have the proper smoking tools and provisions. Professional pitmasters and smoked meat enthusiasts rely on such tools to continually achieve great results, and they highly recommend them for beginners as well.

Continue below to learn about some fundamental tools for smoking meats, and start planning your next smoked masterpiece!

For Great BBQ, Call 317-688-7290!

For Great BBQ, Call
317-688-7290!

Meat Temperature Basics

Before getting started on enhancing your skills at smoking meats, it is important to understand more about meat temperatures. Not only is it necessary to keep a steady temperature within your smoker, it is equally important to control heat absorption. Smoking on too low of a temperature can put your meat at risk of producing unhealthy bacteria, especially in larger cuts.

Smoking on too high of a temperature can jeopardize everything from moisture to flavor. These temperature mistakes will reduce the quality of meat. Some people use water pans in their smokers to add moisture and control heat absorption. Some even use sand in their pans for added heat absorption. These tricks can greatly reduce severe heat fluctuation within a smoker chamber.

Aside from water pans, thermometers, wireless dual probe transmitters, injectors, and more are all important components to producing great smoked meats. Here are some examples of recommended items to buy for smoking meats at home:

Flavor Injector

Flavor is the ultimate goal in smoking meats; is it not? So a quality flavor injector is a must-have item. Although you can successfully season meat and produce wonderful flavors, however, every pitmaster will tell you that flavor injecting is the better method. You will find many types, from syringe injectors to commercial pumps, but all you need is a simple version that has finger holes to fill and inject with one hand.

Try the Grill Beast® 304 Stainless Steel Meat Injector Kit – $24.99

Wireless Dual Heat Probe

These are aftermarket thermometers come with two transmitters that record the meat and chamber temperature and then send the data to a remote display you can keep up to 300 feet away, either on your person or set up in your home. This makes temperature monitoring much easier, especially when it’s chilly outside or you have company to entertain.

Try the ThermoPro® TP20 Wireless Remote Digital Cooking Food Meat Thermometer with Dual Probe – $59

Commercial Grade Quick-Read Thermometer

Commercial grade digital quick read thermometers are a terrific tool to use if you want to protect yourself from undercooked or overcooked meat. Consuming undercooked meat like pork and poultry is dangerous, while consuming overcooked meat is simply unpleasant. This tool allows you quickly read your meat temperatures without hovering over the heat for too long. Many models are water, dust, and shock resistant.

Try the Maverick® Pro-Temp Commercial Thermometer PT-100 – $59.99

Charcoal Chimney

If you plan in burning charcoal for smoking meats, you may benefit from a charcoal chimney. They are basically a cylinder with venting holes, which allows it to ignite and achieve temperature quickly. These are very helpful for beginners because you only need a little dry paper and a match to get your charcoal lit and started. It is also easier to add charcoal and maintain steady temperatures.

Try the Weber® 7416 Rapidfire Chimney Starter – $19.99

Misting Spray Bottle

Misting bottles are must-have tool. They are great for covering a lot of surface area on your smoked meats, allowing for quick and easy application. The great thing about these tools is that they are the cheapest and easier item to buy. You can even head to your local dollar store and find some that work perfect for smoking meats. In fact, you should buy several at this price point so that you always have clean extras on hand.

Try Our Delicious Smoked Meats and More!

Rackz BBQ Carmel, IN 317-688-7290

Rackz BBQ
317-688-7290

If you are craving delicious barbecue smoked meats and homemade side dishes, come to Rackz BBQ in Carmel for authentic flavors and great prices! We offer a wide selection of barbecue classics, house-made sides, and tasty desserts, all prepared using the freshest local ingredients. We also offer call ahead and take out ordering and catering! Call 317-688-7290 to learn more about our current menu selections and specials, anytime.

The 3 Steps to Choosing a Smoker

If you like to grill meat, a smoker is the perfect addition to your stockpile of appliances. But shopping for one will require some forethought and a little bit of smoker knowledge.

Smoked Meat Dinners Carmel, Indiana 317-688-7290

Smoked Meat Dinners Carmel, Indiana 317-688-7290


There are hundreds of smokers to choose from on the market, from stovetop and handheld smokers, to the colossal rigs used for commercial purposes. Such styles include offset barrel smokers (stick burners), gas smokers, electric smokers, pellet smokers, water smokers, cold smokers, kamado-style cookers, combo-ovens, and more, all of which vary in price, quality, features, and performance. In order to bring home the right smoking equipment, you must start by doing your research and narrowing down your options. Fortunately, you can do this with 3 simple steps.

Determine Your Capacity

The first factor to think about is volume. How much meat do you intend to smoke at one time? Are you using it for personal or commercial applications? Restaurants and large facilities will require a bigger smoker than someone who simply wants to smoke meats at home. In another example, a person who will be smoking meats for a family of four will need a larger personal smoker than someone who is cooking for one.

Consider Your Space

Since smokers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, you want to think about where it will go and how much space you have. Do you have room for a vertical smoker in your kitchen? The garage? Will it be stored on the patio or in a backyard shed? Designate an area before making any final decisions so that you have the room to conveniently store it away. Furthermore, it is important to learn the proper way to store a smoker. Freezing temperatures and heavy precipitation can interrupt performance and overall quality.

Set a Budget

It is very important to set a budget before shopping around for smokers. Not only will this help narrow down realistic options, it will provide a boundary for spending and help resist pressure to buy an upgraded version you do not need. Smokers range in price from as low as $50 for condo or apartment units, and as high as $10,000 or more for professional grade. It is recommended for beginners to start with a small vertical water smoker that costs between $100 and $300, but this is entirely up to the consumer.

Beginner Brands To Consider:

As a beginner smoker, there are several popular and highly-reviewed make and models that will serve you well. Here are a few to consider:

Weber 22-Inch Original Kettle Charcoal Grill – $149
Pit Barrel Cooker Package – $299
Camp Chef 24-Inch Smoke Vault – $250

In the Mood for Delicious Smoked Meats Right Now?

Rackz BBQ Carmel, IN 317-688-7290

Rackz BBQ
317-688-7290

Come to Rackz BBQ! We are conveniently in Carmel, you can stop by anytime for lunch or dinner. Enjoy our made-from-scratch menu filled with traditional barbecue classics, like ribs, brisket, chicken, mac-n-cheese, corn bread, and more! If you don’t have time to sit down at our restaurant, place a takeout order for a hot and fresh meal on the go! Contact us at 317-688-7290 to place a call ahead order, or to learn more about our menu selections, prices, and specials.

Smoked Meats: Hot Smoking Versus Cold Smoking

BBQ Restaurant Carmel, IN 317-688-7290

BBQ Smoked Meats 317-688-7290

Smoked foods, like meats and cheeses, are a very popular meal choice these days. Various foods make the perfect candidate for smoking, whether cold or hot, including pork ribs, ham, sausage, beef, salmon, cheddar, gruyere, and even delicate cheeses like Brie. And although it is a food preparation technique that was introduced thousands of years ago, it continues to be improved upon by innovative culinary experts all across the world, every single day.

They are two primary methods of smoking foods: cold smoking and hot smoking. Both methods add tons of flavor and offer loads of benefits, but each in their own unique way. Continue reading to learn the major differences between hot and cold smoking, as well as some common knowledge regarding methodology and more.

Cold Smoking Meats

Cold smoking is a method of food preparation that infuses foods with smoky flavors and preserves them without cooking them or using heat. Average temperatures used in cold smoking environments range between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold smoked meats are known to deliver a highly flavorful, saltier, dryer, and less tender product. This result makes it a perfect cooking technique for hams, sausages, bacon, salami, prosciutto, and other types of cold cuts.

It is also the preferred method for smoking delicate foods like seafood and cheese because it enhances their subtle flavor profiles and adequately preserves them for weeks. This includes salmon, scallops, oysters, Monterrey jack cheese, cheddar, gruyere, and brie. Cold smoking is also great for drying out herbs and spices.

Hot Smoking Meats

Hot smoking is the more popular and well-known method because it delivers a juicy, succulent, tender meat product. This is why it is the preferred method for meats like beefsteaks, chicken, ribs, and other pork cuts. It is an all-in-one process since the wood, meat, and smoke are all in the same chamber. In contrast to cold smoking, hot smoking utilizes heat to cook foods, which renders hot, moist, and ready-to-eat meals.

The average temperatures used to achieve hot smoked meats are very high, ranging between 190 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This cooks food in as little as one hour, infusing them with distinct flavors of oak, mesquite, hickory, cherry, or apple. These are the most popular woods for hot smoking meat.

Smoked Barbecue Meats Near You!

Rackz BBQ Carmel, IN 317-688-7290

Rackz BBQ
317-688-7290

Visit Rackz BBQ in Carmel, Indiana for delicious smoked meat entrees, hand-crafted barbecue sauces, and homemade side items, like peach baked beans, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, and more. From appetizers and sandwiches, to salads, entrees, and desserts, there is much to choose from on our comprehensive BBQ menu, so be sure to try them all! Contact us during regular business hours at 317-688-7290 to ask us about our menu prices, weekly specials, and more. We accept call-ahead and takeout orders too!