By
James
Updated on
Whether you are smoking pulled pork or beef, the type of wood you use for smoking can significantly impact the flavor. If you are thinking about which types of wood to use for smoking pulled pork, then you have come to the right place.
In this write-up, we have compiled our top pick for the best wood for smoking pulled pork. Continue reading it if all you want is to impress your guests with this recipe.
But what is pulled pork? It is a popular American barbecue dish, usually smoked over wood. Once completed, you need to shred the meat manually. Besides, you can either alone or serve on bread.
Our Top Picks
Below is a summary of the top picks from our SummerBaron.com team. To help you understand where each pick ranked, we have included “badges” next to each pick’s key findings. “Best Overall” is a combination of price and value. “Best Budget” is great for summer lovers who want a top-quality product but are on a tighter budget. “High End” is for people who just want the best, and price is no object.
Image
Product
Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments
Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby
Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments
Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby
Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments
Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby
Reviews of Each Pick
Choosing the right type of wood for smoking your pulled pork is crucial as picking the right cut of meat. Remember, the wood you use to flavor your pulled pork on the smoker will decide whether to wow your guests or left them disappointed. Here are some of the best woods that you should consider next time you smoke pulled pork:
Hickory Wood
Good flavor
Cheap
Little smoke
This wood will be a great option if you prefer a stronger smoke flavor in your pulled pork. It works not only with pulled pork but also with other items, such as beef and poultry. However, it is worth noting that this wood can produce a huge amount of smoke. So it will less time to enhance the flavor. We recommend using it in moderation, especially when smoking your pulled pork for a longer period.
Pecan Wood
Great flavor
Good burning.
Expensive
The pecan is another best wood for smoking your pulled pork, especially if you are looking for a medium smoke flavor. When it comes to flavor scale, this wood provides a more robust smoke flavor than fruitwoods, such as cherry and apple. Nevertheless, it is less than hickory wood.
Whether you are smoking pulled pork or ribs, this wood will perfectly complement all pork types with its rich and nutty flavor. You can also blend this wood with other kinds of wood. For a layer of nuanced flavor, you should consider mixing it with either apple or cherry wood. However, blending it with hardwoods, such as hickory, will give you a more earthy taste. It all depends on your preferences.
Cherry Wood
Great value
Excellent Flavor
Some chips are too big
This wood provides a mild and sweet fruity flavor, a perfect match with different types of meat. However, it works particularly well for smoking pulled pork. The reason is that pork has less overpowering flavor compared to beef. As such, cherry wood perfectly complements your pulled pork as it has the right intensity of smoke flavoring. You can get it on Amazon to check this wood out.
However, the downside is that it takes a relatively long time to fuse smoky flavor in your pulled pork fully. Hence, it is more suitable when you want to cook longer at a lower temperature. But if you’re going to speed up the smoking process, we recommend opting for a more robust wood flavor.
Applewood
Great flavor
Smells exactly like the soap
pricey
Another best option for smoking your pulled pork is the applewood (link goes to Amazon), which is quite similar to cherry wood. The reason is that both of them are fruitwood. With its subtle sweet and fruity flavor, the applewood makes it suitable for pulled pork and other types of food, such as seafood and chicken.
Like cherry wood, it will take some time to infuse the deep smoky flavor into your pulled pork. Although apple and cherry woods share some similarities, each of them’s taste profile is unique and different. Hence, we recommend trying both of them.
Maple Wood
Adds great flavor to grilled meats
Perfect size
Overprice
Maple wood is another excellent choice for smoking pulled pork. It has a very subtle and lightly sweet flavor, making it an ideal choice for smoking chicken, vegetables, and even cheese. However, if you are looking for a more pronounced smoke flavor, then maple wood may not be your favorite choice.
One of the primary downsides of maple wood (link goes to Amazon) is that it is less common to find in stores than other wood types.
Oakwood is another excellent choice if you are looking for a medium level of smoke flavor. The smoke intensity is more potent than fruitwoods but less intense than hardwoods. However, you should note that this wood does not provide sweetness in the smoke flavor. As such, we recommend blending it with other woods such as cherry, apple, or maple.
If this wood is what you need, then you should consider clicking on it to find it on Amazon.
Another excellent option for smoking your pulled pork comes from the orange tree. Although it is quite hard to find, it is still a perfect choice to blow away your friends and family with your delicious pulled pork.
When it comes to the flavor, it provides the right amount of citrus flavor without being sickly. Additionally, you can blend this wood with hardwood to get a little bit of woody flavor.
Conclusion:
To sum up, smoking pulled pork is not as simple as you might think, especially if you want the best result. One of the things to consider when smoking pulled pork relates to using the right wood. Remember, once you have the right wood, you are already half the way. However, choosing the best wood for smoking pulled pork can be overwhelming with so many options available.
But we hope that this guide has helped you narrowed your choices. Of course, selecting wood is highly subjective as people’s tastes and needs differ considerably. As such, you should choose based on your needs.
You should also note that the ultimate fun of smoking any meat is discovering the right technique and recipe. You can always make delicious pulled pork by merely using a type of wood. Nevertheless, if you happen to like more than two of these woods, then don’t be afraid to blend them.
About The Author
Reviewed by
James
James is a writer who is a self-confessed kitchenware and coffee nerd and a strong advocate of Sundays, good butter, and warm sourdough.
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