why do we use hardwood for smoking food?

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Like the title says. I just now had a thought about the way smoking food makes a unique flavor that most people love. Everything I’ve put in my smoker was over hardwood and I’ve never questioned it. Now I am questioning it. So, what makes hardwood so much better than softwood in terms of cooking?

In: Chemistry

8 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

I wondered this myself, and despite knowing the conventional wisdom answer, I decided to ‘smoke’ some foods with several softwoods I had on hand about 8-9 years ago.

I can confidently tell you:

the reason to smoke with hardwoods is because the result tastes good.

the reason *not* to smoke with softwoods is because the result tastes like Treebeard’s taint.

Hope that answers your question lol

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