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Live Oak Question

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dayzed&confused
dayzed&confused Posts: 178
in EggHead Forum
 I have been reading alot of good things about post oak and red oak. what is everyones opinion about live oak. I can get it anytime I want too but if the other stuff is better I need to know.
San Angelo, texas
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    I use live oak.  It's excellent for beef.

    Where are you located?  There are 600 different species of oak.  The stuff I use is ubiquitous in South Eastern Louisiana.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Quercus_species
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    I love lamp..
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 22,961
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    post oak is a type of live oak. Red oak is not. Both good.


    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • yzzi
    yzzi Posts: 1,843
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    Is there any oak that you wouldn't want to use?
    Dunedin, FL
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    Yes, I would not use poison oak.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicodendron_pubescens
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    I love lamp..
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  • dayzed&confused
    dayzed&confused Posts: 178
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    I live in San Angelo, Texas. There is more misquite here than anything but live oak is everywhere too. Haven't seen any posion oak but I'm sure it's here.
    San Angelo, texas
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  • gdenby
    gdenby Posts: 6,239
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    If you don't want the live oak, I'll take any I can get. :)

    I like the smoke flavors and tastes from high lignin woods, like live oak. Perhaps its because they have lots of vanilla-like compounds.

    Also, on an entirely different line of thought, live oak may be one of the strongest woods in No. Am., and great for making super strong hiking sticks, which is another item I really enjoy.
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 22,961
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    gdenby said:
    If you don't want the live oak, I'll take any I can get. :)

    I like the smoke flavors and tastes from high lignin woods, like live oak. Perhaps its because they have lots of vanilla-like compounds.

    Also, on an entirely different line of thought, live oak may be one of the strongest woods in No. Am., and great for making super strong hiking sticks, which is another item I really enjoy.
    The vanilla is what does it for me. There is a reason great wines and bourbons are aged in oak.....
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    The live oak here is so frickin' hard it's tough to split.  Cuts fine with a chain saw.  I have a huge pile of logs.  I've spent a lot of money...first in wedges, then a Fiskars axe, then a hydraulic splitter....after 7 months, I'm just starting to split the stuff.  You really need a 10+ HP splitter.
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  • gdenby
    gdenby Posts: 6,239
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    The Cen-Tex Smoker said:
    gdenby said:
    If you don't want the live oak, I'll take any I can get. :)

    I like the smoke flavors and tastes from high lignin woods, like live oak. Perhaps its because they have lots of vanilla-like compounds.

    The vanilla is what does it for me. There is a reason great wines and bourbons are aged in oak.....
    I tried making a rub that had vanilla sugar in it. I hoped it might make the flavor richer. Didn't. Just added a slight vanilla note that sat on top the pork flavor. So I'll stay w. wood smoke for  flavor.

    BTW, vanilla sugar is great on waffles.
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  • rdmudd
    rdmudd Posts: 24
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    Live Oak is in the Red Oak family.
    Post Oak is in the White Oak family.
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