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Acorns for smoke?

500
500 Posts: 3,177
edited November -1 in EggHead Forum
Anyone ever used acorns for some oak smoke flavor? I've got plenty of them around. What da ya think?
I like my butt rubbed and my pork pulled.
Member since 2009

Comments

  • Cpt'n Cook
    Cpt'n Cook Posts: 1,917
    Haven't tried acorns but I have used hickory nut shells.
    Instant smoke, you can smoke a burger.
    DSC_0020-1.jpg
    I sucked up 50 gallons of acorns this year just from one tree, not planning on using them for smoke. I think creosote would be a problem unless they were very dry.
  • Hoss
    Hoss Posts: 14,600
    I have never tried em.I have used oak wood but never the acorn.Give it a go and report back.Worst can happen is you waste a load of lump.I would cook something cheap(chicken) on the first try. ;)
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    I've used hickory nuts - but never acorns. Personally the "wooden" shell of an acorn is paper thin. I read the acorn nut meat is edible though. OTOH a hickory nut is mostly "wood" with little meat but what little is in there is certainly safe and edible!
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • PattyO
    PattyO Posts: 883
    Acorns themselves are poisonous to us and our pets. I wouldn't chance it.
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    that's what I thought too, but I'm reading where they are just bitter and consuming too many could cause a probem.
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • Capt Frank
    Capt Frank Posts: 2,578
    Probabably work for smoked squirrel! :laugh: :evil: :silly:

    Sorry, I couldn't resist :P
  • 2Fategghead
    2Fategghead Posts: 9,624
    Good one Capt. Frank! :lol:
  • ShedFarm
    ShedFarm Posts: 499
    I've never smoked with acorns, but we used to roast them, when I was a kid. The tannic acid is what makes them bitter, and in large quantities, can make people and pets very sick.

    Before roasting (or using them for smoking, I would presume), we would boil them repeatedly, until the water no longer turned brown/yellow. At that point, the bitterness would be gone, and we'd roast them over the campfire.
    BJ (Powhatan, VA)
  • Hoss
    Hoss Posts: 14,600
    ;) Not if you have a pet squirrel,bird,deer or goat. :laugh: ;)
  • 500
    500 Posts: 3,177
    Come to think of it, I'm not gonna try it. Wouldn't want to leave some bad smoke in the Egg that would take a long time to get rid of.

    I can get some oak from a cabinet maker; I'll try that. He supplies me with cherry and maple whenever I want it. Wish he made cabinets out of hickory and apple.
    I like my butt rubbed and my pork pulled.
    Member since 2009
  • KenHawk
    KenHawk Posts: 58
    DewaltDakota has it exactly right. Acorns are high in tannin, but after boiling can be eaten roasted or into a paste...

    You would be smoking it with the nut - as someone else mentioned - the shell is very thin.

    Crack a few open before you do anything. A lot of the acorns laying around on the ground are half rotten.