cherry wood smoke

NPHuskerFL

I am going to smoke a brisket for Sunday late lunch/early supper. I have used oak, mesquite, pecan and applewood for smoke in the past. Mesquite was the strongest (perhaps to strong). Apple was the lightest (usually use it for poultry). But, until now haven't used any cherry wood. So those of you that have used on a brisket>>> how was the flavor and smoke ring? Did you soak your chips or use them dry? And....go

TexanOfTheNorth

I've never used cherry on brisket myself; although I have used it with chicken.

Regardless of what I am smoking or the type of smoke wood I use, I never soak. Just mix the chunks or chips right in the lump.

fishlessman

if i were going to use cherry on a brisket, i would mix it with oak. i pretty much always mix it, cherry and hickory on pork, pecan and cherry with turkey or chicken thighs

GATABITES

I love the aroma cherry produces. I recently scored peach and it smells amazing as well. 

I would mix cherry with oak at mention above. 

mimauler

I'd go for it there's no hard and fast rules.  I've used Mesquite for chicken and turkey just not 5 or 6 big chunks.  I've mixed Apple, Cherry, Pecan, Hickory, Oak just for experimenting and have tried it on just about everything.  Try keeping a log it will help in the future.  I never use chips anymore just chunks, if you need to when you want less smoke chop your chunk with a little axe and I never soak anything either.     

TexanOfTheNorth

mimauler said:

I'd go for it there's no hard and fast rules.  I've used Mesquite for chicken and turkey just not 5 or 6 big chunks.  I've mixed Apple, Cherry, Pecan, Hickory, Oak just for experimenting and have tried it on just about everything.  Try keeping a log it will help in the future.  I never use chips anymore just chunks, if you need to when you want less smoke chop your chunk with a little axe and I never soak anything either.     

Often easier said than done!

SmokeyPitt

I love cherry wood on chicken, ribs, and rib roast, so I think it would be fine.  Like @fishlessman said though, there is just something "right" about oak and a brisky.  I would mix it with oak if you want to give it a try.  

GATABITES

I always use oak as a baseline on briskets. I usually mix

SmokinOutBack

I use cherry on all beef, love it.

Mickey

My go to is a mix of pecan/cherry.

Skiddymarker

I like mesquite on brisket, in small amounts. Sometimes, it is just mesquite lump mixed in with a very neutral lump, maybe a 30/70 ratio. 

NPHuskerFL

Thanks for all the input. Think I'll mix cherry and oak as suggested. I personally never soak my chips or chunks but, wanted to see what the general consensus was. This will be my (scratching head) 8th brisky on the egg. I've made probably close to 30 over the last 5 yrs. The briskys off the egg are hands down the best (thus why my old Brinkman smoker sits in the shed collecting dust). The one for Sunday is a flat. I've done a few choice packers also but, I do like my flats. I hear a lot of complaints that their flat is dry etc but, thus far mine have been moist, great flavor, like butta and solid smoke ring. I hope to keep with that streak with this one. I will post pics and a step by step so to speak for documentation for future briskys. But, we all know each one of them is a bit different. Again thanks for y'alls candid responses :-)

yzzi

Whenever I use cherry, it's always mixed with something else. I usually use it for poultry though, and sometimes I'll add a small chunk with oak for beef/pork.

bodski

I've used cherry with turkey before, but haven't for beef. It was very nice. Tends to give a darker color. I've mixed it with pecan for chicken and pork, and it was really good. I'd guess it would be good with beef. 

JRWhitee

I use Cherry Pecan mix for chicken and ribs or hickory on ribs. I have always used Oak on Brisket.

crghc98

Cherry and oak...no need to soak

plumbfir01

I use cherry and Pecan, it works for me on briskets.. 

NPHuskerFL

Update>>> just cleaned up from smoking ribs. Enjoying a Corona and lime. Injected my #6 flat with fresh but room temp black coffee. Dried surface, applied my rub, covered and back into the refrigerator she goes. Until a bit later...

lkapigian

Thread Bump @NPHuskerFL‌ how was it with the Cherry..doing one tonight and have cherry in the egg, pulling the trigger in A few? @SGH‌ ?....I usually don't use any added smoke

SGH

In my opinion cherry compliments almost every wood very well. Due to compounds found in cherry, pound for pound it will produce the best possible smoke ring. I'm a huge fan of oak and pecan and use them for most everything. But when I want to really impart a heavy smoke ring, cherry is used in place of or in combination with the other two. It's personal taste but I find that cherry falls in between Apple and Pecan as far as potency. Subtle but not substantial if you will.

lkapigian

Thank You @SGH‌

NPHuskerFL

Cherry is really good. However, my go to with brisket is mostly Oak. Cherry gave a real nice color & flavor but, for me personally the Oak will always win on brisket.

Jeremiah

^^^^^that. That right there is why I keep coming back to this forum.

SGH

@NPHuskerFL‌
Brother Husker I will be coming to Pensacola around New Years. Not sure how far you are from there. If you are close I will bring a pallet of cherry for you. I just aquired a couple of trees. Will gladly share. A pallet weighs 750 pounds. It's cut into splits to you will need to bust it smaller for use in your egg. Let me know brother husker.

tcracing

Wish I lived in Pensacola.

Ladeback69

I totally agree with @SGH‌, cherry gives a great smoke ring to beef and pork and gives it a nice shuttle flavor. Its my favorite wood to use. I stay away from mesquite, because it gives me heartburn and I really us hickory. If I use hickory I mix it with apple, cherry or peach to help mellow it out. Another favorite is pecan. Below is a brisket I did with cherry wood.

SGH

@tcracing‌
I actually live near Biloxi. Are you close?

tcracing

@SGH‌ I live in Panama City, Fl.

Ladeback69

@SGH‌ , so who are you cheering for right now in the Egg Bowl?

SGH

@Ladeback69‌
Ms State. How about you? I'm more of a Alabama fan. Always have been.

Ladeback69

I have no dog in the fight just wondering and like seeing a good game. My Missouri Tigers won yesterday so I am wondering who they well be playing next week. Either way its going to be a tough one for them next week.