Smoking: chips vs chunks?

Michael L

Just curious: which is better for smoking, chips or chunks? Or does it not matter, relying more on personal preference? I'm going to buy a quantity of wood soon, with the option for either type. Thanks.
Mike

wingfoot

Michael L,[p]For long cooks you want the chunks. If you're just cooking some burgers or steaks, then chips are fine. Just soak them first. I bought some Jack Daniels chips from Wal Mart and have used them for steaks and burgers. Good stuff. [p]Mike

Unknown

wingfoot,
Thanks for the tips. I had a sneaking suspicion that chunks were best for the long cooks. Have a great holiday.
Mike

Unknown

Michael L,
Depends on your smoker really.
Chips will give more smoke, while chunks are more fuel based that provide heat too.
Are you going to use charcoal as well ?

drbbq

Michael L,[p]I prefer chips no matter what I'm cooking. I mix them throughout the lump before starting, and they burn during the whole cook, as the fire moves around. If you put a couple chunks in, they'll burn only when the fire is focused in those spots, and there will be no wood smoking during much of the cook. I like a small amount of smoke throughout the entire cook.

Clay Q

Michael L,
Just another idea here, I use coarse sawdust when I need a lot of smoke. I made pulled beef sandwiches the other day and for the second smoking I use coarse hickory sawdust to impart flavor in a short amount of time. I make the sawdust with a power grinder I use to carve wood. It's a wheel with chain saw teeth on an angle grinder. Don't use a chain saw with chain oil lubrication- the oil will get in the sawdust.
Keep on smoken....
Clay

guavawood

Michael Little,
you can always make your chunks smaller but hard to make your chips bigger. Aloha![p]
Greg Kemp [p]

Michael L

drbbq,
Wow, I never thought of scattering the chips with the lump. I'm going to try that. By the way, I just purchased your book on Thursday. It's a great book that is really taking me to "school".
Mike

Michael L

smokinsteve,
Yes, I'm using lump exclusively in my small Egg. Thanks for the good info.
Mike

Michael L

guava wood,
I just sent you a money order, Greg. Looking forward to trying your wood.
Mike

drbbq

Michael L,[p]Thanks alot. Glad you like it.