Which firewood is better for barbecue: features of choice and recommendations

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

With the advent of heat, most city dwellers tend to spend weekends in their summer cottages or go on picnics in the forest. There you can relax from everyday work, enjoying the unity with nature. Fresh air helps restore energy and strength. During such trips, it became a tradition to roast meat on an open fire. Shashlik is a very tasty dish. But in order for it to really give pleasure, it is necessary to marinate the meat correctly. To do this, select special seasonings, withstand a certain period of time. Of course, this process is an important factor in preparation, but not the only one. Professionals say that, in addition to the principles of marinating meat, you need to know what kind of firewood is better to take for barbecue. If you make a mistake in the choice, then all efforts will be in vain. The costs will not pay off, and the mood will irrevocably deteriorate. Experts in this matter already know all the nuances, but it will be useful for beginners to listen to sometips for best results.

The right choice

So, you want to organize a picnic with delicious dishes, but you don't know what firewood is best for barbecue? Then this article is just for you. Professionals advise experimenting with fruit varieties of trees. Each species is able to give the meat its own unusual flavor. However, there are some nuances that are recommended to pay attention to. When choosing different tree species, it is impossible to control the temperature in the barbecue. This is explained by the fact that each type of wood burns differently, so some coals can burn through. There is also another recommendation. The best firewood is the one that gives off a lot of heat. And the smoke from them will envelop the meat, giving it a special, incomparable flavor.

Vine

You still do not know what kind of firewood is best for barbecue, then we recommend paying attention to the vine. This variety is put in the first place by many professionals, and we can say that it is quite deserved. There are grounds for such a statement.

• Vine ignites easily, burns well. There will be no problems with cooking even in difficult weather conditions.
• When burning, the vine produces a steady and, most importantly, uniform heat throughout the entire period.
• Meat on such firewood is saturated with a pleasant aroma and acquires an excellent taste.

But, unfortunately, there is one minus - inaccessibility. To those who live in the city, collectenough vines will be problematic. And if you buy it, you will have to fork out, as the prices for this type of firewood in stores are very high.

Fruit trees

Which firewood is better to fry shish kebab so that the meat is saturated with delicious aromas? Above we talked about the vine, but there are alternatives. A compromise solution will be firewood from fruit trees. The disadvantages include a low level of heat, but the pleasant aroma released during combustion is not inferior to that which comes from the vine.

The result will be great. Meat cooked on such firewood is saturated with unusual flavor notes and is remembered for a subtle, elegant aftertaste.

Alder

In order to decide which firewood is best for barbecue, you need to pay attention to the special properties of wood. For example, alder gives off smoke when burned, which gives the meat a golden crust. Most often, this breed is used for smoking, however, it is also great for barbecue.

Birch, linden, oak

You can use oak, birch and linden firewood to cook shish kebabs. Most often they are chosen if it is necessary to feed a large company. When burning, these tree varieties hold heat for a very long time, so you can cook large amounts of meat.

When choosing which firewood is best for barbecue, it is important to take into account some of the nuances. In this case, it is aboutoak, linden and birch coals are so hot that there is a high probability of overdrying the meat. Such an alternative, of course, will not please vacationers. To avoid disastrous results, it is recommended to cook kebabs only in high barbecues.

Choice of firewood depending on the type of meat

Previously, barbecue was prepared only from certain types of meat. However, at present, the range has expanded significantly, as many different marinade recipes have appeared, which allows you to give the dish softness and an unforgettable taste. Depending on the type of meat, a certain composition of seasonings is selected, which not only combine with the main product, but also fill it with mysterious notes. Experts also believe that firewood is selected according to these criteria. Since they release a special flavor when burned, it may not pair well with certain types of meat.

So, what kind of firewood is better for pork or lamb skewers? In this case, it is recommended to give preference to birch, cherry or linden. The second most popular type of meat is beef. It can be roasted on linden, birch wood, and stone fruit varieties are also suitable. It is worth noting that the latter are also used for frying poultry shish kebab (goose, chicken, duck, etc.). The best frying of fish on the grill is carried out on the coals of fruit trees and linden.

What kind of firewood is not recommended for barbecue?

According toprofessionals, there are tree species that are categorically not suitable for cooking barbecue. First of all, these are coniferous varieties. During combustion, such firewood releases resins that are deposited on the meat. The taste of shish kebab turns out to be bitter, so it is unlikely that such a dish will please vacationers and contribute to a pleasant pastime. Also, some resins can be quite harmful to the body. This list also includes such species as poplar, mountain ash, ash, elm and aspen.

It is definitely worth mentioning that building materials (beams, boards) are by no means suitable for barbecue if they have already been used for their intended purpose. It is impossible to burn furniture parts for cooking meat. They are treated with various impregnations and paints and varnishes, which, when burned, emit harmful substances. They, settling on meat, can cause irreparable harm to a person.

A few last tips

What kind of firewood is best for barbecue? Of course, well dried. Raw firewood will flare up for a long time and give off a pungent, unpleasant smell of smoke. When burned in coals, little heat is generated, so the quality of cooking cannot be enjoyed.

One more piece of advice for beginner barbecuers. Often, when firewood does not ignite, many use modern liquids. But, according to professionals, it is better not to do this, since the combustion products acquire a persistent chemical smell, which cannot be eliminated.