Krypto Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 So... Last weekend I did 2 big ol' butts (no... not that kind) They came out great, were done for my neighbors kid first b-day party... so there were mostly adults hangin out drinking beer and eating my que... lots of them said they really like it but I thought something was missing and that was the smoky flavor... I did throw some hickory chips on top of the coals but I guess not enough. So here's my question to the pro's: How do you get that deep smoky flavored bark? Also... do you trim the fat off the butts before you put them in the kooker? I didn't and there were some rather large chunks of pork fat ... Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNakedWhiz Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 I usually put 4 or 5 fist sized chunks of hickory or apple in the fire so that smoke is produced all during the burning process. The butts usually take 15 hours or so, so they get lots of smoke. I leave all the fat on the butt and let it render out as it cooks. Any remaining fat I remove when I pull the pork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 So let it be written. So let it be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conodo12 Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Hey Whiz (and All) - Where are you finding those "fist sized chunks" of select woods? All I can find in my area is mostly chips. Good smelling, but small chips just the same. While we are talking about smoke - anyone ever try the Jack Daniels barrel chips? How are they for KK'n? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 I got a hip high bag of hickory lump at the local Depot. Big ol' chunks, at least half-fist size, usually a bit bigger. Probably a 20 lb bag... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobvoeh Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Hey Whiz (and All) - Where are you finding those "fist sized chunks" of select woods? All I can find in my area is mostly chips. Good smelling, but small chips just the same. While we are talking about smoke - anyone ever try the Jack Daniels barrel chips? How are they for KK'n? Thanks! If you have Barbeques Galore in your area, they have a large selection of wood chunks. Check their store locator http://www.bbqgalore.com/retail/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreeDJ16 Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Walmart sells the 5lb bag of hickory and mesquite wood chunks. Also if you have an Academy Sports, they sell pecan, mesquite and hickory in the 5 lb bags of chunks or the 20lb bag of small logs. -=Jasen=- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primeats Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 In Chicago, call on Berger brothers, on Goose Island( Division street just across the River). Or they may give you several retail outlets that sell their products(especially on the North Shore! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firemonkey Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Walmart sells big bags of hickory chunks. Home depot has bags of hickory or mesquite, too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphoran Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Walmart and Home Depot do not have these universally. My local Walmarts NEVER have lump coal; the closest they come is royal oak briquettes. Tiny bags of smoking chips. Home Depot in this area doesn't have any chunk smoking wood. I'm stuck paying $25/bag for Pete's wicked or $22/bag for BGE. Cowboy at Lowe's for $15 some of the time, not year round. I was on a business trip to Alabama a couple of monts ago, and asked everyone I met (and stopped in every Walmart I passsed) where I could get some lump charcoal. Everybody said "Yeah, I know what you're looking for, you used to be able to get it everywhere, but I haven't seen any in years." I never found any on that trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conodo12 Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 All - Thanks for your tips. I was able to find the Royal Oak lump charcoal at my local Walmart. Curiously, it was not out in the garden center with all the bags of briquettes. I found the lump charcoal inside where the "yearly" garden stuff is kept. I'll start my shopping for the smoking wood chunks this weekend. We have a "BBQ" Store, but where they are awesome at stocking rubs, sauces, and gasser parts, they are OK at the charcoal part at best... I'll keep you posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firemonkey Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 I'm stuck paying $25/bag for Pete's wicked or $22/bag for BGE. Cowboy at Lowe's for $15 some of the time, not year round. Whoa, how big is the cowboy bag from Lowes? The Royal Oak at Wmart is under $5/bag for 10#. I never use the cowboy, but I remember seeing it in on the shelf at lowes. The bags didnt look very big, either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primeats Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Charcoal Supply Company, 1186 N. Cherry Ave. Chicago,60622. 312-642-5538 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Ace hardware has Cowboy year round. But you have to have an Ace hardware, I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphoran Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Our Ace doesn't. What I've discovered is that although they all have access to those things from the national organization, what they actually carry is decided at the local or regional level, and freight and local demand play a huge part in the decision. The issue with charcoal here in the Northwest is that it comes all the way across the country, and freight is a killer. I've found a source of Lazzari Mesquite here, but they won't order the oak unless I purchase a whole pallet. In answer to the question, that was a 15 pound bag of cowboy..... Now that its spring again, I'll go back to the Walmart's supercenter thirty miles south and see if they have any royal oak hidden in the back, but I asked the manager last fall, who had never heard of it. He did have the briquettes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krypto Posted April 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 smoking wood chunks We usually take a trip every fall to one of the apple farms in the Asheville, NC area. I take a couple of boxes with me an after we're done with the apple picking I ask the owners if it's okay with them to grab some of the wood from the pile of clippings/trimmings they have as a result of the tree maintenance etc... They are actually happy somebody is taking some of that wood off their hands as they just let it go to waste. I am sure that other farms would be more than happy to accommodate in the same manner. Whenever I use my smoker for salmon I always use the apple wood as I really like the taste. As far as the hickory chips... just keep an eye on construction sites, here in Greenville SC there's plenty. Lots of the trees down are hickory and the developers are glad to give you a couple of logs. Then you can chop them and break them into manageable chunks for the grill/smoker. For some reason I can't get myself to pay $5-6 for a bag of mulch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primeats Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 I like that idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
