Homemade Smoke Chips

[eaglemaniac]

Has anyone made there own smoke chips for salmon? I lost a few old apple and pear tree's a few winters back and am looking for suggestions on how to get them chipped up and prepared suitably for smoking in a Big Chief unit. Thank's...eman

 

[saltydawg]

You're not talking about old dead standing wood are you?? I wouldn't use that. I use fruit tree clippings and chips from chopping. Let them dry up and bag for later

 

[wolf]

When I was in college for my cooking degree one of the profs there him and I we went out and got (dead) cherry and apple trees form a demo we used a brace that held the wood in place and put a huge tarp under neath.

We striped the bark off(bark makes it bitter) and used a chainsaw which had veggie oil and made thin cuts which broke up easily. we got enough for about 10 years LOL.
The combination of sawdust and big chips works great he used to soak the chips for a bit to make them last longer in the smoker. you will have to experiment with it till you find what you like the best.


Good luck Wolf

 

[eaglemaniac]

Yea Thank's Wolf. I was wondering about running them through some kind of chipper. But with my success catching salmon over the last few years. I'd have enough chips to last me and my grandkids forever.lol...eman