Bear Down Wildcats

So the storm that rolled through uprooted my Mesquite. Can I chop it up, dry it out, and use it in my smoker? I assume so, but I figured I'd throw this out there.

Gonna make brisket next weekend...maybe Mesquite smoked brisket...

Gotta use dried wood not green. Chop it, stack it and let it cure.

In addition, once it's cured, you could grill with it over an open flame or add it to a charcoal grill."

"And you're cooking with that mesquite charcoal, which makes the sausages taste peculiar." - Tony Soprano's mother

wyo-cat wrote:Gotta use dried wood not green. Chop it, stack it and let it cure.

Yeah, I guess next weekend will be too soon to use it.

Honestly, last night after a few beers, it seemed like a great idea. Now I've got a headache, it's hot, and chopping up a tree sounds like a royal pain in the ass.

Mesquite is really strong and bitter for smoking. Definitely cut the tree up, let is season (dry out), and mix with less bitter fruit woods when smoking. Mesquite is probably better for open flame cooking, but still needs to be dry. Makes really good charcoal too if you want to go that far.

And if you use it for smoking it should be for like beef ribs or brisket

Done. F that, I am beat.

Probably use it in a smoke box on the grill for steaks when it dries out...but for now, I am going to jump my ass in the pool.

Anytime I use mesquite to smoke I always use apple wood with.

Merkin wrote:Mesquite is really strong and bitter for smoking. Definitely cut the tree up, let is season (dry out), and mix with less bitter fruit woods when smoking. Mesquite is probably better for open flame cooking, but still needs to be dry. Makes really good charcoal too if you want to go that far.

+1. If you cook a brisket on just mesquite, it will taste like smoke. As in nothing at all but smoke. I would stick to pecan or oak for brisket, or mix mesquite with a sweet fruit wood like apple or cherry.

I currently have stocks of apple, cherry, pecan, mesquite and hickory wood for smoking. I seem to like blending them the most.

Anyone ever make an ugly drum smoker? Smart or stupid thing to do?

i guess it depends on how much you are wanting to smoke at once.

i got this for xmas:

https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-2007 ... B00104WRCY" target="_blank

and it smokes enough to feed 6-8 people easily and is very easy to use and maintain. $230 for the smoker and a cover. And I didn't have to build anything.

scumdevils86 wrote:i guess it depends on how much you are wanting to smoke at once.

i got this for xmas:

https://www.amazon.com/Masterbuilt-2007 ... B00104WRCY" target="_blank

and it smokes enough to feed 6-8 people easily and is very easy to use and maintain. $230 for the smoker and a cover. And I didn't have to build anything.

That's the exact one I have, love it. Only complaint is that the digital readout is really hard to read in sunlight but you just need to cup it.

Merkin wrote: you just need to cup it.

That's what my balls say.