food-bev To soak or not

[winland]

When using wood for smoking, do you soak the wood chunks / chips before adding to the fire?

 

[CAPCOM]

Yes, Otherwise they will just burn right up with less benefit. Will still add flavor but not as much. and for less time.

 

[SmokenFire]

When using wood for smoking, do you soak the wood chunks / chips before adding to the fire?

 
I never soak wood chunks for smoking.  You want wood to burn and produce smoke, so if you soak it you produce steam instead of smoke.  I set my smoke woods to the side of the lit coals with just a corner touching a hot coal.  The chunk slowly smokes and doesn't catch fire outright - providing me with the thin blue smoke I'm after.  

 

[El Angeleno]

I read this article and stopped soaking, it was a little tough at first to control but I got it down now.
http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/mythbusting_soaking_wood.html

EDIT: I do exactly like SmokenFire does.

 

[Ashen]

ususally not but if a long cook and I don't feel like fiddling too much I might soak some of it for delayed smoke generation. 

 

[D3monic]

To my understanding, soak chips, don't soak chunks. 
 
I use chips in a cast iron pan in my gas smoker because the bottom where the flame came through was stupid and would catch them on fire right away. This works perfect for me and my situation. 

 

[The Hot Pepper]

Used to soak my chips until I knew better. The smoke they produce when wet is the bitter white smoke and not the desired sweet blue smoke when dry. Dry all the way these days! Unless you like bitter meat. 

 

[mlh5953]

I used to soak, but not any more.
I buy my peach chunks from fruitawoodchunks.com and this is what they say about soaking on their website:
 
"DO NOT !!!! soak our wood in water. There is enough moisture in our wood to allow for extended smoking period. Soaking in water will only create a sooty smoke making your meats bitter and less desirable to the judges."

 

[CAPCOM]

You are going to get all sorts of differing opinions. My suggestion is try it both ways and do it the way that best suits you. We do a turkey every July 4th and we soak the chips. no bitter taste, or for that matter anything negative whatsoever. Could sit there and pick at it till all that's left is bone.

 

[JoynersHotPeppers]

Never soak

 

[Booma]

Never soak, especially the bigger chunks and cuts, no need for it at all

The water cooks out of it pretty fast and leaves a bitter tasting smoke I find