Wood Flavour Bisquettes Tips & Tricks and much more

Wood Flavour Bisquettes Tips & Tricks and much more

Posted on: January 11, 2023



So you’ve gotten the hang of food smoking. When you have friends over for dinner, you’ve stopped prefacing every meal with “I only just bought this food smoker a couple months ago” or “this is my first time with this recipe so I don’t know if it works…”

So you’ve gotten the hang of food smoking. When you have friends over for dinner, you’ve stopped prefacing every meal with “I only just bought this food smoker a couple months ago” or “this is my first time with this recipe so I don’t know if it works…”

Then, you proudly present your smoked food art (yes, it’s art) to family, friends, neighbours, co-workers and everybody else who is within a nose’s sniff of your smoked creations.

Create Your Own Recipes or Modify Existing Ones

Now you’re ready to start creating your own recipes, or modifying existing ones. When venturing out on your own, one of the most important decisions to make is what bisquettes to use in your smoker.

Bradley makes it simple for us with their easy to use bisquettes, offered in a wide variety of wood flavours. But which Bradley Bisquette wood flavour to use?

Here is an easy-to-use wood flavour guide, tailored specifically to Bradley Smoker bisquettes and food smoking fans!

Bisquette

Flavour Foods that work…

Perfect Pairs

Tried, tested & true

Alder

Mild, musky & slightly sweet

Fish, seafood, pork & poultry

Salmon

Apple

Mild, slightly sweet & fruity

Pork & poultry

Ham

Cherry

Mild-medium, sweet & fruity

Beef, lamb, poultry & cheese

Game poultry such as pheasant

Hickory

Strong & rich

Pork, beef & game

Bacon or Pepperoni

Jim Beam

Strong, rich & flavoured with bourbon

Pork, beef & game

Ribs

Maple

Mild, sweet & earthy

Seafood, fish, pork, poultry, cheese & vegetables

Chicken or Ham

Mesquite

Strong, slightly sweet & hearty

Beef & game

Ribs

Use for smaller cuts as mesquite can easily be overpowering

Oak

Medium-strong & rich

Beef, pork, turkey & game

Brisket

Oak is great for the long smoke, use on larger cuts

Pacific Blend

Mild & clean

Seafood, fish, poultry, cheese & vegetables

White fish or Seafood

Pecan

Strong, sweet & buttery

Pork, poultry, beef & game

Pork roast or Chops

Special Blend

Very mild

Seafood, fish, poultry, pork, cheese & vegetables

Any dish you want a hint of smoke in and nothing more

Whiskey Oak

Medium-strong, full & rich

Beef, pork, turkey & game

Wild boar

But remember, these are just guidelines and are very flexible. Experiment away!

Consider the Dish as a Whole, Not Just the Protein

There are some things to keep in mind though. You have to consider the dish as a whole, not just the protein or vegetable you are using. For example, if you are planning on making a spicy & saucy chicken dish, you may want to bump up your smoking to a stronger wood than would otherwise be suggested.

Consequently, the smoky flavour will show through the spices. Otherwise, if you want to smoke a large cut of game meat without more seasoning apart for the old faithful salt & pepper combination, then use a milder wood, As a result, the natural flavours of the meat will take centre stage.

Personal Preferences Matter

As well keep your personal preferences in mind. If you find woods such as mesquite or hickory overpowering or bitter, then consider only using them for well seasoned and flavourful cuts of meat, such as game or beef.

Alternatively, consider changing woods halfway through the smoking process for something milder. Or you can cut the smoking time by finishing it in the oven. Otherwise, if you’re on the other end of the spectrum, and you like a heavy smoke flavour, then woods such as Alder just won’t cut it for any pork dish for you. Just go for something stronger.

Happy smoking!