Are you looking for some wood to make smoking beef jerky? Well, you arrived at the perfect place as we are ready to provide you with a guideline on finding the best wood for smoking beef jerky.
Whether you are camping or having an outside party, most of the time, you will arrange something that will include making smoking or roasting meat. So, if you are a lover of smoked beef jerky, then it is indeed a must-have item in your occasion.
If you are ready with all the ingredients, you will need only to make sure that the cooking procedure is ready. And that will include having a smoker with wooden chunks for burning up your meat. The thing is that these wooden chunks come in various forms and types, and it gets a tough time finding a suitable one.
For all for you struggling, we found the top five products available online for you to purchase. We gathered up all the information with some tips for you. So, without further ado, let’s see what we got for you.
| Name | Weight | Product Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Weber 17142 Cherry Chunks | 2 pounds | 16 x 12 x 4 inches |
| Oak, Cherry, Hickory, and Alder Wood Smoking | 1 pounds | 8 x 4 x 4 inches |
| Oklahoma Joe's Wood Smoker Chunks | 7.19 pounds | 17.5 x 15 x 10 inches |
| Cherry Wood Chunks for Smoking | 10 pounds | 15.25 x 8.75 x 7.25 inches |
| Zorestar Oak Smoker Wood Chunks | 17.16 pounds | 15 x 11 x 8 inches |
Top 5 Best Wood for Smoking Beef Jerky List
Weber 17142 Cherry Wood Chunks
Weber 17142 Cherry Wood Chunks, 350 cu. in. (0.006 Cubic Meter), 4...
- Cherry wood chunks
- Subtle fruity flavor
- Goes great with fish, poultry, pork, and vegetables
- 350 cu. in. (0.006 m 3) sized bag
- Cherry wood chunks
- Subtle fruity flavor
- Goes great with fish, poultry, pork, and vegetables
- 350 cu. in. (0.006 m 3) sized bag
The first product from our list is going to be the Weber 17142 Cherry Wood Chunks.Making your beef jerky, you will need to combine the perfect ingredients, and among the elements, your cooking material is also included. This Weber Cherry Wood Chunks will be one of your best mates when you are about to smoke your foods.
The cherry wood chunks come in great shape and will not require you to do the additional work of cutting them in places. Even though the sizes of the chunks may vary, the average measurement will be something like 2 inches wide, 2 inches height, and about 1.5 inches to 3 inches long. As much as the dimension of the chunks in a great requirement, surely Weber’s one should be okay with everything.
When you use these wooden chunks for cooking your food, you will get a subtle fruity scent that has a mixture of sweetness to it. Weber offers you a few different flavors: apple, hickory, mesquite, pecan, and cherry. You will get 350 cu in one bag, and that should run for a long time and how can we not mention, it is also very affordable.
Pros
- Has different flavor
- Has a subtle fruity and sweet scent
- Good shape chunks
- 350 cu in one bag
- Affordable
Cons
- Some of the reviews complained that some of the pieces are very small
Camerons Oak, Cherry, Hickory, and Alder Wood Smoking Chips
Oak, Cherry, Hickory, and Alder Wood Smoking Chips- Wood Smoker Shavings Value...
- Value Pack Variety Gift Set of Alder, Cherry, Hickory, and Oak BBQ Smoker Extra Fine Wood Chips. Ignite quickly and combust completely to create a delicate smokey flavor. Best Selling Gift Pack great for Father’s Day, Memorial Day, Summer Barbecue Cookouts, 4th of July, and more!
- Value Pack Variety Gift Set of Alder, Cherry, Hickory, and Oak BBQ Smoker Extra Fine Wood Chips. Ignite quickly and combust completely to create a delicate smokey flavor. Best Selling Gift Pack great for Father’s Day, Memorial Day, Summer Barbecue Cookouts, 4th of July, and more!
- Use these wood sawdust shavings for smoking and grilling in smoking guns, cocktail smokers, smoker boxes, stovetop smokers, and charcoal and gas grills. Each 1-pint container will yield approximately 30 smoking sessions. Easily reseal tub after each use.
- Made in the USA out of 100% natural raw timber that is kiln dried to provide the highest quality smoke. There are no additives, chemicals, or fillers.
- Alder, Cherry, Oak, and Hickory wood chips all pair well with poultry, beef, pork, and seafood. Cherry is a subtle and sweet flavor, Alder is a light delicate flavor, Hickory is savory and rich, and Oak is a popular medium earthy flavor.
- Set of 4 Pints (0.473176 L tub) of extra fine cut barbecue wood chips, one pint per flavor. UNIT WEIGHT OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF WOOD VARIES (can cause variance in total weight in tub)
For the next products, we got the Oak, Cherry, Hickory, and Alder Wood Smoking Chips.
The best thing about this sawdust wood chips is that they come in a bucket container with a resealable option. That is a lot helpful as you will not have to worry about storing and sealing as the other products come in a packet. The container will make things much convenient for you.
With one of these buckets, you can at least yield approximately 30 smoker’s and that’s a lot and will go for a long time. The chips are raw timber with the dried kiln. Everything in this pack is 100% natural. The chips will ignite very quickly and create a very soothing flavor. The smoke is perfect for cooking poultry, seafood, lamb, cheese, and pork. The flavor it serves goes well with steak, as many customers said.
Pros
- Comes in a resealable bucket
- Yields up to 30 smokers’
- 100% natural raw timber and dried kiln
- Smokey flavored
Cons
- The buckets are not as big as some of the customers thought
Oklahoma Joe’s Wood Smoker Chunks
Oklahoma Joe's Wood Smoker Chunks, 8 lb, Hickory
- CUSTOMIZATION: Combine with other flavors for your own custom blends
- FLAVOR: Hickory wood chips have an intense, smoky flavor making them ideal for pork and beef
- COOK TIME: Wood chunks have a long burn life, which makes them great for long cooks and pair them with darker proteins for optimum results
- CUSTOMIZATION: Combine with other flavors for your own custom blends
- FLAVOR: Hickory wood chips have an intense, smoky flavor making them ideal for pork and beef
- COOK TIME: Wood chunks have a long burn life, which makes them great for long cooks and pair them with darker proteins for optimum results
- NATURAL: 100% all-natural hickory with a clean burn and low ash for easy clean-up
- RECOMMENDED: Keep wood chunks fresh, dry and ready to use in the Oklahoma Joe's Pellet Bucket
- ENHANCE: Food-grade pellets to enhance the flavor of pork, beef, chicken, vegetables and cheese
- Made in the USA
The next product we got for you is the Oklahoma Joe’s Wood Smoker Chunks.
This product is another excellent addition to our list for being a great performer! Oklahoma Joe’s Wood Smoker Chunks will offer you three different flavors. It comes in apple, hickory, and mesquite, you got to choose whichever you like.
The chunks will burn very quickly and will last for a long time. The infusing is going to create a great taste in the meats. You can use charcoal with a combination of these smokers’ chunks to create a fantastic flavor. These chunks can burn for a long time to make your grills cook for as long as you like.
They are ideal for cooking poultry, meats, vegetable, and fishes. Every ingredient used in this product is made out of natural materials. You will get 8lb of the product with 560 cubic inches chunks, which is an excellent option for everyone.
Pros
- Comes in three different products
- Easy to burn and last for a long time
- Creates a fantastic flavor with charcoal
- Comes in a pack of 8lbs
Cons
- A lot of people showed their disappointment due to not getting 8lbs accurately.
Wood Fire Grilling Co. Cherry Wood Chunks for Smoking
Cherry Wood Chunks for Smoking (10 pounds) - Bark-Free, Kiln Dried BBQ...
- 10 Pounds of Cherry Wood Chunks for Smoking
- Free of bark, insects or any other foreign contaminants. Just 100% raw wood
- Made in Certified Food Safe Facilities
- Perfect for adding smoke flavor to poultry, wild game, chicken and more
- 10 Pounds of Cherry Wood Chunks for Smoking
- Free of bark, insects or any other foreign contaminants. Just 100% raw wood
- Made in Certified Food Safe Facilities
- Perfect for adding smoke flavor to poultry, wild game, chicken and more
- Sourced and Manufactured in the USA
The final product from our list of the best wood for smoking beef jerky is the Cherry Wood Chunks for Smoking.
With this pack, you are going to get 10 pounds of wood chunks for your smoking session. The chunks are made out of cherry woods that are a favorite of a lot of people when making their smoke beef jerky. The chunks are all made out of 100% raw wood with no bark, insects, or any foreign elements.
The wood chunks are going to create the perfect smoking experience you will have. It will provide your food with a pleasant smell of cherry. The flavor is excellent for cooking poultry, chicken, and almost everything you want. The product is made in the certified food-safe facilities so you can be assured that they are safe for your use.
Pros
- Cherry wood chunks
- Comes in 10 pounds pack
- It will last for a long time.
- Does not contain any unwanted foreign particles
- Has a smokey flavor
- Made in certified food-safe facilities
Cons
- A lot pricier than the other products
Zorestar Apple wood chunks for smokers
Zorestar Oak Apple Smoker Wood Chunks - BBQ Cooking Chunks for All...
- Oak and apple wood chunks for smokers bag weight is about 15 pounds (+/- 10%). oak wood chunks for smoking
- The size of smoke wood chunks is 2-3 inches each. Due to their compactness our oak wood chunks are suitable for smoking meat in various types of smokers
- Oak and apple wood chunks for smokers bag weight is about 15 pounds (+/- 10%). oak wood chunks for smoking
- The size of smoke wood chunks is 2-3 inches each. Due to their compactness our oak wood chunks are suitable for smoking meat in various types of smokers
- Mix of Oak and Apple wood smoking chunks may be used for bbq in a charcoal grill or a smoker. Just use a few smoker wood chunks and they will provide the right amount of smoke to flavor the meat
- Chunk wood for smoker is 100% natural and safe as it does not contain any harmful additives
- Hardwood chunks are the best wood for smoking meat as they produce intense smoke and give a bold flavor to smoked food. Oak chunks are great with beef, pork and game meats
The next product will be the Applewood chunks for smokers.
This pack of smoke wood will come in a weight of 15 lbs, and that is a lot for the price it is offering you. The woods are known to be applewood chunks that are perfect for cooking or smoking your poultry, beef, pork, salmon, or anything that you need. The woods will give you a delicate smokey flavor that will taste the best with your food.
The size of the wood chunks that you will get is about 2 to 3 inches in measurement. You can use them for your smokers or even in your charcoal grills. The ingredients used to make these products are all-natural, and there is no added chemical to it. It is also safe for your health as it was treated with pesticides before storing it.
Pros
- Made of applewood
- It comes in a pack of 15 lbs.
- Has a smokey flavor
- All-natural ingredients and no chemical added
- Treated with pesticides to make safe
Cons
- The chunks are considered to be small for some people
What Is the Best Way to Smoke Beef Jerky?
The best way to smoke beef jerky is using mesquite wood chips. Since this type of wood burns hot and fast, the smoking process will be completed very quickly. And since it doesn’t impart a strong flavor on the food as hickory does, you’ll get the most out of your meat without sacrificing taste or quality. The downside is that mesquite can be difficult to find locally because not many people make their own smoked meats at home these days!
Popular Woods and Flavors for Smoking Beef Jerky
Mesquite:
Mesquite is a fantastic wood for smoking beef jerky because it burns boiling and fast without imparting any flavors or aromas to the meat. However, the downside of mesquite smoke is that not many people use this type of wood anymore since they can’t find it in their local grocery store!
Hickory:
Hickory has been used as a cooking fuel for centuries, and for a good reason: it’s one of the most popular woods when making smoked meats at home. It imparts strong flavor to the food, which helps balance out your cuts after you’ve marinated them overnight with spices like liquid hickory smoke, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, and paprika. However, if too much hickory is used, it can overwhelm the meat’s flavor.
Apple Wood:
Applewood is a popular option for smoked meats because of its sweet aroma and taste that only enhances your favorite beef jerky flavors like those in our Sweet Thai Chili Beef Jerky or Smoked Garlic & Herb Chicken Jerky. In addition, it burns slowly, which will allow you to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the entire smoking process without drying out any of your meat too much!
Alder Wood:
Alder is another popular option for smoking meats because of its delightfully sweet, earthy taste. It burns slowly and requires less maintenance than hickory wood.
Pecan Wood:
As one of the most expensive woods on this list, Pecan has a milder flavor that makes it ideal to use as an additive with other types of hardwood while cooking BBQ or smoked meat dishes. If you want your food to be sweeter without being too overpowering, pecan may do the trick!
Cherry Wood:
Cherry wood has a light, sweet, fruity flavor that will impart an orange hue to your food. It’s also one of the most popular hardwoods for smoking meat because it imparts a subtle sweetness and doesn’t overwhelm flavors as some other woods might do.
Maple Wood:
Maple is regarded as more aromatic than hickory but similar in strength to cherry or applewood, making it a great option if you want something with bolder smoke flavoring without affecting the flavor profile too much!
Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Wood for Smoking Beef Jerky
There will always be some things you need to consider when you are trying to purchase something. You probably will read through all the information about the product, but sometimes you need to look out of it and see if everything will be set.
We have already shown you our top five wood for smoking your best beef jerky. But before you can select, we will like to mention the few things to keep in mind during the purchasing.
Flavor
One of the first things you would love to consider before buying is what flavor the wood will offer you. The character is extremely important for making beef jerky, as the flavor is going to contribute to your jerky taste. It may be a minor thing for some people, but sometimes you need to make sure that you are getting a suitable one.
Measurement
The next thing you have to look for in the package is the measurement of chunks. Some of the products will come with more significant pieces, while others will have small and sometimes even sawdust. I believe it depends on the cookers themselves to choose, which will suit their cooking style the most.
Price
The next thing you should consider is the price. These wooden chunks shouldn’t cost you a lot, but some of the products will come with a high price. But there are other options available for you to choose as an affordable product. You better consider them.
Frequently Asked Questions of The Best Wood for Smoking Beef Jerky
How Long Should I Smoke Jerky?:
The amount of time that you need to smoke beef jerky will depend on the thickness and weight. If your meat is very thin or small, it may only take a few hours, while larger pieces might take up to 12 hours for full smoking.
What Makes the Best Wood for Smoking Beef Jerky?:
The best wood to use when smoking beef jerky is mesquite because of its heat and flavor. It burns hot, so pieces will be done quickly without sacrificing quality or taste. In addition, this type of wood does not impart a strong flavor on the meat, which makes it ideal if you like versatility with your BBQ flavors. Mesquite trees are difficult to find locally in some parts of the country, but they can be purchased online from specialty vendors!
What Temperature Do You Smoke Jerky At?:
To smoke beef jerky, you’ll need to set your smoker or grill at a temperature of around 225 degrees Fahrenheit. If the heat is too hot (over 300°F), it will cook rather than smoked, and if it’s not high enough, the meat may become dry before there are any hints of smoke flavor present.
Do the Wooden Chunks Free of Chemicals?
The ones we have mentioned are free of chemicals.
Can I Use Wood With Charcoal?
Yes, you can mix them up.
Conclusion
That was all from our guideline on finding the best wood for smoking beef jerky. We can only hope you will be benefitted from our article. If you cannot decide, we will tell you to go with Weber 17142 Cherry Wood Chunks, which stood out the most to us.
Let’s Check Our Best Pick:
Weber 17142 Cherry Wood Chunks, 350 cu. in. (0.006 Cubic Meter), 4...
- Cherry wood chunks
- Subtle fruity flavor
- Goes great with fish, poultry, pork, and vegetables
- 350 cu. in. (0.006 m 3) sized bag
- Cherry wood chunks
- Subtle fruity flavor
- Goes great with fish, poultry, pork, and vegetables
- 350 cu. in. (0.006 m 3) sized bag
