At the cookoff, my wood choice caused a stir

Used pear wood on the brisket. Judges frowned, but I'd do it again.

3 comments

3 Comments

Pear wood is a bold move and I respect it. josephs49 is right about cherry being mild, so your choice is even more out there. Judges get stuck on tradition, but a unique flavor is worth the frowns.

wesley1392mo ago

Yeah I tried cherry once when everyone else was using hickory... got some weird looks but the sweetness really came through on the pork. Sometimes you just gotta go with what tastes right to you.

josephs492mo ago

Actually cherry wood is more mild and fruity than straight up sweet. It gives a nice pink color to the meat but the flavor is pretty light. If you really want a sweet smoke, you should try sugar maple or even apple wood next time. The fruit woods are great but they're subtle. Hickory is just the default because it's strong and easy to find, not because it's the best for everything.