Flavor Chunks, Chips, and Pellets

When using charcoal, electricity, or gas as a heat source, wood of some sort must be added to the mix in order to flavor the meat. This is where wood chunks and wood chips come in. These can be purchased in varying sizes and types of wood almost anywhere smokers or grills are sold. The most common varieties are hickory and mesquite, but other woods such as apple, cherry, oak, and pecan can also be found if you look around a bit. I go into more detail on suitable wood for smoking later in this chapter. If you cannot find the wood you want where you live, consider looking online at retailers like Amazon.com.