In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Hickory

Discussion in 'The Smokehouse' started by Andy8850, Jul 9, 2019.

  1. Andy8850

    Andy8850

    Joined:
    May 4, 2019
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    2,616
    Location:
    New jersey
    is all hickory the same or is some better than others for smoking meats? I recently took down and enormous hickory and was wondering if it’s suitable to use for smoking? Thanks guys, love it here....
     
    FatBoy85, WeldrDave, Chaz and 3 others like this.
  2. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    22,291
    Likes Received:
    134,670
    Location:
    Country life, Ga
    I don't know about the different types, but I do know it is a great smoking/bbq wood.
     
  3. DaveGunter

    DaveGunter

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2013
    Messages:
    3,859
    Likes Received:
    22,679
    Location:
    Far Away Ranch, Meadowbrook Forest
    I doubt you or anyone else could tell a difference, what you don't want to use is the bark.
     
    FatBoy85, MikeInMa, WeldrDave and 6 others like this.
  4. Andy8850

    Andy8850

    Joined:
    May 4, 2019
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    2,616
    Location:
    New jersey
    Oh ok, did not know that, thank you
     
  5. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,278
    Likes Received:
    48,415
    Location:
    The Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey
    :eek:o_O:eek:o_O You "found" a Hickory here in New Jersey? Dam man.... Where do you live? They are like finding Wooly mammoth's down here. To answer your question, "yes there is a difference" in the Hickory's but all of them smoke wonderfully. "LET IT DRY" contrary to what you may read! I've smoked 1000's of lbs of pigs, pork, ribs and Chicken with hickory. Clean the bark off before you smoke with it. The bark will give it a bitter, sometimes sharp taste. Use chunks about the size of your fist unless doing a whole pig. I like mocker nut for smoking but there is pignut and shagbark. again all smoke well but have slightly different tastes. "My" opinion the shagbark has a bit of a stonger flavor than the rest. Those are the only ones I've tried. I know there is a black hickory and a sand hickory, there may be more. I "very rarely" get a hickory and when I do it's usually from one of my friends who are tree surgeons. "NICE" score for here in NJ Andy!!! :yes:
     
    FatBoy85, Chaz, MikeInMa and 4 others like this.
  6. jrider

    jrider

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2018
    Messages:
    4,934
    Likes Received:
    33,773
    Location:
    NJ
    I wouldn’t say we have tons of it in Burlington county but it’s not terribly hard to find. I have a little less than half a cord of it in log length at the moment.
     
    FatBoy85, Chaz, WeldrDave and 2 others like this.
  7. Andy8850

    Andy8850

    Joined:
    May 4, 2019
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    2,616
    Location:
    New jersey
    We have a ton of hickory here in Hunterdon County
     
  8. Andy8850

    Andy8850

    Joined:
    May 4, 2019
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    2,616
    Location:
    New jersey
    Thank you for your input!! It is much appreciated!! Can’t wait to get smokin!!
     
  9. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,278
    Likes Received:
    48,415
    Location:
    The Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey
    Our soil is real sandy down here and thats why we don't see much, I'm down here at "exit 0"... Once in a while I'll stumble on one.
     
    FatBoy85, Chaz and Chazsbetterhalf like this.
  10. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    9,278
    Likes Received:
    48,415
    Location:
    The Communist Socialist Republic of New Jersey
    I didn't remember where Hunteron county was, I see your over at the "nicer" part of the state! :p The scenery only gets better over there. You have "real" woods where we have the pine barrens. I think the big reason we don't see certain trees is because of the crappy soil. "But" for what ever reason tomatoes thrive here! I usually get more than I can handle, wind up giving most away.
     
  11. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2016
    Messages:
    12,048
    Likes Received:
    85,830
    Location:
    Southern Worcester county
    I have a few hickory trees around. One in particular, I suspect will need to be felled. Unsure of sub-species.

    It is adjacent to two of those big oaks we had taken down, 2/17.

    I noticed last summer/fall, that it had sent out quite a few new branch shoots, in the lower third of the tree. Then this spring, the top third did not league out, like the rest of the tree.

    Guessing that it's 35-40feet high, maybe 7-8 inch towards the bottom. I'll leave it alone for now, but it's on my radar.

    Not a good day for pics. I will over the weekend.
     
    FatBoy85, WeldrDave, Andy8850 and 2 others like this.
  12. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2016
    Messages:
    12,048
    Likes Received:
    85,830
    Location:
    Southern Worcester county
    Top that appears to be dead. The two oaks were to the righy, where there's open sky now.
    20190712_165159.jpg

    Sprouts on bottom third.

    20190712_165325.jpg

    Leaves and bark

    20190712_165311.jpg 20190712_165337.jpg
     
  13. BHags

    BHags

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2016
    Messages:
    604
    Likes Received:
    3,064
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    FatBoy85 and Chazsbetterhalf like this.
  14. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2016
    Messages:
    12,048
    Likes Received:
    85,830
    Location:
    Southern Worcester county
    Nope. Gypsy moths left the hickorys alone. Plenty enough oaks and white pines they fed on.