Soaking Pellets / Chips before Adding to Smoke Tube

[whta]

Has anyone tried this? I saw some folks that questioned doing this, but no reply to their concern. On the BGE, I will soak my chunks sometimes before a long smoke - I feel they give a little more smoke due to the moisture content. Anyway, can I soak some pellets and chips prior to putting them in the smoke tube? I will mix and match wet/dry pellets/chips. I would not just load up soaking wet wood, and I would mix it with dry, especially in the top when I lite.

Just curious?

 

[Chevys10zr2003]

Has anyone tried this? I saw some folks that questioned doing this, but no reply to their concern. On the BGE, I will soak my chunks sometimes before a long smoke - I feel they give a little more smoke due to the moisture content. Anyway, can I soak some pellets and chips prior to putting them in the smoke tube? I will mix and match wet/dry pellets/chips. I would not just load up soaking wet wood, and I would mix it with dry, especially in the top when I lite.

Just curious?

The pellets will crumble apart into sawdust. If you do this I would only soak the chips. Even then, the water still may leech into the super dry pellets causing then to crumble in the tube.

 

[BNeal]

Pellets cannot be soaked. They turn to instant mush once they get wet, and then once they dry they go back to saw dust.

 

[Jim6820]

The pellets will crumble apart into sawdust. If you do this I would only soak the chips. Even then, the water still may leech into the super dry pellets causing then to crumble in the tube.

What @Chevys10zr2003 and @BNeal said!

 

[Lager1829]

Meathead at AmazingRibs has a good discussion on the topic of soaking wood Myth: Soak Your Wood First

 

[Jim6820]

The best technique I’ve found for using pellets in a smoke tube is to pack the tube tightly, alternating some pellets, then wood chunks, etc. When the tube is filled, you should have 3-4 layers of wood chunks and 4-5 layers of pellets. Make sure the tube is packed tightly, end-to-end, before capping it.

That procedure works for me and produces excellent smoke. I’ve done this in my gas grill for years and now in my RT-340 if I feel I need extra smoke…which is not often.

 

[whta]

Thanks for the replies. I "thought" the pellets were solid wood, not compressed sawdust...

 

[SmokeZilla]

Thanks for the replies. I "thought" the pellets were solid wood, not compressed sawdust...

The pellets for grilling are compressed sawdust or equivalent composition, most of the time. You may have come across solid pellets that are used for heaters/stoves and I would not recommend using them on a pellet smoker or grill. If anyone on this site used heating pellets on their grill, please share you experience(s).

 

[Thor8594]

soaking wood just releases steam, just put the wood chips in a tube and light it, it will smoke and last a couple hours.

 

[SmokeOCD]

Pellets cannot be soaked.

Obviously you don't own a 1070.