February is an inconsistent month. It’s still cold and snowy outdoors. But you might start dreaming about outdoor family gatherings. It turns warm soon, and you can enjoy cozy nights, sitting around your fire pit. Now you can cook and taste your delicious dishes indoors. Electric devices suit the application. Shall you use wood chips or pellets for electric smoker? You can add some biofuel to the heating element. It lets you achieve a great smoky flavor that enriches taste of your dishes. What about the smell? It does no harm in a clear, well-ventilated space, like your kitchen. Which fuel to prefer? Let’s discuss it right now.
Why Do I Use an Electric Smoker in Winter?
Winter is a cold and relaxing time: there are not many fudgies in Michigan now. Heat-loving tourists might prefer warm journeys to Florida. Sunny California remains inviting in winter. Here, you can go skiing or skating. Pank snow, building a snowman with your kids.
Snowstorms don’t dispose you to long hikes or walks. But winter sports like ice fishing are available in Michigan in February. How do you cook your take? Your best smoker for fish should be always at hand. Choose its type carefully. Charcoal and gas devices emit harmful carbon dioxide to the environment. It causes negative climate change effects in Michigan.
Electric smokers are more environment-friendly. These useful devices are:
- lightweight;
- intuitive to use;
- safe;
- versatile.
Electricity is clean. It makes no mess. Wood pellets or chips produce virtually no fume and smell. Use inbuilt vents to exhaust steam and smoke from the chamber and your house. Gas vs electric vs charcoal smoker is more reliable. It works in rainy and wet weather. It’s simple, easy to clean and maintain.
Which is Better Wood Chips or Pellets?
Unlike fire pits, gas smokers are portable. They come with a propane/natural gas tank attachment. When it’s raining or snowing, it does the job.
But precipitations may impact smoking process. Your electric device needs only an extension cord and some biofuel.
Type of the smoker construction also matters. Vertical vs horizontal smoker is smaller. It works better in cold weather. Which one burns more fuel? I guess vertical ones do. They come with larger wood chip trays. Distance from the bottom to the cooking chamber is longer. What about biofuel? Which one to select? Let’s get into details.
| Factor | Wood Chips | Pellets |
|---|---|---|
| Material | dried irregular pieces of wool | processed and compressed sawdust |
| Size, “ | 1-2 | 0.25-0.8 |
| Convenience | fast to burn | controlled burn |
| Temperature to Burn | lower | higher |
| Smoke Flavor | deep | moderate |
| Content of Moisture, % | 30-50 | 8-12 |
| Cost/pound | affordable | cheap |
Are wood pellets the same as wood chips? Both fuel types consist of hardwood. But they are denser and drier. Therefore, wood pellets are highly efficient, intuitive to control. They don’t burn as quickly as chips. Pellets are slow burners. They suit cold and meat smoking applications.
Can You Use Wood Pellets in a Wood Chip Smoker?
Some electric smoker manufacturers, like Masterbuilt, don’t recommend using pellets. They ignite, burn slowly and hot, making a lot of smoke. Do you soak wood pellets before smoking? No, as they turn into wood mush. Filling your wood chip tray with pellets, you get extremely thick smoke and deep flavor.
Commonly, wood pellets are perfect fossil fuels. They consist of a waste product, such as compressed sawdust. Therefore, this kind of biofuel is:
- Renewable.
- Sustainable.
- Eco-friendly.
- Cost-effective.
- Convenient and comfortable.
Pellets burn not as fast as humid chips. So, you’ll need smaller quantities for a longer smoking period. They are easier to adjust the temperature. Compressed pellets burn cleaner than chips, producing less ash. This way, you can save money and effort.
So, can you use pellets instead of wood chips in an electric smoker? If you still want to do it, put them in a foil pouch. Stainless steel containers like maze or tube smokers do the job. These handy accessories are versatile, durable and lightweight. So, you can use them in a campsite, your backyard, balcony, or deck.
What Kind of Wood Chips Do You Use in an Electric Smoker?
Do you want to get great smoky flavor of your tasty dishes? Wood chips add incredible aroma to your fish or meat. Relatively small pieces of natural hardwood come from sawmills, logging or landscaping. They are rough at the edges, so don’t touch them with bare hands! Use a kind of shovel to load the fuel.
Commonly, chips impart a bolder, bitter aroma than pellets. In an electric smoker, built-in temperature control is useful. It keeps biofuel at a suitable temperature. Wood chips smolder and last longer. The type of wood also matters. Popular choices include:
- Apple.
- Cherry.
- Plum.
- Maple.
- Oak.
- Alder.
Fruit woods like apple, peach, or plum add muted mild flavor. They suit cooking light (white) meats and vegetables. Poultry, like turkey and chicken sticks, pair well with cherry smoking taste. Hickory, cedar or mesquite produces stronger, bold flavor. It works well on meats (like ribs), cheese, nuts or veggies. Alder suits smoking fish. It adds mild flavor, enhancing its tender, juicy taste.
How Often Should You Put Wood Chips in Electric Smoker?
Your smoker is a simple and intuitive device. You can season it beforehand, running it empty. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions. Some smoker models require covering inner surfaces with cooking oil. Newer ones don’t need seasoning at all. If necessary, let your electric device run for 2-3 hours and turn it off.
Let your smoker cool off before you start cooking. Now you are to turn it on and set the temperature. Preheating might be necessary. Additionally, you find water and wood chip bowls on the bottom. Setting on your smoker, you are to:
- turn it on;
- add chips to the tray;
- wait for 35-40 minutes to preheat the smoker;
- fill metal container with water;
- season your meat, veggies or fish;
- place them to the racks;
- control time and temperature.
You should add 4 cups of wood chips every 3-5 hours. It depends on the dish you are cooking. If you need to get intense flavor, re-add chips when necessary. Soak them, going to cook meat slowly. Slight aroma appears in less than an hour. So you can avoid refilling the tray.
Bottom Line
Electric smokers are lightweight and useful devices. In winter, use them on your balcony or covered deck. Cook delicious dishes safely and easily. Add some cups of wood chips or pellets. It lets you get a delicious smoky taste. Mix water with a flavored liquid like pop, juice, or beer: marry flavors to get your unique, delicious taste. Find great, traditional recipes or be creating. Most importantly, keep cooking and dreaming about warm outdoor gatherings. Spring is coming soon!
Video Review: Is it Better Wood Chips or Pellets for Electric Smoker?
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