Smoke atlas

Wood smoke map.

Smoke is seasoning, perfume, and weather. Use these pairings as a starting point, then adjust for your own cooker and palate.

Gentle

Apple

Sweet, round, and forgiving. Great with pork ribs, chicken, turkey, pumpkin, onions, and pork belly.

Bright

Cherry

Fruity smoke with beautiful mahogany colour. Loves duck, ham, lamb ribs, salmon, and beetroot.

Classic

Hickory

Bold bacon-like smoke. Use with beef ribs, pork shoulder, brisket, beans, and strong sauces.

Deep

Oak

Steady and balanced. A dependable base smoke for brisket, lamb shoulder, beef cheeks, and sausages.

Sharp

Mesquite

Hot, intense, and easy to overdo. Best for quick beef cooks, skirt steak, and short sears.

Herbal

Olive / grapevine

Mediterranean character for lamb, chicken, seafood, capsicum, zucchini, and lemony marinades.

Smoke rules

Three small warnings.

Dry is not dead.

Soaked chunks usually steam first and smoke later. For cleaner smoke, add dry chunks to a stable coal bed.

Thin blue wins.

Heavy white smoke can taste harsh. Open airflow until the fire burns clean, then settle the vents.

Less is a flavour.

Start with one or two chunks. You can add smoke next time; you cannot remove it from dinner.