Why should I use your kiln-dried wood for cooking instead of regular wood?
Cooking with regular cooking wood is fraught with all sorts of problems that kiln-dried wood eliminates. This is because regular wood has usually gone through a months-long seasoning process, which doesn’t get the wood as dry as it needs to be for optimal cooking.
Seasoning, or air drying, rarely gets the wood below the 20% moisture threshold. Above that threshold, the wood is difficult to ignite, doesn’t combust fully and produces a lot of dirty smoke and creosote. As a result, the food it cooks is often not fully cooked and has a sour taste. Seasoned wood can also contain bugs, mold and fungus, which no one wants to cook over!
The kiln-drying process eliminates all these problems by getting the wood below the 20% moisture threshold and eliminating any lurking pests and mildew.
How does the cost of kiln-dried wood compare to regular seasoned wood?
We’re not going to lie to you. Our kiln-dried cooking wood is more expensive than standard seasoned wood. But the reason for that extra cost is the additional time and energy we put into the firewood production process. We take the time to carefully process and kiln-dry the wood because we know it results in a better cooking experience. So, you’ll be paying more for a higher-quality product, and we think that’s more than worth it.
Is kiln-dried wood safe to use in all types of ovens, grills and smokers?
Kiln-dried cooking wood is generally safe to use in all types of grills, smokers, wood-fired ovens, fireplaces and fire pits. However, it’s always a good idea to check the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific cooking appliance to ensure it’s okay.
What grills or ovens do you recommend for your cooking wood?
Our wood works great in a wide variety of ovens and grills, but we especially recommend using it in Santa Maria grills, Big Green Egg smokers, Alfa Ovens and Ooni pizza ovens. Our 16-inch pieces fit best in full-size appliances. For smaller, portable devices, we recommend purchasing 6-inch or 8-inch wood from our friends at Hot Box Cooking Wood.
How long does it take for wood to be kiln-dried?
Kiln-drying is an incredibly quick and efficient process. It takes only 48 hours in the kiln to get the wood down to an ideal moisture level. In contrast, it takes six months or more to traditionally season wood, and even after all that time, it’s usually still not dry enough.
How is the moisture content of the wood measured to ensure it is dry enough?
We measure the moisture content of our kiln-dried cooking wood with a moisture meter. A moisture meter is a small digital device with metal prongs, which you insert into the wood. The digital screen then gives us a reading of the moisture content percentage.
You can also check the moisture content of your cooking wood by purchasing a moisture meter online or at your local hardware store.
How should I store my smoking wood?
Although our kiln-dried wood comes in prime burning condition, it won’t stay that quality unless you store it properly. If you aren’t going to use it right away, you need to stack it neatly off the ground in a place that gets plenty of airflow and has some sort of coverage from the rain. But don’t worry if the wood gets wet, it should dry out in a day or two with plenty of sunlight and airflow.
How do you source your wood, and are there sustainable practices in place?
We only source our wood from trustworthy local harvesters, who practice responsible harvesting. They plant a tree for every tree they cut down to keep our forests green and healthy!
