Finding the right type of wood can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Certain types of wood are better for home and outdoor use than others, and this guide will help you spot the differences.
When finding wood for stove, oven, and fireplace use, consider the characteristics of each wood type. Are you looking for flavor, burn time, low smoke production, or something else? Maybe you’re looking for all of these traits at once.
Learn how to demystify the best wood for stove, fireplace, and oven or other cooking uses so that you can make the most of your purchases.
What Is Kiln-Dried Wood?
Kiln-dried wood comes from the same natural sources as other wood types, but the drying process looks much different. This type of wood goes through a special oven-like device called a kiln that removes most of the moisture and rapidly dries the wood.
Depending on the temperature of the kiln and the wood species, companies can produce near-perfect firewood within 30 hours to a few weeks. This is much faster and more precise than other drying methods.
Since the internal temperature of each kiln is so specific, you can rely on kiln-dried wood to have low moisture content. It also contains far fewer toxins and virtually no insects.
The Best Wood for Home Use: Why You Should Always Look for Kiln-Dried Wood
Kiln-dried firewood is the gold standard for wood-burning stoves, ovens, and fireplaces. It has all of the necessary qualities that make cooking and fireplace heating easy and effective in your home. As you browse wood types, keep this in mind.
Precise, Low Moisture Levels for Consistent and Hot Burns
Kiln-dried wood quickly and easily reaches ideal moisture levels (below 20%). Not only does this make the wood easier to light and catch fire, but it also gives you a better burn over time.
Thanks to the low moisture content, kiln-dried wood can burn longer, hotter, and more consistently. When you’re looking for wood for stove, cooking oven, or fireplace use, consistent burns are key.
Free From Pests, Mildew, and Fungus
Since firewood comes from trees that were once alive and out in nature, it can easily become infested with insects and fungi.
Mold, mildew, and pests pose health risks when burning firewood. Wood infested with invasive species can harm the local ecosystem by spreading pests to nearby vegetation.
Kiln drying gets rid of unwanted toxins and critters in your firewood. Since the wood reaches such low moisture levels during kiln drying, you don’t have to worry about mold or mildew. You can get a cleaner, healthier burn without worrying about releasing toxins.
Cleaner, Low-Smoke Burns
All firewood will produce some smoke, but when it comes to finding wood for stove, fireplace, and general cooking uses, you want a low-smoke pile. Kiln-dried wood has a notoriously low smoke output, thanks to the low moisture content.
If you’re using the wood in your fireplace, low-smoke and low-creosote output are both especially important. Smoke and soot buildup in your chimney can cause long-term ventilation problems and result in expensive cleanings and repairs.
Wood for cooking ovens should also be low-smoke to avoid creating harsh, unpleasant flavor profiles in the food. Anyone who has smoked meat before knows that the wood you use imparts specific flavors into the cooked cuts. You don’t want a sooty, ashy taste.
Kiln-dried wood is also better for the environment and your home. With less smoke and creosote production, the wood burns cleaner and, therefore, keeps the air quality intact.
Comparing Drying Methods: Kiln-Dried Wood vs. Seasoned Wood
Why not go with seasoned wood for stove and fireplace use? While seasoned wood has some benefits, it’s generally not the best option for cooking and heating your home.
Take a look at the key traits of each wood type to better inform your decision.
Drying Timeline and Availability
Seasoned wood is air-dried. This means it sits outside to dry naturally over several months or even years. The long drying timeline means seasoned wood is less readily available and isn’t very convenient for regular use.
Kiln-dried wood only takes days to weeks to reach optimal moisture levels. It’s more abundant and available when you’re searching, “wood for wood-burning stove near me.” If you need a reliable, steady supply of firewood, kiln-dried wood is your best bet.
Price
Seasoned wood often costs less than kiln-dried wood because of the production method. It’s very affordable for suppliers to season wood, so the price point is lower. However, you sacrifice quality and consistency when you opt for this cheaper option.
Kiln-dried wood comes at a premium price with more luxurious benefits. You can expect to spend up to 30% more for kiln-dried logs, but their advantages are well worth the extra money.
Ease of Ignition (How Easy It Is to Light)
Seasoned wood can take longer to light because of its higher moisture content. Since the seasoning process is far less precise than kiln drying, you often end up with more moisture in certain spots on the wood. This can make igniting the logs tedious and difficult.
Kiln-dried wood is known to be easy to light and doesn’t require much stoking to keep it going. This is because the moisture levels are lower and the drying process is more effective.
Burn Time and Consistency
Seasoned wood can burn for long periods at high temperatures, provided it’s actually reached optimal moisture levels. The problem is that since seasoning relies on outdoor weather and nature’s unpredictability, it often doesn’t. This means you get an inconsistent and short burn with more smoke.
Thanks to its precise and low moisture levels, kiln-dried piles catch fire quickly and burn very consistently. They burn long, hot, and evenly, which is ideal for both fireplace and stove or oven use. You can rely on kiln-dried logs for consistent burns.
Mold and Insect Contents
Seasoned wood often contains insects and random wet spots that can foster mold and mildew growth. This is another reason it’s sold at a lower price point than kiln-dried wood. When you use seasoned wood for stove, oven, or fireplace purposes, you run the risk of releasing toxins and bugs.
Kiln drying removes close to 100% of all mold spores, wet spots that contribute to mildew, and live pests. This means invasive species don’t have the chance to survive the kiln drying process. Your food and fireplace are safer from these unwanted guests.
Enhancing Food Flavors: The Best Wood for Wood-Burning Stoves and Cooking Ovens
When looking for wood for wood stoves and ovens, you should consider the flavor profile you’re going for. Different wood species impart unique (and delicious) flavor notes into the food you’re making.
Here are some quick tips for finding wood for stoves that produce wonderful-tasting dishes.
Bold Flavors
If you’re looking for a strong, knock-your-socks-off flavor profile in your food, these woods will impart unforgettable flavors into your dishes:
- Hickory
- Mesquite
- Walnut blends
- Pecan
With the exception of pecan wood, all of them create a savory profile in the foods you’re smoking. Bold-flavored woods work best for red meat (pork, beef, etc.) to complement their natural flavors.
Medium to Mild Flavors
If you want something distinct but not overpowering, these woods work well:
- Apple
- Cherry
- Oak
- Pecan
- Maple
- Mulberry
You’ll be able to taste the unique flavor profiles from these woods, but they won’t outshine the main dish.
Consider using these species for poultry dishes, fresh-caught game, and stronger-tasting seafood. You can also incorporate them into blends with stronger-flavored woods to create robust pork and beef flavors.
Subtle Flavors
For foods with more delicate flavor profiles, use woods like:
- Alder
- Pear
- Peach
- Apple
Most fish pairs well with these subtle but delicious wood flavors. Meats like salmon and turkey absorb the flavors well while maintaining their own unique notes.
Get Quality Wood Near You: How to Find the Best Wood for Stoves, Ovens, and Fireplaces
As you browse wood companies, you should keep kiln-dried wood at the forefront of your search. Kiln-dried logs will serve you much better for cooking and fireplace heating purposes than seasoned logs do.
Look at reviews and ask for word-of-mouth recommendations to guide your search. You want a reliable, trustworthy company that only offers the highest-quality kiln-dried logs, no matter the variety of wood you need.
At Lumberjacks, we only supply the best kiln-dried wood to our customers. Each pile goes through a rigorous quality assurance check before you pick it up or get it delivered to you.
With our convenient delivery options, you don’t even have to leave home to get the best quality wood. Enjoy experimenting with smoking meat, wood-firing pizza, or spreading warmth throughout your home via your fireplace.
Contact our team at Lumberjacks to place your order today!
