No, I'm a CA tree hugger & would never use Western Red Cedar for anything trivial like cooking my salmon w/o being positive it didn't come from old growth trees. Nor do we use cedar for outdoor furniture, fencing, decking, etc. Cedar roofing is not common here but if it were...I wouldn't use it for roofing either. There are other alternatives available. Basically, we stopped using cedar while we were still in CO back in the '80s.

/tricia

Here is a link that might be useful: Western Red Cedar

Have never tried that. We're simple minded eaters :-). Using the outdoor grill is the most adventurous thing that we've done! LOL

I saw it on "Unwrapped" last night that some shop used cedar wood to smoke their deli meat. I am sure that gave the meat better flavor. But I make no attempts doing that at home.

Al

Do I woot?...... No (interesting site though).... but I do tweet. hehe

Planked whitefish is a major restaurant item around here. Wood imparts a wonderful flavor. The planks are available at many stores, I keep meaning to but some.
Do you think a quick dip in mild bleach rinse would keep them sanitary?

Nancy

I use cedar wood, soak it for a half hour before using.
It gives salmon a great flavor. Make sure you buy your planks at the grocery store or that it says it for cooking.

Linda

I have a set of planks that were given to me a couple of years ago in a gift basket, I've never used them! I really should put them to good use. What else besides salmon would be recommended?

And geez Tricia, I guess most of the northern New England states must offend you to the point of senselessness since many people I know up there still use cedar shakes on their homes for siding.

Alexa

The cedar plank industry should come to north Texas and cut down every last cedar tree that gives my husband allergic fits every spring. They don't have to make cedar planks from million year old trees, you know....

No woot'ing here. We have a fire pit in the back yard. Limbs that have been trimmed from the apple, cherry, plum and pear trees get tossed on the fire (not all together) when we are cooking out there. I canâÂÂt even describe how good the flavor is.

Well guess what? I also received cedar planks in a secret sister gift exchange about 2 yrs ago and they are still in the package; never used.

I think I'll get them out and give it a try!

Tricia? Wow...... just sayin.

I LOVE cedar planked salmon, but personally I don't grill, my DH only likes salmon from a can and made into patties so...I pay a fairly good price for it when we eat out.

jude

You can cedar plank about anything...chicken, thin cut pork chops....and they say veggies, but I haven't done it.
The planks get hot to the point of charring a bit....so I don't think clorox is necessary

It doesn't do much for me on a gas grill. I'm fine just cooking directly or on a bbq grill vented tray. It maybe different on a charcoal grill,but for gas, meh?

As to Woot, I don't. I know that they have some great deals, but I don't want to be tempted!

Great site, though I didn't order the planks. Thinking about it though. Showed a house today with a cedar closet. Smelled great. The use of cedar doesn't really bother me, as it is a renewable resource. Yeah, it will take forever, but I am thinking of my future grandchildren's grandchildren.
Jo

Salmon is fantastic grilled on a plank (even with a propane grill). Slather the fish with a nice rub or gooey marinade and close the top of the BBQ. The edges of the plank smolder and impart a great smokey flavor. I second the warning to make sure you are using food grade and not treated lumber.

Michaelp

I wonder what chemicals/compounds are in cedar that prevent rot, insects, etc?

dcarch

The resin and sap which impart the flavor...
Don't you wonder what it is in bay leaves that repels cereal moths?
Redwood lasts even longer than cedar....and oak also is rot resistant.....why?
Why does alcohol kill germs? Why do sunflower seeds inhibit other plant growth? Why do only certain plants grow under a black walnut tree? what is Juglone?
So many questions so little time But not sure what these things have to do with cooking.
Linda C

I have tried and enjoyed many woods for BBQ and smoking. Apple, hickory, plum, pecan, etc. but I have stayed away from woods that repel everything, such as cedar, red wood, camphor, etc.

Just my own superstition.

dcarch

Do you use bay leaves in your stews and pot roast? do you eat black walnuts, orange marmalade, with peel...cakes with grated lemon rind?
All those things repel things.
No mesquite smoke?
Well we all have our likes and dislikes....but this thread is about Woot and cedar planks for cooking, so perhaps things we wont use for cooking could be another thread.

Dcarch:
Is that superstition or intuition ??? lol!

LindaC:
" so perhaps things we wont use for cooking could be another thread ".

You are always giving your opinions about dislikes on Posts, why should this go to another Post ?

I wouldn't use Cedar Flakes in a stew either.

Is it time to get a good seat and some popcorn again?

I love Woot. I buy lots for my library.....kids' videos, DVD player,mp3 players and little digital cameras for prizes. I got two pedometers in the mail today (2fer Tuesday- seven bucks). Ebay daily deals is fun, too.

I saw those cedar planks. I figured we have cedar rounds in the woodshed and DH could just split some planks like shingles if we ever want to grill on a plank (which now I want to try, even though I couldn't imagine grilling salmon on my kindling, hehe).

Heck, I don't even know what woot is, so I clearly don't, LOL.

I don't bother to grill on any kind of wood, because I don't grill. I did have some nice cedar planked salmon in Traverse City, with some kind of cherry glaze, it was very good but not worth what they charged for it.

I think if I were inclined to use cedar planks for grilling I'd just go to the lumberyard and ask them to cut me some untreated 1x4 into pieces, much like others have just gotten stone to line ovens instead of buying regular baking stones.

Annie

Ah yes....but I bought 12 board feet of clear 7 inch wide cedar planks...delivered for just under $20...don't think the lumber yard can do that. The last time I had to buy a 12 foot cedar 1 by 4 for deck repair is was more than $30.
I had the planks sent to my son. They entertain a lot and I am sure that in the near future there will be a backyard party for 5 or 6 couples featuring planked something or other.
This is the guy who cooked 3 turkeys last Thanksgiving, one in the oven, one fried and one smoked....and the year before that he fried turkeys for 4 of his friends....in addition to the one for us.
I only hope I can be included in a salmon dinner!

My father used to cook something he called "planked steak"...can't remember just how he did it....but it seems he put a piece of meat on a plank and put it under the broiler....don't remember it being turned.
Anyone ever cook anything but salmon on a plank?
Linda C