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Cooking Outdoors

What grill plank wood do you prefer?

8 years ago

I tried using planks for the first time a couple weeks ago. The planks we had were a few years old. I soaked them a long time. My husband didn't notice much extra flavor in his steak tips but I noticed it in a couple bites of my tofu. Did I fail to cook long enough? Were the planks too old? Did I soak the planks too long? Was steak the wrong thing, maybe only fish work this way?

I mostly see cedar planks. But sometimes see a few mixed wood types that include hickory, maple, or alder. I didn't love the cedar flavor but I love hickory. Do you get better flavor from maple and hickory? Why are grill planks all about cedar?

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Comments (2)

Steve J
8 years ago
Dont use cedar planks, or any kind of planks for steak or beef. The whole reason for grilling is getting the direct flame onto the meat. I’ve only ever used planks for salmon, but i suppuse it could be useful for other things. Also, when you cook with planks, start them on one side until they start to char. Then flip the planks and put your fish or whatever (not beef) on them and cook.

the main reason that planks aremostly cedar is because thats what works best with salmon, they just pair well together, and thats mainly what planks are used for.. If you want to impart smokey flavor into beef, then use chunks or chips and put your beef directly on the grates.
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
8 years ago
Steve J is right. Cedar is for Salmon. You dont have to spend a fortune to get them either. Just go to a big box store like Home Depot, Lumber dept, and look for UNTREATED Cedar fencing. Buy a couple and HD will saw it in 14" lengths for free.
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