4 Cooking With Wood Tips

Learning how to cook with wood is essential for fishing, camping and hunting trips.

You will have a hard time outdoors if you can’t cook on an open wood fire.

You also have to know so that you can pass down the skills to the children.

Each time I take my kids out for an adventure, I make sure they return with an extra survival skill.

In this post, I will tell you tips for cooking with wood which includes:

• Use the right wood
• Maintain a stable temperature
• Don’t put a lot of wood
• Use indirect heat

Use the right wood

The first tip and the most significant is picking the right wood.

There are different types of wood for cooking.

Dense hardwood is the best for cooking. Most people go for the nut or fruit-bearing trees like apple, cherry and oak.

They burn hotter and longer, so they can save you a lot of money in the process. You should avoid softwoods that burn quickly.

When you are cooking for many people and for a long time, you will need reliable and long-lasting wood. Ensure your wood is seasoned and dry.

Dry and seasoned wood is the best because the timer will burn to red hot coals.

The coals will cook for a while even when the wood is burned out.

Wet wood will blacken your food and release very little heat.

The food will be steamed instead of being grilled. The wood you use will affect the flavour of the food.

That is why you always have to pick suitable wood to go with the food you are preparing.

Maintain A Stable Temperature

It’s crucial to maintain a stable temperature when you are cooking outdoor with wood.

That will ensure your food is evenly cooked.

Even if you are camping or grilling outdoors, the food needs to be amazing.

When you neglect the wood fire, your food will not cook evenly.

Other parts will come out overcooked, while other parts will be undercooked.

You need to regulate the temperature by adding or reducing wood in the fire pit.

Maintaining a stable temperature also ensures your food has a pleasant taste.

Do not add wet wood to the burning woods because it will slow down the cooking process.

When the heat is not steady, some foods will be poorly cooked.

But there are times when cooking with wet wood is preferred, like the smoking technique.

Understand the kind of heat your food needs and ensure your wood maintains that temperature.

Don’t Put A Lot Of Wood

One common mistake people make while cooking is adding too much wood.

Regardless of whether you are using wood chunks, chips or logs, you need to regulate the amount you use.

Start with a small amount and replenish the wood as they continue to burn.

Too much wood will not burn correctly.

You need enough air in the fire pit to sustain the burning process.

So when you put too much wood without arranging them, your heat will not be adequate.

Replenishment is needed until the cooking process is over.

You should stay close to the cooking place when using wood to ensure the fire doesn’t go out.

Use Indirect Heat

When you want to cook slowly and evenly, you must use indirect heat.

After lighting the fire, wait for the wood to burn for a while and start to turn into embers.

Then push the ambers to the side or reduce the number of embers in the pit before you start cooking.

Use the right tools to move the ambers to be safe.

Wood fire gets really hot and can quickly burn your food.

When it’s food that takes a while to cook, you will have to wait for the wood to burn out.

Wind will also move the flame from one direction to the next. That makes the heat distribution very uneven. Using indirect heat will be the best solution in such a case.

Cooking With Wood Tips

If you want to try cooking with wood, you will need a few hacks to get you started.

These are the most vital tips you must know.

1. Use the right wood
2. Maintain a stable temperature
3. Don’t put a lot of wood
4. Use indirect heat