Mesquite wood

smokerdude65 · #1 03-17-2009, 07:07 AM

My brother just returned from west Texas and brought me some nice mesquite logs. But, I'm not sure how long ago they were cut. Is there any way to tell by looking at it? I have had mesquite before and the bark had "broken away" from the wood. Is that any indicator? The wood he just brought me has not done that yet. How long should mesquite be "seasoned" before I use it?

Thanks

Zeeman · #2 03-17-2009, 03:35 PM

I had some that was seasoned when I got it. It was still harsh to smoke with and I did not like it that well.
I left it in the shed for about 3-4 years and now it is really nice and sweet. Great to smoke with now. I hear that it needs to season longer then most woods.
z

bigwheel · #3 03-17-2009, 04:07 PM

Hmmm might be. Know the bohunks in Texas burn huge mountains of the stuff that is deader and older than the hills in big bond fires then shovel and sling the coals direct under the meat. Now that is real bbq Bro. Will blow Aunt Myrtles Dress way up over her haid

Make a person chunk rocks at the meat from them offset creosote factories which passes for bbq pits in some circles.

bigwheel

jptexas · #4 03-17-2009, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokerdude65

My brother just returned from west Texas and brought me some nice mesquite logs. But, I'm not sure how long ago they were cut. Is there any way to tell by looking at it? I have had mesquite before and the bark had "broken away" from the wood. Is that any indicator? The wood he just brought me has not done that yet. How long should mesquite be "seasoned" before I use it?

Thanks

does the wood feel real heavy i cook with it all the time love it

smokerdude65 · #5 03-18-2009, 06:34 AM

Actually, it does feel a bit heavy and some of it seems to have a dark green ring around it near the bark.

PitBull · #6 03-18-2009, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokerdude65

Actually, it does feel a bit heavy and some of it seems to have a dark green ring around it near the bark.

It's still green then. Put it somewhere in the weather for a year or so.

cappy · #7 03-18-2009, 06:58 AM

Mesquite won't shed its bark very easily, even when seasoned. It can take years for free-standing dead trees to lose it; otherwise it has to basically rot.

It's very dense heavy wood, even when seasoned. The color also darkens when it's seasoned, becoming more red or brown on the cut ends. There may or may not even be small cracks that appear in the cut ends as it seasons. It can take longer than other woods to season, but it also lasts longer.

Zilla · #8 03-18-2009, 01:01 PM

Let it season for a minimum of three years in a dry, well ventilated area.

smokerdude65 · #9 03-18-2009, 01:49 PM

3 years!!!

aaarrgg.........I guess it's back to my :censored:pine and cedar for awhile..

bigwheel · #10 03-18-2009, 04:56 PM

I have burned a bunch of mesquite a heckuva lot quicker than waiting 3 years. Swear I used some about six months old one time. Don't recall any pressing objections to it. Old chum who always did well at cookoffs used a mix of purty young mesquite and hickory. Not sure the eggxact age but it come from Big John however long he ages wood before putting it out in front of the stores in bags. It was heavy and dense and nowhere near debarking itself. The boy spent years burning it down to coals and shoveling it into his offset firebox..then one day I think we got to drinking and he said *iss on it..and just throwed the wood in there and burned it. Hit 1st. Brisket at Terrell IBCA. Lotta good cooks make that one. From that point forth he quit preburning.

bigwheel