Bark

[tmogg]

.... no i mean wood bark. anyone have an opinion on leaving the bark on the logs in a stick burner?

i hear people say they remove it because it can have a bitter taste? does anyone have any real world experience with this actually happening? i have used some pcs with but not alot and do not notice anything. my latest batch of wood is almost 50% with bark on, and very thick bark. cooking a pig, brisket, and hens on saturday for a customer so i guess i will find out.

[BruceB]

Tom, when Mike owned his Lang we use to use logs with bark on and never really detected any bitter taste.

[SweetRacks&SmokinButts]

We use oak and have never taken the bark off unless it falls off during splitting. The only thing I've noticed with the bark is that it seams to have a much lighter ash. We've had a couple instances where it flakes off when we open the firebox and then we get a little debris on the meat. Nothing that has impacted flavors though.

[MICHIGAN SMOKE]

I never remove it, and I haven't had a complaint from anyone about a bitter taste. And I am my own toughest critic! If it falls off, then it stays off; but otherwise it goes in the box!

[tmogg]

thanks all. on it stays, makes it easy-er for me!

[Richtee]

If there's gonna be mold/moss/fungus or dead critters..it's in the bark. Unless it's full of holes...That said...will it make a difference?

I have not noticed any, but I will casually remove what I can easily.

[jim]

I was required to remove bark once before I went to a competition in Canada. Their customs officials told me that was the only way it could cross the boarder. I always leave it on unless it's got mold, or looks like its going to peel off anyway.

[jerry516planes]

The only Bark that has given me a bad taste was Wild Cherry.