How to Keep Wood Chips from Burning in Smoker

If you’ve ever tried smoking wood chips in a smoker, you know that it can be a frustrating experience. The chips burn too quickly, leaving you with little to no flavor. But there are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening.

• Soak your wood chips in water for 30 minutes to an hour before using them
• Drain the water from the soaked wood chips and add them to your smoker
• Add more wet wood chips as needed to keep the fire going without burning up all of the wood chips at once
• Enjoy your smoked food!

Wood Chips in Smoker Keep Catching Fire

One of the most common questions we get here at Smoker Fire Safety is “Why do my wood chips keep catching fire in my smoker?” There are a few different reasons this can happen, but the most common culprit is simply using too much wood. When you overload your smoker with wood, it doesn’t have enough oxygen to properly combust, which can cause it to smolder and eventually catch fire.

Another reason your wood might be catching fire is because it’s not fully seasoned. Seasoned wood is dried out and has a lower moisture content, which makes it less likely to ignite. If you’re using fresh or unseasoned wood, make sure to soak it in water for at least an hour before adding it to your smoker.

Finally, make sure you’re using the right type of wood for smoking. Softer woods like cedar and pine can create a lot of sparks when they burn, so they’re best used for kindling or starting fires rather than smoking meat. Harder woods like hickory and oak will create long-lasting coals that produce less smoke and are less likely to catch fire.

If you follow these tips, you should be able to avoid any issues with your wood chips catching fire in your smoker.

Credit: barbecuebible.com

Why Do My Wood Chips Keep Catching Fire?

If you’re wondering why your wood chips keep catching fire, it’s likely because of one of three reasons. The first reason is that the wood chips are too dry. When wood is too dry, it ignites more easily and burns hotter than wetter wood.

This can cause your wood chips to catch fire even if they’re not in direct contact with an open flame. The second reason why your wood chips might be catching fire is because they’re placed too close to the heat source. If the wood chips are placed too close to where the heat is coming from, they’ll ignite more easily.

Make sure to give them some space so they don’t catch fire. The third reason your wood chips might be catching fire is because there’s something on them that’s flammable. This could be anything from oil or grease to leaves or other debris.

If there’s something on your wood chips that can burn, it increases the chance of them catching fire. Be sure to clean off your wood chips before using them to help prevent this from happening.

Do You Soak Wood Chips before Putting in Smoker?

Soaking wood chips before putting them in your smoker is a great way to ensure that they’ll produce plenty of smoke and flavor. There are a few things to keep in mind when soaking your wood chips, though. First, make sure that you soak them in water for at least an hour; this will allow them to absorb enough water to produce plenty of smoke.

Second, be sure to drain the water off of the wood chips before putting them in your smoker; if you don’t, they may not light or may produce too much steam. Finally, if you’re using a gas or electric smoker, be sure to soak the wood chips in cold water; if you soak them in hot water, they could cause the burner to overheat and shut off.

How Long Do Wood Chips Burn in a Smoker?

Wood chips typically burn for about 30 minutes in a smoker. The specific time will depend on the type of wood, the size of the wood chips and the amount of airflow to the fire.

Should Wood Chips Burn When Smoking?

Wood chips should not burn when smoking. If they do, it is likely because the smoker is too hot. The ideal temperature for smoking wood chips is between 225-250 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to Use Wood Chips or Chunks

Conclusion

If you’re smoking meat in a smoker, you want to make sure the wood chips don’t burn up too quickly. Here are a few tips to keep them burning longer: Soak the wood chips in water for 30 minutes before using them.

This will help them burn slower. Use a foil packet to hold the wood chips. Make sure to poke holes in the top of the packet so that smoke can escape.

Place the foil packet on the coals, not directly on the flame. This will help prevent it from burning up too quickly. Only use a few handfuls of wood chips at a time.

You can always add more if needed, but it’s better to start with less and add more as needed than to have too much and have it all burn up right away.