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How to Choose Wood Pellets
If you've spent any time researching pellet grills, you've probably seen the variety of flavored woods that serve as their fuel. Wood pellets are a biofuel made from compressed sawdust and leftover wood chips from lumber processing, which are then bound with small amounts of moisture.
But how do you know what meats works best with mesquite, or which foods should be paired with pecan? There's a wide world of wood pellets out there and you can even mix flavors together! We've broken down what stands out about each of them, complete with a handy chart that indicates which types of pellets bring out the best in certain foods. If you have any more questions about pellets, give our experts a call at (877) 743-2269. They can tell you their favorite blends and brands to guide you on your way to smoking success.
Types of Wood Pellets
- Pellet:
- Description:
- Alder
- An earthy taste with a hint of sweetness makes this the perfect match for delicate flavors like seafood and poultry.
- Apple
- Subtly sweet with a mild, fruity flavor—this pellet flavor goes great with pork and poultry.
- Cherry
- Not only does this complement pork well, but cherry also help other meats achieve a great color.
- Competition
- This blend includes maple, cherry, and hickory so they work well with almost anything.
- Hickory
- The smoky bacon profile in hickory is a bold flavor that will level up your beef, pork, and poultry.
- Maple
- Maple brings out the best in pork and poultry, leaving a sweet and mild wood flavor with some light smokiness.
- Mesquite
- A staple of Texas BBQ, these pellets are bold and sweet with a slight piney flavor that goes well with beef and poultry—especially game birds.
- Oak
- Oak pellets have a well-balanced smoke flavor that’s bolder than cherry and apple but much milder than mesquite or hickory, which is why most competition cooks use it for brisket.
- Pecan
- Lots of people associate it with baking, but pecan’s nutty smoke flavor adds a little kick to beef, pork, and poultry.
What is Each Wood Pellet Good For?
| Beef | Pork | Poultry | Seafood | Vegetables | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alder | — | — | Yes | Yes | — |
| Apple | — | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Cherry | — | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Competition | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hickory | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Maple | — | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Mesquite | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Oak | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Pecan | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — |
