What wood scraps can I smoke/BBQ meat with?

[schloff]

I like to start a fire with oak, reduce it to coals, then cut chunks of my peach tree and lay on top of that. The coals get the green peach wood cooking at a nice temperature. Perfect for burgers.

I also like to cook burgers over *gasp* cedar. Dry cedar makes a fantastic burger, so long as you don't cover the grill. If you cover it, the burgers are way too strongly smoked.

burgers are a cheap way to test out various wood species on the grill. I have not moved to cook a steak over cedar as of yet. I'm very particular when it comes to a steak, and if I don't do it just right, it goes to the dog.

[Hoover]

I meant wood to burn. I read (although no direct experience) that these types of evergreen, including cedar, gives a nasty taste.

http://www.firepit-and-grilling-guru...k-cooking.html

If you read this article cedar is used for smoking meats. Direct experience with this method.

[atgcpaul]

Wow! I may exceed my mercury intake.

Last weekend, using maple and cherry scraps (and just a few hickory chips)
I smoked some salmon filets I bought at Costco. Better than anything I've bought at any store except for some smoked salmon I bought at the Public
Market in Seattle. So much cheaper, too!!! I'm in heaven.

I used Alton Brown's recipe.

This is a going to be a good summer.

Paul