Looking for the right wood to use when smoking your turkey?
You’re in the right place!
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- Different types of woods to use for turkey?
- Best wood for smoking turkeys?
- And much more!
Below is a quick list of all our top recommendations. Keep scrolling to learn more about how to choose the best wood for smoking your next smoked turkey!
Turkey is not only meant to be eaten with stuffing. A smoked turkey makes a delicious dinner any time of the year.
Before you grab your turkey out, make sure you have the best wood for smoking turkey as too much smoke will leave your poultry tasting bitter!
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Our Top 5 Woods for Smoking Turkey
- Cherry
- Pecan
- Maple
- Apple
- Peach
What Are the Different Types of Woods for Smoking Turkey?
Just like smoking other foods, there are several types of wood available for smoking turkey.
Pellets are small pieces of wood that are ideal for smaller grills and smokers that would not have room for chips or chunks.
The next size up is wood chips. They are bigger and offer a longer burning time than pellets while still being small enough to fit in smaller grills and smokers.
Wood chunks are typically fist size chunks of wood, perfect for meats that need a bit more time in the smoker.
Wood logs can be used for both the smoke flavor and the heat source in larger smokers and offer a long burn time.
When it comes to flavors, if you can find it in wood chip form, it is available for smoking turkey.
However, poultry soaks up color and flavor when smoked and stronger woods will overpower the delicate taste of the bird, leaving it bitter.
Read More >> How Long Does Turkey Last in the Fridge?
What Do You Look for in the Best Wood for Smoking Turkey?
When it comes to the best wood for smoking turkey, you want something mild in flavor. Anything too strong (like mesquite or hickory) will take over the flavor of the bird.
Poultry pairs nice with sweet woods, so find a fruit wood or another sweet wood that fits your taste profile.
If you have a smaller smoker or grill set up, you will want to look for chips or pellets in whatever kind of wood you’ve decided on.
Otherwise, grab some chunks or logs and get ready to smoke a turkey!
Read More >> How to Smoke Turkey (The Easy Way)
Best Woods for Smoking Turkey Reviewed
Traeger Cherry All-Natural Hardwood Pellets
Traeger wood pellets are sourced and made in the US. Made from all-natural hardwood, you get all of the wood you need without fillers and binding agents.
These pellets burn slowly so your turkey can absorb all of the delicious flavors they offer.
Even if you’re not using a pellet smoker, you can put these pellets into an electric smoker or charcoal smoker!
Traeger cherry pellets are slightly more expensive than similar pellets, so if you have a smaller budget, you will want to check out some others on this list.
- Pros: Made in the US, made from all-natural wood, no fillers, no binding agents, slow burn
- Cons: Expensive compared to similar cherry pellets
Weber Pecan Wood Chunks
A cheaper alternative to cherry, Weber’s pecan wood chunks will give your turkey that slightly sweet taste you are looking for.
They are sourced in the US and are not treated with any oils, so you get all-natural wood.
However, you may get a noticeable amount of chips in the bag and the chunks can vary greatly in size.
- Pros: Natural hardwood, sourced in the US, not treated with oils, cheap
- More chips in the bag than desirable, chunks vary greatly in size
Western Premium BBQ Products- Maple
These are real maple chunks, perfect for that slight sweet touch on your poultry.
Western heat-treats their wood so it is free of rot and prevents pests.
These chunks are typically fist-sized but can vary in the packaging from chunks to chips. Larger chunks will need set aside to cut down (or saved for similar-sized chunks).
- Pros: Heat treated to prevent rot and pests, real maple chunks, fist-sized chunks
- Cons: Wood size can vary greatly from chunks to chips
Oklahoma Joe’s Wood Chunks-Apple
Oklahoma Joe’s wood chunks are made from real applewood with no filler wood for the ultimate apple smoke.
The chunks are good sized and ignite quickly so your turkey will be smoking sooner.
While the chunks are a good size, you can expect some smaller chunks in the bag and some chips as well.
- Pros: Made from real applewood, no filler wood, good size chunks, ignite quickly
- Cons: Smaller chunks in the bag, more chips than desirable
Western Premium BBQ Products-Peach Chips
Just like their maple chunks, Western Premium’s peach chips are heat-treated to prevent rot and pests.
They are real peach chunks, with no filler woods so you can expect all-natural peach wood chips.
The chips ignite quickly since they are already kiln-dried and have a good smoke time.
Chip size can vary per package, but you will not find dust or pellets in the mix!
- Pros: Heat treated to prevent rot and pests, real wood chunks, no fillers, ignite quickly
- Chip size can vary from small chips to larger chips
Final Thoughts on Which Woods Are Best for Smoking Turkey
Skip the flavor-heavy woods when you are smoking poultry. Since turkey absorbs the flavor and color of the smoke it is in, strong-flavored woods such as hickory and mesquite can be overpowering.
Sweet woods pair nicely with turkey, so grab a box or bag of fruitwood (like apple or peach) and fire up the smoker.
Related >> Firewood Storage Ideas
Want to learn more about grilling? Check out these helpful resources!
