What Is The Best Wood For Smoking Pork?

Pork comes in so many different forms which means there are plenty of cuts that I can put on my smoker. I started with smoking pork ribs, then graduated to pork butts and even pork tenderloin. However, one of the biggest questions I had to answer during this process was about the best wood for smoking pork. And in my opinion, nothing beats hickory when I’m putting any type of pork (like pork belly burnt ends!) on my smoker or grill.

Hickory delivers a good smoke flavor without overpowering the pork. It also is commonly used for smoking bacon so it always reminds me of bacon. And when I’m smoking pork, that’s never a bad thing. 

So whether I’m smoking a lot of pork butts for pulled pork, throwing a pork tenderloin to that perfect 145°F internal temperature, or any other cut of pork, hickory is my go-to. 

What’s The Best Wood For Smoking Pork (And Why Is It Hickory?)

When I’m smoking a pork butt for pulled pork, I want a lot of smoke flavor on that bark because I know that I’m going to have a lot of pork that doesn’t get exposed to the smoke flavor very much. And hickory delivers a strong wood smoke flavor. 

It won’t overpower your pork like mesquite would which is why I think it’s the best wood for smoking pork butts for pulled pork. It’ll give it plenty of smoke flavor without giving me a bitter end product. 

Hickory also does have a subtle sweetness to it. The fact that it’s been used to smoke bacon for a long time also helps enhance the pork in my opinion, and it’s why I think it’s the best wood for smoking pork ribs as well.

Alternative Woods For Smoking Pork

Now, just because I believe that hickory is the best wood for smoking pork doesn’t mean it’s going to be yours. And it doesn’t mean that it’s the only wood you can use. So let’s take a look at some alternative options to help you find your personal favorite!

• Oak – For me, it doesn’t get more traditional in barbecue than oak. It’s the first wood I ever used when smoking. If you love a good, clean, strong wood smoke flavor, oak is the way to go. 
• Apple – If you’re looking for a sweet factor, try apple. Like hickory, it’s often used to make bacon, so it works well with all cuts of pork. However, it has a mild smoke flavor. It works best when paired with a stronger wood like hickory or oak.
• Cherry – Like applewood, cherry delivers a subtle sweet wood smoke flavor. So that works well if you’re going for a sweet flavor profile on your pulled pork or other cuts of pork. But where it stands apart is that the smoke from cherry wood adds a beautiful red color to your meat. So if you’re looking to smoke some Instagram-worthy pork, try using cherry or adding it to your hickory or oak.

What’s The Right Type Of Wood To Use When Smoking Pork?

I talk about the alternatives to the best wood for smoking pork butts and other types of pork because so much of smoking barbecue in your own backyard is about your personal preferences. The right type of wood is also based on you and your type of smoker or grill.

If you’re old-school and love to smoke on an offset smoker, you’re going to need wood logs and wood splits (depending on the size of your firebox). 

If you’re smoking pork on a charcoal or a gas grill, you need to know the differences between wood chunks and wood chips to make sure you pick the proper type of wood. 

As for those of us who use pellet grills or vertical pellet smokers, make sure you grab some Bear Mountain BBQ wood pellets.

Final Thoughts

I think the best wood for smoking pork is hickory. It’s going to deliver a good amount of wood smoke while also bringing a bit of sweetness. It reminds me of enjoying hickory-smoked bacon which is always great when enjoying smoked pork of any kind.

But you should always feel free to experiment or mix and match. Woods like oak, apple, and cherry can work well when smoking pork, too.

What’s your favorite wood for smoking pork? Do you have a unique blend you rely on? Let us know in the comments!