On May 9, 5:24*am, Bobo Bonobo® wrote:
Bobby Flay was on the local NPR affiliate yesterday. *He seemed
clueless about the toxicity of cedar wood. *There's no question that
heating cedar releases toxic phenols. *He did provide one service
though, by coming out fairly strongly against charcoal lighter fluid.

No cedar planks for me, thank you. *I'll stick with aluminum foil.

This comes up now and then. The toxicity of cedar has to do with its
dust and flakes prodced in milling and woodworking and their
contribution to asthma and other pulmonary ailments, usually after
prolonged exposure. Cedar planks used in cooking salmon don't produce
such dust, hence no problem. More importantly, cooking salmon on
cedar enhances flavor, while cooking salmon on, or wrapped in, foil
does nothing for flavor other than possibly to contribute a nasty
metallic note. -aem