I was reading through the BBQ FAQ and saw a list of woods not to use.
Most of which didn't surprise me but one did. SASSAFRAS. Why shouldn't
this wood be used? I would think it would impart a slightly sweet
flavor.....no?

wrote:
> I was reading through the BBQ FAQ and saw a list of woods not to use.
> Most of which didn't surprise me but one did. SASSAFRAS. Why shouldn't
> this wood be used? I would think it would impart a slightly sweet
> flavor.....no?

I've not known wood to introduce salty or sweet. Bitterness, tanginess...
yes. Turpentine, (softwoods) yes. Some wood more mild, others more strong.
BUT.... a big part of the equation is how much smoke does the pit master
allow the meat to be exposed to, and for how long.
--
Dave
What is best in life? "To crush your enemies, see them driven before
you, and to hear the lamentation of the women." -- Conan

> wrote in message
...
>I was reading through the BBQ FAQ and saw a list of woods not to use.
> Most of which didn't surprise me but one did. SASSAFRAS. Why shouldn't
> this wood be used? I would think it would impart a slightly sweet
> flavor.....no?


As I remember SASSAFRAS. from a young girl, we had to drink the tea made
from the roots every spring. Anyway, as I remember it stinks like all get
out when they burned branches after trimming the tree. I also think there
is a syrupy kind of residue from the burning. Could be wrong and I am sure
someone will tell me if I am. I know for sure about the stinking wood part!

On 17-Jul-2009, wrote:

> I was reading through the BBQ FAQ and saw a list of woods not to use.
> Most of which didn't surprise me but one did. SASSAFRAS. Why shouldn't
> this wood be used? I would think it would impart a slightly sweet
> flavor.....no?

Surprises me too. As a kid I cooked a lot of hotdogs over Sassafras as it
grew like a weed all over the place and was the most conveniently available
wood for a kid to build a fire. I never perceived anything evil about it.
It's
fair to say that it didn't kill me.

--
Brick (Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess.
They always run out of other people's money.
Magaret Thatcher, 5 Feb 1976)

On 17-Jul-2009, "Granby" > wrote:

> > wrote in message
> ...
> >I was reading through the BBQ FAQ and saw a list of woods not to use.
> > Most of which didn't surprise me but one did. SASSAFRAS. Why shouldn't
> > this wood be used? I would think it would impart a slightly sweet
> > flavor.....no?
>
>
> As I remember SASSAFRAS. from a young girl, we had to drink the tea made
> from the roots every spring. Anyway, as I remember it stinks like all
> get
> out when they burned branches after trimming the tree. I also think
> there
> is a syrupy kind of residue from the burning. Could be wrong and I am
> sure
> someone will tell me if I am. I know for sure about the stinking wood
> part!

Burning Sassafras is certainly aromatic, but I certainly would not put it
in the category of "Stink" any more then I would Hickory, Maple or
fruitwood.

--
Brick (Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess.
They always run out of other people's money.
Magaret Thatcher, 5 Feb 1976)

Ok, so it has a sharper smell for lack of the right word, nothing I care
for.
"Brick" > wrote in message
ster.com...
>
> On 17-Jul-2009, "Granby" > wrote:
>
>> > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >I was reading through the BBQ FAQ and saw a list of woods not to use.
>> > Most of which didn't surprise me but one did. SASSAFRAS. Why shouldn't
>> > this wood be used? I would think it would impart a slightly sweet
>> > flavor.....no?
>>
>>
>> As I remember SASSAFRAS. from a young girl, we had to drink the tea made
>> from the roots every spring. Anyway, as I remember it stinks like all
>> get
>> out when they burned branches after trimming the tree. I also think
>> there
>> is a syrupy kind of residue from the burning. Could be wrong and I am
>> sure
>> someone will tell me if I am. I know for sure about the stinking wood
>> part!
>
> Burning Sassafras is certainly aromatic, but I certainly would not put it
> in the category of "Stink" any more then I would Hickory, Maple or
> fruitwood.
>
> --
> Brick (Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess.
> They always run out of other people's money.
> Magaret Thatcher, 5 Feb 1976)

On Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:24:41 -0500, "Granby" > wrote:

>Ok, so it has a sharper smell for lack of the right word, nothing I care
>for.
>"Brick" > wrote in message
nster.com...
>>
>> On 17-Jul-2009, "Granby" > wrote:
>>
>>> > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>> >I was reading through the BBQ FAQ and saw a list of woods not to use.
>>> > Most of which didn't surprise me but one did. SASSAFRAS. Why shouldn't
>>> > this wood be used? I would think it would impart a slightly sweet
>>> > flavor.....no?
>>>
>>>
>>> As I remember SASSAFRAS. from a young girl, we had to drink the tea made
>>> from the roots every spring. Anyway, as I remember it stinks like all
>>> get
>>> out when they burned branches after trimming the tree. I also think
>>> there
>>> is a syrupy kind of residue from the burning. Could be wrong and I am
>>> sure
>>> someone will tell me if I am. I know for sure about the stinking wood
>>> part!
>>
>> Burning Sassafras is certainly aromatic, but I certainly would not put it
>> in the category of "Stink" any more then I would Hickory, Maple or
>> fruitwood.
>>
>> --
>> Brick (Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess.
>> They always run out of other people's money.
>> Magaret Thatcher, 5 Feb 1976)
>

I know that sassafras has a very sweey smell to it and can be used for
flavoring soda, tea, etc. I still don't know why it couldn't be used
for smoking though. Here is the link where I read it.
http://www.eaglequest.com/~bbq/faq2/8.html#8.4

I guess I'll just have to burn some for myself (not on the smoker) and
see what happens.

On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:35:13 -0400, wrote:

> I know that sassafras has a very sweey smell to it and can be used for
> flavoring soda, tea, etc. I still don't know why it couldn't be used
> for smoking though. Here is the link where I read it.
> http://www.eaglequest.com/~bbq/faq2/8.html#8.4

Sassafras has been banned as a food additive due to it's containing
cancerous/toxic compounds.

It's also used to make Exstacy. So maybe your brisket really *can*
produce orgasms. Move over chocolate - woman now want MEAT, and
lots of it.

-sw

On Mon 20 Jul 2009 04:35:13a, told us...

> On Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:24:41 -0500, "Granby" > wrote:
>
>>Ok, so it has a sharper smell for lack of the right word, nothing I care
>>for. "Brick" > wrote in message
onster.com...
>>>
>>> On 17-Jul-2009, "Granby" > wrote:
>>>
>>>> > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>> >I was reading through the BBQ FAQ and saw a list of woods not to use.
>>>> > Most of which didn't surprise me but one did. SASSAFRAS. Why
shouldn't
>>>> > this wood be used? I would think it would impart a slightly sweet
>>>> > flavor.....no?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> As I remember SASSAFRAS. from a young girl, we had to drink the tea
made
>>>> from the roots every spring. Anyway, as I remember it stinks like all
>>>> get out when they burned branches after trimming the tree. I also
think
>>>> there is a syrupy kind of residue from the burning. Could be wrong
and
>>>> I am sure someone will tell me if I am. I know for sure about the
>>>> stinking wood part!
>>>
>>> Burning Sassafras is certainly aromatic, but I certainly would not put
it
>>> in the category of "Stink" any more then I would Hickory, Maple or
>>> fruitwood.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Brick (Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess.
>>> They always run out of other people's money.
>>> Magaret Thatcher, 5 Feb 1976)
>>
>
> I know that sassafras has a very sweey smell to it and can be used for
> flavoring soda, tea, etc. I still don't know why it couldn't be used
> for smoking though. Here is the link where I read it.
> http://www.eaglequest.com/~bbq/faq2/8.html#8.4
>
> I guess I'll just have to burn some for myself (not on the smoker) and
> see what happens.
>

Sassafras is now considered to be a potential carcinogen.

--
Wayne Boatwright
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The more you eat, the less flavor; the less you eat, the more
flavor. Chinese Proverb

As bad as I hate to say, google it, I have heard that it can no longer be
used in root beer making. Some cancer causing thing. This is what I was
told when, being in the business of selling soda I asked why root wasn't as
good as it used to be.


> wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:24:41 -0500, "Granby" > wrote:
>
>>Ok, so it has a sharper smell for lack of the right word, nothing I care
>>for.
>>"Brick" > wrote in message
onster.com...
>>>
>>> On 17-Jul-2009, "Granby" > wrote:
>>>
>>>> > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>> >I was reading through the BBQ FAQ and saw a list of woods not to use.
>>>> > Most of which didn't surprise me but one did. SASSAFRAS. Why
>>>> > shouldn't
>>>> > this wood be used? I would think it would impart a slightly sweet
>>>> > flavor.....no?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> As I remember SASSAFRAS. from a young girl, we had to drink the tea
>>>> made
>>>> from the roots every spring. Anyway, as I remember it stinks like all
>>>> get
>>>> out when they burned branches after trimming the tree. I also think
>>>> there
>>>> is a syrupy kind of residue from the burning. Could be wrong and I am
>>>> sure
>>>> someone will tell me if I am. I know for sure about the stinking wood
>>>> part!
>>>
>>> Burning Sassafras is certainly aromatic, but I certainly would not put
>>> it
>>> in the category of "Stink" any more then I would Hickory, Maple or
>>> fruitwood.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Brick (Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess.
>>> They always run out of other people's money.
>>> Magaret Thatcher, 5 Feb 1976)
>>
>
> I know that sassafras has a very sweey smell to it and can be used for
> flavoring soda, tea, etc. I still don't know why it couldn't be used
> for smoking though. Here is the link where I read it.
> http://www.eaglequest.com/~bbq/faq2/8.html#8.4
>
> I guess I'll just have to burn some for myself (not on the smoker) and
> see what happens.

this is why root beer doesnn't taste the same now... but if you have parents
with the trees you can still get it... gotta die sometime, and somehow, Lee
"Sqwertz" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:35:13 -0400, wrote:
>
>> I know that sassafras has a very sweey smell to it and can be used for
>> flavoring soda, tea, etc. I still don't know why it couldn't be used
>> for smoking though. Here is the link where I read it.
>> http://www.eaglequest.com/~bbq/faq2/8.html#8.4
>
> Sassafras has been banned as a food additive due to it's containing
> cancerous/toxic compounds.
>
> It's also used to make Exstacy. So maybe your brisket really *can*
> produce orgasms. Move over chocolate - woman now want MEAT, and
> lots of it.
>
> -sw