Which Wood Pellets to Choose? Selection of Wood Pellets
The principle of the wood pellet barbecue relies particularly on the quality of the pellets and essences used. These two criteria determine the flavor of the food and the overall taste experience. It can even be said that wood pellets bring another level to barbecuing: the pleasure of fragrant cooking. But before buying pellets, it’s important to understand which ones to choose, especially for an ideal food-wood pairing and the pleasure of your guests.
How Does a Wood Pellet Barbecue Work?
Like a pellet heating stove, a wood pellet barbecue operates by burning these pellets and the heat generated. In the case of the barbecue, 4 steps are necessary:
- First, fill the hopper (the reservoir) with a bag of pellets.
- The pellets are then conveyed to the combustion chamber via an auger.
- The combustion begins, and the heat develops with a fan.
- To adjust the temperature precisely, the necessary amount of pellets entering the system is automatically managed by the internal computer.
Different Wood Essences and Their Pairings with Foods
In addition to quality pellets, a successful barbecue requires informed choices of wood essences that give the food a truly new flavor, far from the charred emissions of charcoal. Here, wood, this authentic material, is respected to offer meats and fish exceptional and new flavors for those who have never tried a pellet barbecue. If you have friends or family unfamiliar with this cooking method, it will truly open up a world of possibilities!
In the traditional pellet trade, several essences are prominent:
- Beech
- Oak
- Hickory (or white walnut) from North America
- Cherry
- Apple
- Maple
- Mesquite (from the Southwest United States and mesquite)
- Pecan (again from North America)
- As well as blends
A gourmet brand like Montvel, on the other hand, has chosen both classic and more elaborate essences for a broader and bolder variety of tastes:
Beech pellets have the ability to flavor foods with a subtle smoky, slightly woody taste, while providing a golden color to the cooking that will delight enthusiasts.
This wood essence pairs with all types of:
- Meats
- Fish
- Vegetables
- Cheeses
- Desserts
In general, there are barbecue pellet essences that are either robust or subtle. These two possibilities, in addition to the differences in flavor between the essences, allow for very interesting food pairings:
- Large cuts of red meat particularly appreciate robust flavors to enhance their strength and reveal their character, such as with vine shoot or oak.
- Conversely, poultry at low temperature, for example, appreciates wood pellets with subtle but always fragrant flavors, with wild cherry, for instance.
Note that it is primarily the quality of the pellets and the meat that guarantees a great tasting and exceptional meal around the barbecue. Pellets bring this advantage that exists nowhere else in this field: an aromatic palette that leads to a new barbecue experience.
This is complemented by adapting the temperature to obtain a stronger concentration of fragrance. Thus, the lower the temperature of the wood pellet barbecue, the more it generates smoke and perfumes the food with the authentic flavor of wood fire.
What are the Quality Criteria for Barbecue Wood Pellets?
In the field of wood pellets, whether for barbecuing or heating, there are significant disparities in quality due to:
- Additives that may be added.
- The origin of the wood.
- Differences in wood quality.
On this last point, pellets made from 100% hardwood and deciduous wood offer both better performance in barbecuing and better flavors.
Furthermore, it is important to choose pellets whose wood comes from sustainably managed forests. This is a crucial indicator for enjoying pellet barbecue meals without a negative impact on the environment. Similarly, this certification also covers health aspects, as the woods are pure and not added with chemicals.
In addition, the geographical origin matters: choosing local French wood for your barbecue pellets is a responsible approach both ecologically and for the economy of the territory.
Why are Heating Pellets Not Suitable for Barbecue?
Wood pellets used for heating are not at all suitable for pellet barbecues. Their composition is not guaranteed to be 100% wood because, to provide more calorific power, manufacturers add additives (sometimes up to 80% of the total composition), glues, and binders that are toxic for any other use, especially for food.
Moreover, the woods used, often conifers, are not suitable for the flavors sought with strong aromatic essences. For example, pine is not a wood that allows for a tasty barbecue.
Finally, the granulation process for heating pellets is at a high temperature, which affects the quality and, consequently, the taste. On the contrary, a low-temperature granulation process preserves the aromas of the wood.
For your safety, always ensure to choose barbecue pellets that are labeled as “food grade” to avoid taste disappointments or toxicity. It’s best to turn to high-quality, certified pellets that provide exceptional flavors as well as perfect sanitary safety.
For a unique pellet barbecue cooking experience, Montvel brings its high-end and customized barbecue technology as well as its own pellets.
100% originating from France, from sustainably managed forests in Allier and Normandy, Montvel’s pellets also come from surplus wood from the timber industry, meaning they wouldn’t have been used without this new approach.
Furthermore, without additives, glues, or binders, Montvel’s wood pellets are made using a low-temperature granulation process that preserves the aromatic qualities of the wood and its unique flavors. Thanks to their high level of quality, Montvel wood pellets produce blue smoke during your low-temperature cooking sessions, this healthy and intense smoke, characteristic of a flavorful barbecue. Another major advantage with the Montvel barbecue is the ability to change pellets as easily as changing your mind, with a quick management system for the hopper that empties in an instant.
