Let's spend a couple of minutes answering some quick questions about how to grill using wood chips on your charcoal grill or smoker: ►What are wood chips? Small pieces of hardwood used for additional smoke flavor when grilling or smoking. ►Why should you use wood chips? They are a simple way to add smoke flavors when grilling directly over the coals. Grilling with wood chips adds quite a bit of smoke flavor to foods that you'd be grilling for 10-20 minutes or so. You'll pick up that wood-fired flavor on your food quickly. ►How can you use wood chips on your charcoal grill? Heat up your charcoal until it's glowing. Sprinkle them on the hot embers, careful not to pile them all together. They will start to burn immediately, creating a nice smoke. Grill with the wood chips right away. ►Should I soak the wood chips? We recommend NOT to soak them. They will last longer, but you'll create lots of steam and potentially lower the temperature of your embers as well. Your food may be close to fully cooked by the time the steam evaporates and start to smolder.
