Can You Really Taste the Difference? - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

sqiggy · 05-20-2019, 07:36 PM

About to throw some steaks on the grill and got to thinking. Is there any difference on the taste of the meat whether you use oak, hickory, pecan, mesquite, or even plain ole charcoal?
I would bet not.
What say you?

SmTx · 05-20-2019, 07:37 PM

Taste the meat not the heat #hankhill

oktx · 05-20-2019, 07:37 PM

Grilled no, smoked yes.

Quackerbox · 05-20-2019, 07:39 PM

Just cooked some steaks also. On gas.

They were superb. As where the fresh picked squash and dug new potatoes that also got cooked on the grill.

Wifes baked beans not half bad either. Think I'll make another whasky and hibernate

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Hunting4fun · 05-20-2019, 07:42 PM

Quote:

whasky

At this point you need to stop drinking or go full bore. Either get ****faced or not.

Hornfan · 05-20-2019, 07:43 PM

No doubt can taste mesquite in a steak

Aggiehunter08 · 05-20-2019, 07:46 PM

If you have decent taste buds YES, you can absolutely taste the difference.

Brute Killer · 05-20-2019, 07:46 PM

Definitely a difference between oak and mesquite on bbq. Steak, idk. All I ever use is gas at home and mesquite at the ranch.

cashcropper · 05-20-2019, 07:58 PM

If wood is well seasoned and not green and cooked over coals it would be difficult to tell. On a smoker or barbecue where long term smoke contact is made a person with a delicate palate may be able to tell.

Bruiser · 05-20-2019, 08:01 PM

taste the meat not the heat

dustoffer · 05-20-2019, 08:08 PM

The difference between gas and charcoal of all types is taste. I do not like gas-grilled meats, never have.

pilar · 05-20-2019, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruiser

taste the meat not the heat

And remember “ the heat of the meat, is proportional to the angle of the dangle “

IMO mesquite is a higher temperature burning coal And sears high end steaks and fajitas to maximum flavor

Oak for cheap longer cooking cuts

Hackberry or walmanized yellow pine seems to be flavor of choice EAST of the Brazos River

Edward F · 05-20-2019, 08:18 PM

I’ll typically smoke a 1.5” steak with mesquite until it reaches 120, then let rest for 20 min. Get the cast iron skillet hot and sear for 1 min on each side. Smoke brings any type of protein to the next level.

Burntorange Bowhunter · 05-20-2019, 08:19 PM

Always mesquite for grilled meats. It's a Texas thang.

Smoking bbq they can all produce similar results.

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Smart · 05-20-2019, 08:21 PM

Absolutely grilled and smoked I can taste the difference in woods.....

Smoked on all easily..

Grilled with mesquite, oak and pecan easily me although I rarely grill with pecan since its not as readily available to me as the others. Save it for the smoker. Mesquite is the preferred on the grill though...by far..

Mesquite is the easiest of them all to distinguish.

.

myway · 05-20-2019, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hornfan

No doubt can taste mesquite in a steak

Agree a 100%. If it’s not a bed of mesquite coals it will over power the meat in a hurry. I like a hint of mesquite but cannot stand it if that’s all you taste.

Smart · 05-20-2019, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quackerbox

Just cooked some steaks also. On gas.

They were superb. As where the fresh picked squash and dug new potatoes that also got cooked on the grill.

I agree. For quick easy cooks during the week on a well season grill, gas is good enough for us. I use wood on the weekends when I have more time to burn down some coals.

.

Tx_Wader · 05-20-2019, 08:27 PM

Quote:

If you have decent taste buds YES, you can absolutely taste the difference.

Yup.

Quackerbox · 05-20-2019, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smart

I agree. For quick easy cooks during the week on a well season grill, gas is good enough for us. I use wood on the weekends when I have more to burn down some coals.

Yes.

After work, shooting practice etc I ain't got time for coals.

The perfect steak cook for me is light the fire pit around 4. Have adult refreshments till about 630 or 7. Shovel coals from big fire pit to steak cooker. Cook steak. Eat steak.

Return to fire pit with more refreshments and a toothpick to tell lies and throw dishes in the fire

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Stan R · 05-20-2019, 08:37 PM

Name: IMG_5127.jpg
Views: 1523
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Red hot charcoal

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Low Fence · 05-20-2019, 08:45 PM

Mequite for sure. Plus it gives me a pounding headache almost instantly. No idea why but always does

Rush2Judge · 05-20-2019, 09:05 PM

Put me in the same camp as BoB and Smart. Mesquite for steaks. Pecan, Hickory and oak (in that order) for BBQ. I can also go with charcoal for steaks in a pinch. And yes, there is a difference.

rocky · 05-20-2019, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Low Fence

Mequite for sure. Plus it gives me a pounding headache almost instantly. No idea why but always does

I thought I was just weird. I hate mesquite smoked or grilled. It makes me nauseous.

RiverRat1 · 05-20-2019, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rush2Judge

Put me in the same camp as BoB and Smart. Mesquite for steaks. Pecan, Hickory and oak (in that order) for BBQ. I can also go with charcoal for steaks in a pinch. And yes, there is a difference.

I agree

Although sometimes I do mostly oak with a little mesquite for BBQ chicken.

N.DaWoods · 05-20-2019, 09:12 PM

I like them all except charcoal. Most certainly can taste difference in each.

Rush2Judge · 05-20-2019, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverRat1

I agree

Although sometimes I do mostly oak with a little mesquite for BBQ chicken.

Didn't think about chicken. I agree 100%.

bownut · 05-20-2019, 09:16 PM

I told my wife to taste the meat and not the heat once.

RifleBowPistol · 05-20-2019, 09:19 PM

Yes, there is definitely a difference in the flavor, depending on what wood you use. There is some wood you do not use, no matter what. Then some that will make any meat taste great.

DRT · 05-20-2019, 09:24 PM

I'm pretty much charcoal only at home. Gas grill hasn't been used in years. However if I have access to wood at the ranch coals are preferred. Mesquite isn't my first choice but is okay. Pecan, hickory and oak before mesquite.
I prefer applewood for smoking meat.

Gary

pilar · 05-20-2019, 11:08 PM

I had a 50 foot tall pecan tree fall on my house, and I guess people around San Antonio don’t like pecan wood because I couldn’t even give it away, finally had to hire someone to haul it all away, a whole 18 wheeler loaded down and another one full of ground up stuff
What a waste

Smart · 05-20-2019, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilar

I had a 50 foot tall pecan tree fall on my house, and I guess people around San Antonio don’t like pecan wood because I couldn’t even give it away, finally had to hire someone to haul it all away, a whole 18 wheeler loaded down and another one full of ground up stuff
What a waste

People love pecan wood when it cut and split for them.. Its the work they don't like..

pilar · 05-20-2019, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smart

People love pecan wood when it cut and split for them.. Its the work they don't like..

It was nice and cut up and stacked just not all split

stickman · 05-20-2019, 11:35 PM

Cooked up some steaks today, used one large piece of post oak and small chunks of mesquite to grill. I could absolutely tell the difference between most woods and charcoal grilled meats.

hully1029 · 05-21-2019, 12:45 AM

I prefer hickory above all.. also, if you aren't using a chimney like this (below) to start you charcoal, youre missing out. white hot coals in 15 mins and ZERO lighter fluid needed.. I bought a bag of matchlight for my FIL yesterday and all I could smell was lighter fluid.

rut-ro · 05-21-2019, 06:13 AM

Yes you can taste the difference, if you do not think you can taste the difference in the wood you are cooking with, try cooking using cedar.

Story: we had a pile of pecan, oak and mesquite at the lease. Another lease member went up one weekend with some fiends and had one heck of a bonfire with the pile and of course wood. We arrive with steaks to prepare to find out the wood was gone. We thought oh there is some cedar, we will just use that. We ended up throwing the steaks away and driving into town to eat one hour each way.

cva34 · 05-21-2019, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aggiehunter08

If you have decent taste buds YES, you can absolutely taste the difference.

and too many BUDS mean no taste at all LOL

Snowflake Killa · 05-21-2019, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hully1029

I prefer hickory above all.. also, if you aren't using a chimney like this (below) to start you charcoal, youre missing out. white hot coals in 15 mins and ZERO lighter fluid needed.. I bought a bag of matchlight for my FIL yesterday and all I could smell was lighter fluid.

Thought about buying one for a while just never think of it until I'm cooking.

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Burntorange Bowhunter · 05-21-2019, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan R

Attachment 957737

Red hot charcoal

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Correct.....then add tge mesquite.

Flame grilled steak to mediun rare.

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Gunnyart · 05-21-2019, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hully1029

I prefer hickory above all.. also, if you aren't using a chimney like this (below)...

Look up Alton Brown cooking a steak with just a chimney starter. Works great.

double bogey · 05-21-2019, 08:07 AM

With lots of the charcoal, I can taste chemical. With my last stick smoker, I could taste creosote in the brisket. Much less if I wrapped the meat after 4 hrs. or so. I couldn't seal that smoker up so temps were too hot with mesquite, but I liked the meat taste better. I like gas for the convenience for grilling.

RiverRat1 · 05-21-2019, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilar

I had a 50 foot tall pecan tree fall on my house, and I guess people around San Antonio don’t like pecan wood because I couldn’t even give it away, finally had to hire someone to haul it all away, a whole 18 wheeler loaded down and another one full of ground up stuff
What a waste

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilar

It was nice and cut up and stacked just not all split

You needed a big sign that said "Pecan fire wood for sale"

If nothing else they would have stolen it during the night.

Goldeneagle · 05-21-2019, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocky

I thought I was just weird. I hate mesquite smoked or grilled. It makes me nauseous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Low Fence

Mequite for sure. Plus it gives me a pounding headache almost instantly. No idea why but always does

Mesquite gives me indigestion for some reason. Other woods don't.

bloodstick · 05-21-2019, 08:31 AM

IDK how strong yalls taste buds are to be able to smell odorless lighter fluid, but if you wait long enough after using it, the fluid burns away completely.

I prefer the B&B real lump wood charcoal. It burns real hot and lights rather quickly. My dad used one of those chimney starters for as long as i can remember and it works great with just putting some news paper under it to light it. And every now and then if i'm feeling lazy, i will use the small pear burner to get it good and hot in not time flat.

Graysonhogs · 05-21-2019, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smart

People love pecan wood when it cut and split for them.. Its the work they don't like..

LMAO. Ain’t that the truth.

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cram369 · 05-21-2019, 09:22 AM

I can tell the difference between oak, pecan, hickory, and mesquite. Prefer any of them to gas, charcoal, or electric smoker, but not as convenient.

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Burntorange Bowhunter · 05-21-2019, 09:53 AM

I too must admit that as I get older I prefer the convenience of a gas grill alot. Needing to eat healthy and low fat has alot to do with it.

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Dale Moser · 05-21-2019, 10:02 AM

I can tell the difference in mesquite, the rest is just smoke....as long as we aren't using pine/ceder/etc.

lovemylegacy · 05-21-2019, 10:04 AM

Hickory gives steak a wonderful taste....that's why they cook with wood.

TxBowHntr · 05-21-2019, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hornfan

No doubt can taste mesquite in a steak

I agree. You can definitely taste the difference when steaks are grilled over mesquite coals.

sqiggy · 05-21-2019, 10:40 AM

So, most here are saying they can tell the difference on what a steak is cooked over, even if it's on the grill for just a couple of minutes. I'm not talking about smoking, but grillin, where the meat is on for only a short time.
Looks like we need to do a taste test experiment!!!

Cuz I just don't see yall being able to pick out which is which.

05-20-2019, 07:36 PM	#1
sqiggy Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Franklin, Tx Hunt In: Panola Co and Robertson Co	Can You Really Taste the Difference? About to throw some steaks on the grill and got to thinking. Is there any difference on the taste of the meat whether you use oak, hickory, pecan, mesquite, or even plain ole charcoal? I would bet not. What say you?

05-20-2019, 08:21 PM	#15
Smart Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Denton, TX Hunt In: Tom Green County	Absolutely grilled and smoked I can taste the difference in woods..... Smoked on all easily.. Grilled with mesquite, oak and pecan easily me although I rarely grill with pecan since its not as readily available to me as the others. Save it for the smoker. Mesquite is the preferred on the grill though...by far.. Mesquite is the easiest of them all to distinguish. . Last edited by Smart; 05-20-2019 at 08:23 PM.

05-21-2019, 12:45 AM	#34
hully1029 Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Collinsville, TX Hunt In: Grayson/Cooke	I prefer hickory above all.. also, if you aren't using a chimney like this (below) to start you charcoal, youre missing out. white hot coals in 15 mins and ZERO lighter fluid needed.. I bought a bag of matchlight for my FIL yesterday and all I could smell was lighter fluid. Attached Images

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05-20-2019, 07:37 PM	#2
SmTx Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Marcos/Hempstead Hunt In: Jim Wells	Taste the meat not the heat #hankhill

05-20-2019, 07:37 PM	#3
oktx Pope & Young Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wise County Hunt In: Wise County	Grilled no, smoked yes.

05-20-2019, 07:39 PM	#4
Quackerbox Pope & Young Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Magnolia Hunt In: The woods	Just cooked some steaks also. On gas. They were superb. As where the fresh picked squash and dug new potatoes that also got cooked on the grill. Wifes baked beans not half bad either. Think I'll make another whasky and hibernate Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

05-20-2019, 07:43 PM	#6
Hornfan Six Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dallas Hunt In: Throckmorton, Bridgeport and Collin	No doubt can taste mesquite in a steak

05-20-2019, 07:46 PM	#7
Aggiehunter08 Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: West Texas Hunt In: The World	If you have decent taste buds YES, you can absolutely taste the difference.

05-20-2019, 07:46 PM	#8
Brute Killer Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Llano. Hunt In: Pleasanton	Definitely a difference between oak and mesquite on bbq. Steak, idk. All I ever use is gas at home and mesquite at the ranch.

05-20-2019, 07:58 PM	#9
cashcropper Ten Point Join Date: Jan 2008	If wood is well seasoned and not green and cooked over coals it would be difficult to tell. On a smoker or barbecue where long term smoke contact is made a person with a delicate palate may be able to tell.

05-20-2019, 08:01 PM	#10
Bruiser Ten Point Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austin, Tx	taste the meat not the heat

05-20-2019, 08:08 PM	#11
dustoffer Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Seguin, Tx Hunt In: S/Central Tx	The difference between gas and charcoal of all types is taste. I do not like gas-grilled meats, never have.

05-20-2019, 08:18 PM	#13
Edward F Ten Point Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Round Rock Hunt In: Georgetown, Granger and Ozona	I’ll typically smoke a 1.5” steak with mesquite until it reaches 120, then let rest for 20 min. Get the cast iron skillet hot and sear for 1 min on each side. Smoke brings any type of protein to the next level.

05-20-2019, 08:19 PM	#14
Burntorange Bowhunter Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wimberley Hunt In: San Saba	Always mesquite for grilled meats. It's a Texas thang. Smoking bbq they can all produce similar results. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

05-20-2019, 08:37 PM	#20
Stan R Pope & Young Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Madisonville Hunt In: Madison and Colorado County	Red hot charcoal Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05-20-2019, 08:45 PM	#21
Low Fence Pope & Young Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Quitman, Tx.	Mequite for sure. Plus it gives me a pounding headache almost instantly. No idea why but always does

05-20-2019, 09:05 PM	#22
Rush2Judge Ten Point Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Plano Hunt In: Wood County	Put me in the same camp as BoB and Smart. Mesquite for steaks. Pecan, Hickory and oak (in that order) for BBQ. I can also go with charcoal for steaks in a pinch. And yes, there is a difference.

05-20-2019, 09:12 PM	#25
N.DaWoods Ten Point Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Austin Area Hunt In: Texas	I like them all except charcoal. Most certainly can taste difference in each.

05-20-2019, 09:16 PM	#27
bownut Six Point Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Palestine TX Hunt In: Anderson and Mills county	I told my wife to taste the meat and not the heat once.

05-20-2019, 09:19 PM	#28
RifleBowPistol Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Bastrop Co. Hunt In: Any where I can	Yes, there is definitely a difference in the flavor, depending on what wood you use. There is some wood you do not use, no matter what. Then some that will make any meat taste great.

05-20-2019, 09:24 PM	#29
DRT Pope & Young Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Fort Worth, Tx Hunt In: Jones and San Saba Counties and Missouri	I'm pretty much charcoal only at home. Gas grill hasn't been used in years. However if I have access to wood at the ranch coals are preferred. Mesquite isn't my first choice but is okay. Pecan, hickory and oak before mesquite. I prefer applewood for smoking meat. Gary

05-20-2019, 11:08 PM	#30
pilar Ten Point Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Boerne Hunt In: Sisterdale and el dorado , Jeff Davis, refugio/sinton	I had a 50 foot tall pecan tree fall on my house, and I guess people around San Antonio don’t like pecan wood because I couldn’t even give it away, finally had to hire someone to haul it all away, a whole 18 wheeler loaded down and another one full of ground up stuff What a waste

05-20-2019, 11:35 PM	#33
stickman Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: S.Texas	Cooked up some steaks today, used one large piece of post oak and small chunks of mesquite to grill. I could absolutely tell the difference between most woods and charcoal grilled meats.

05-21-2019, 06:13 AM	#35
rut-ro Ten Point Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Sugar Land Hunt In: Leon,Madison and Zavalla	Yes you can taste the difference, if you do not think you can taste the difference in the wood you are cooking with, try cooking using cedar. Story: we had a pile of pecan, oak and mesquite at the lease. Another lease member went up one weekend with some fiends and had one heck of a bonfire with the pile and of course wood. We arrive with steaks to prepare to find out the wood was gone. We thought oh there is some cedar, we will just use that. We ended up throwing the steaks away and driving into town to eat one hour each way.

05-21-2019, 08:07 AM	#40
double bogey Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Mesquite Hunt In: where ever I can	With lots of the charcoal, I can taste chemical. With my last stick smoker, I could taste creosote in the brisket. Much less if I wrapped the meat after 4 hrs. or so. I couldn't seal that smoker up so temps were too hot with mesquite, but I liked the meat taste better. I like gas for the convenience for grilling.

05-21-2019, 08:31 AM	#43
bloodstick Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2013 Hunt In: All over Texas	IDK how strong yalls taste buds are to be able to smell odorless lighter fluid, but if you wait long enough after using it, the fluid burns away completely. I prefer the B&B real lump wood charcoal. It burns real hot and lights rather quickly. My dad used one of those chimney starters for as long as i can remember and it works great with just putting some news paper under it to light it. And every now and then if i'm feeling lazy, i will use the small pear burner to get it good and hot in not time flat.

05-21-2019, 09:22 AM	#45
cram369 Four Point Join Date: Aug 2017	I can tell the difference between oak, pecan, hickory, and mesquite. Prefer any of them to gas, charcoal, or electric smoker, but not as convenient. Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

05-21-2019, 09:53 AM	#46
Burntorange Bowhunter Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wimberley Hunt In: San Saba	I too must admit that as I get older I prefer the convenience of a gas grill alot. Needing to eat healthy and low fat has alot to do with it. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

05-21-2019, 10:02 AM	#47
Dale Moser Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wise Cty Hunt In: Young Cty	I can tell the difference in mesquite, the rest is just smoke....as long as we aren't using pine/ceder/etc.

05-21-2019, 10:04 AM	#48
lovemylegacy Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mauriceville Hunt In: SETx,La,Il,Ks,Mo	Hickory gives steak a wonderful taste....that's why they cook with wood.

05-21-2019, 10:40 AM	#50
sqiggy Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Franklin, Tx Hunt In: Panola Co and Robertson Co	So, most here are saying they can tell the difference on what a steak is cooked over, even if it's on the grill for just a couple of minutes. I'm not talking about smoking, but grillin, where the meat is on for only a short time. Looks like we need to do a taste test experiment!!! Cuz I just don't see yall being able to pick out which is which.