I'm done with mesquite after it turned my brisket into charcoal.

Ruby Smith · 2026-03-05T14:16:36.255853+00:00

Using too much harsh wood always kills the taste.

Ever try oak or applewood instead?

5

Second time I used mesquite the smoke was so thick my neighbor called the fire department. @theaw65 is onto something with the applewood, it's like the difference between a campfire and actual cooking. That bitter mesquite taste just coats your mouth and ruins everything. I switched to a mix of oak and cherry for my last brisket and it was a totally different meal. Some woods are just too strong for slow cooking, they overpower the meat instead of helping it.

1

max9635mo ago

Man, mesquite is the worst for that lol. Tried it once on some ribs and it was like eating a tree, completely ruined them. Applewood and cherry are way better, they give you that sweet smoke without beating up the meat. Honestly some people just use mesquite because they think more smoke is always better, but they're wrong.

1