The Best Woods for Cooking: What to Use for Pizza Ovens & BBQs

When it comes to cooking with fire, the type of wood you use makes all the difference. Whether you're firing up a wood-fired pizza oven or grilling on a BBQ, choosing the right wood can enhance the flavour, efficiency, and overall experience of your cooking. Here’s a guide to the best woods for cooking and how to use them.

Why Wood Choice Matters for Cooking

Different woods burn at different temperatures, impart unique flavours, and produce varying levels of smoke. Hardwoods like oak and beech provide a steady, hot burn, while fruitwoods like apple and cherry add a touch of sweetness to your food. Using the wrong wood—such as softwoods or chemically treated wood—can result in excessive smoke, unwanted flavours, and even harmful toxins.

Best Woods for Pizza Ovens

A great wood-fired pizza requires high temperatures, efficient burning, and a clean, smoky aroma. The best choices include:

🔥 Oak – One of the most popular choices, oak burns hot and long, making it perfect for reaching the high temperatures needed for crispy pizza crusts.

🔥 Beech – Similar to oak but with a slightly milder flavour, beech provides a consistent heat that’s great for pizza cooking.

🔥 Ash – Burns cleanly and produces less smoke, making it an excellent choice for wood-fired pizza ovens.

🔥 Birch – Burns quickly and reaches high temperatures fast, great for quick-fire pizza cooking.

🔥 Hornbeam – A lesser-known but excellent choice, hornbeam burns hotter and longer than most hardwoods, giving you a high-heat, clean burn.

👉 Pro Tip: Always use kiln-dried hardwoods to ensure efficient burning and avoid excess smoke.

Best Woods for BBQ Cooking

When grilling or smoking meat, the right wood choice can elevate your flavours to the next level. Here are some of the best options:

🍖 Oak – A versatile choice for smoking beef, pork, and lamb, oak provides a rich, smoky flavour without overpowering the meat.

🍖 Hickory – Strong and bold, hickory is best for ribs and pork, giving it a deep, smoky taste.

🍖 Apple – A mild and slightly sweet wood, apple is ideal for poultry, pork, and fish.

🍖 Cherry – Adds a subtle sweetness to meats, working well with chicken, turkey, and even beef.

🍖 Maple – A light, slightly sweet flavour that pairs well with pork and poultry.

🍖 Alder – A traditional choice for smoking fish, especially salmon, with a delicate and mild smoky taste.

👉 Pro Tip: Mix different woods for custom flavour profiles! Try blending oak with fruitwoods like apple or cherry for a balanced smokiness.

What to Avoid

Not all wood is suitable for cooking. Here are some types to steer clear of:

❌ Softwoods (Pine, Spruce, Fir) – These contain high resin content, which can produce harsh smoke and unpleasant flavours.

❌ Treated or Painted Wood – Can release toxic chemicals when burned.

❌ Green or Wet Wood – Produces excessive smoke and doesn’t burn efficiently.

Final Thoughts

Using the right wood for your pizza oven or BBQ can transform your cooking, enhancing both flavour and heat efficiency. Always choose high-quality, kiln-dried hardwoods for the best results.

At Staffordshire Wood Fuels, we offer a selection of kiln-dried hardwood logs, kindling, and premium restaurant-grade charcoal to help you achieve the perfect cook every time. Shop our selection today and take your wood-fired cooking to the next level!

🔥 Browse our firewood selection here: www.staffordshirewoodfuels.co.uk