Knotty Wood ??

[CMTiger]

Thoughts? Yay or nay? Ran across this YouTube post and it intrigued me.

 

[Murphy's Law]

I just did a pork tenderloin using their almond it it was very good. I felt like they produced a better smoke and light bark than other pellets. I didn’t have any issues running them through the grill.

I have the plum I’ve been wanting to try, as well.

 

[Murphy's Law]

One thing I noticed from my cook yesterday (ribs) was there as a LOT of ash...way more than I have seen with other pellets. I didn't have my phone but I am doing a beer can chicken today and will try and get some pics from the cook.

 

[MidwestSmoker]

I am planning to order some and try them out. I was hoping that the Furtado Farms pellets that Rusty uses will start showing up south of the border, but that hasn't happened yet! If Knotty Wood works I will switch to that.

 

[RayClem]

I suspect Knotty Wood chips are made from "whole tree chips". They take a chipper out into the orchard, cut down trees that are no longer producing fruit and toss everything into the chipper, including small branches and twigs. the bark to wood ratio is a lot greater in this situation than with pellets made from just the trunk. However, this is a lot more efficient use of the tree than burning the branches which I am sure the State of California would frown upon. The higher the bark content, the more .ash will be produced when the pellets are burned.

 

[Pellet.Rookie]

I’ve gone through a bag each of almond and plum. I like them both, don’t have a preference yet. I just started cooking on a pellet grill again. I initially picked up Bear Mountain pellets but never made it through the two bags I started with so I don’t have much to compare. Nothing wrong with them, I liked them as well. I got curious about Knotty Wood and since I can’t find them local I ordered a few bags on one of HD buy of the day special.

 

[JPSBBQ]

One thing I noticed from my cook yesterday (ribs) was there as a LOT of ash...way more than I have seen with other pellets. I didn't have my phone but I am doing a beer can chicken today and will try and get some pics from the cook.

This is to be expected from pellets with bark in them. It results in heavier smoke profile from a less efficient and dirtier burning fire. It’s always a trade off of sorts. Haven't used this particular brand and will not pass judgement. Just know that the video is basically a paid commercial and the taste test is not necessarily to be taken at face value. Not sayin* they aren’t great pellets,just saying one has to be aware of the source and the motivation.

 

[Murphy's Law]

I suspect Knotty Wood chips are made from "whole tree chips". They take a chipper out into the orchard, cut down trees that are no longer producing fruit and toss everything into the chipper, including small branches and twigs. the bark to wood ratio is a lot greater in this situation than with pellets made from just the trunk. However, this is a lot more efficient use of the tree than burning the branches which I am sure the State of California would frown upon. The higher the bark content, the more .ash will be produced when the pellets are burned.

That’s exactly what they do.

 

[CMTiger]

This is to be expected from pellets with bark in them. It results in heavier smoke profile from a less efficient and dirtier burning fire. It’s always a trade off of sorts. Haven't used this particular brand and will not pass judgement. Just know that the video is basically a paid commercial and the taste test is not necessarily to be taken at face value. Not sayin* they aren’t great pellets,just saying one has to be aware of the source and the motivation.

Can we believe the Mad Scientist video you like so much where he was surprised how well the Traeger pellets tested or no?

 

[JPSBBQ]

Can we believe the Mad Scientist video you like so much where he was surprised how well the Traeger pellets tested or no?

Well, it wasn’t filmed at Traeger hq. The results were not canned. The results were surprising to him and his cohost. The results were contrary to their preconceived notions. His surprise and actual embarrassment are key to the first video. You answer your own question within your question. Brilliant!

It was obvious in the first video they were wanting and expecting this brand of pellets to do better and they didn’t. This is him trying to force an outcome to match his preconceived notions he had in the last video. Hey, I’m sure they are all fine. My whole point is that the notion that the Traeger pellets are somehow inferior is bunk. I stand by that 100%. I’m also sure these pellets in the video are good too. 100%.

the first video greatly embarrassed him as he spouts crap routinely that is counter to the results he achieved. And he knew it.

I’ll believe the one not done at the Traeger HQ and resulted in a surprising result over the video produced like a commercial in conjunction with the specific brand at their HQ, that achieves the predetermined outcome they wished for initially. Hey though, you can make up your own mind. Just want to be sure people are educated. that’s the beauty of it. You do you. No need to get upset. It’s just pellets.

 

[RayClem]

The Knotty Wood Plum did not fare well in the Mad Scientist pellet comparison. I suspect that was largely because the taste testers were not used to that specific taste. While apple and cherry are common fruitwoods used in BBQ, plum is not. After several cooks with these pellets, I suspect many of the tasters would be fine with them.

In the past, many of the Traeger pellets were labeled as "Natural Flavored Hardwood". The Hickory and Mesquite blends are still labeled that way. Presumably, this means that the pellets are not made from Hickory and Mesquite, but are made from base woods flavored with the "natural" essence of these woods. That is what the Mad Scientist addressed in his Oct. 28, 2021 video.

Most of the Traeger pellets are now labeled as "Natural Hardwood Blend". The Traeger Cherry Blend pellets might contain some cherry wood, not just cherry flavor. In the Jan 12, 2022 comparison between different pellet brands, the Traeger pellets were probably the Traeger Signature Blend. They are supposed to be a combination of hickory, maple and cherry. This is much different than the natural flavored blends covered in the earlier video. Traeger might be improving the quality of their pellets in response to competition.

I have tried several brands of pellets. I have used Traeger Cherry Blend and it did well in my cook of split chicken breasts. The only thing I do not particularly like about the Traeger pellets is that they are more easily broken than some other brands. I believe this can lead to more pellet dust. If you have one of the older Traeger grills with a less robust auger and motor, perhaps the more easily crushed pellets are an advantage. I do not think that is necessary with the heaver direct drive auger and motor.

I have not tried the Knotty Wood pellets, but would try them if I see them locally.