Proper wood selection underpins consistent barbecue heat and smoke control. Assess each piece's size and density; choose larger logs for large smokers and smaller ones for compact grills. Feeling the weight of a log indicates appropriate mass for steady combustion. The 'fire cadence' describes the dynamic relationship between the griller and the smoke pit that maintains a predictable burn. Stack wood methodically so pieces interlock, similar to Tetris, to sustain a long burn. Maintain a coal bed from charred embers to stabilize temperature around 250°F and avoid excessive fire above the bed by not adding too much wood upfront.
"The biggest part of learning how to work a fire ... what that comes down to is your wood selection," Franklin emphasizes on his YouTube channel, BBQ with Franklin. He nudges pitmasters to carefully assess the size and density of each piece of wood, selecting larger logs for giant smokers and smaller ones for compact grills. His approach is intuitive, requiring that you feel the weight of each log in your hand to make sure it isn't too heavy or too light.
He calls this the art of the "fire cadence," or the ever-moving relationship between the griller and the smoke pit that keeps the fire burning for predictable results. Sounds complicated? Franklin simplifies things by comparing wood stacking to a game of Tetris. Just like with those colored 8-bit cubes, you place each piece down in a methodical order so each new log interlocks with the last.
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