Is Cherry Good for Firewood – Burning Cherry Wood
Cherry is a popular firewood option for many people. Firewood is often used to heat homes and other buildings and for cooking or outdoor barbecue. Cherry trees can be found all over the U.S., so if you happen to live in an area where these trees are native, then it’s likely that you already have access to this type of wood. However, even if you don’t live close enough to cherry trees to harvest them yourself (or don’t want to take on the responsibility of harvesting), there are still ways that you can benefit from using cherry wood in your fireplace or campfire. Let’s find out if cherry is good firewood.
How Cherry Compares To Other Trees
Cherry is an excellent wood for burning in a fireplace. Cherry burns hot but doesn’t produce as much heat as oak or maple firewood. This is because cherry contains less sap than other woods, so it burns slower and produces less heat. However, when combined with other hardwoods like hickory or ash, cherry can be very good at heating your home during winter.
In terms of overall burning ability, it’s safe to say that cherry is an 8 out of 10 for efficiency compared to other trees commonly used for firewood, like oak. It’s not quite as efficient as hickory or jack fruit trees which can easily reach 9/10 on our scale, but it still performs better than most other tree species.
Cherry Heat Output (BTUs)
Heat output is an excellent way to determine the usefulness of a firewood species. The higher the BTU rating, the more heat can be produced by burning it. This is important because cold weather makes you want to keep your home as warm as possible, and high heat output will help without spending more money on fuel.
Cherry has an average heat output of about 20 million BTUs per cord when burned alone, similar to oak but much less than other hardwoods like hickory or maple.
Cherry is also a good choice for people who want to burn their firewood indoors. It has a pleasant smell that won’t burn your eyes and throat like some other species. This makes it ideal for burning in fireplaces or wood stoves without ventilation.
Cherry Smoke Output
As you might expect, the smoke output of wood is primarily a combination of the heat and aroma it produces. The smoke produced by cherry is higher in both areas than in most other hardwoods. It burns hotter, faster, and produces more aromatic compounds than many other wood blocks. This can be good if you like your fire to give off some pleasant smells while it cooks your food or heats up your home.
Cherry also has some disadvantages when it comes to cooking smoky foods like barbecue or smoked meats. The high temperatures that cherry burns at can make for some uneven cooking if you aren’t careful about regulating how long each piece of meat spends over the flame.
Cherry Aroma Output
You may be wondering if cherry has an aroma. Like many other kinds of wood, Cherry produces a pleasant smell when burned. However, it’s not as aromatic as other popular firewood choices like apple or oak. For example, while cherry can be used to create an enjoyable campfire experience (and probably won’t make you sneeze), it’s not going to send the same kind of sweet smells into the air that maple will produce.
The smell of cherry isn’t unpleasant, but it will not fill your camp with the aroma of a fresh bakery. It’s essential to keep this in mind if you’re planning on using cherry wood for cooking over an open flame.
Does Cherry Produce Sparks?
Yes, cherry is hardwood. Because it is harder than most other woods, when burned, it produces more sparks than softer woods like pine.
This is because hardwoods contain tannin in their cells, making them more resistant to rot and decay. When you burn them, the tannin is released into the air and causes an ember to ignite when it comes into contact with oxygen. This can lead to larger flames or sparks if enough heat is present in your fireplace or campfire pit.
For this reason, cherry should only be used if you use an open-flame device such as a fire pit or chiminea because of its propensity for sparking during burning periods.
How Long It Takes To Season Cherry
How long does it take to season cherry wood? The answer is that there is no single “ready” date. Cherry tends to be slow to season and can take up to a year before you can use it. If you cut down a cherry tree in winter, your wood may still not be ready for burning until the following spring. However, if you harvest from an older tree near the end of summer or early autumn, then it could be ready for use within six months.
Cherry wood has a very high sap content and can take longer than other types of wood to season. This is because the sap needs to dry out before the fire will burn properly. However, once it does season, cherry wood is just as good as any other type of hardwood for use in fires.
Other Uses of Cherry Tree
If you use cherry tree wood for firewood, you might as well consider using it for other things. Some of the ways cherry trees are used include furniture making, flooring, cabinets, and musical instruments such as guitars and violins. They can also be used in landscaping due to their beautiful branches. Some people have even started growing bonsai from cherry tree saplings.
Cherry blossoms are often associated with springtime, but they can also be enjoyed at other times of year too. If you want to see them bloom, then check out the Cherry Blossom Festival held annually in Washington DC.
Cherry trees are also popular ornamental trees for landscaping due to their beautiful flowers and leaves. There are many other cherry uses, and this is because it’s hardwood, which is also easy to curve.
Types of Cherry Firewood
Many people rely on firewood to heat their homes and for cooking or baking. But what type of wood is best for burning? Below we’ll discuss the types of cherry wood available, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each.
1. Chokecherry
Chokecherry wood is an excellent choice for firewood. It’s harder than most other woods, meaning it burns hotter and longer. Its high heat suits it, particularly for cooking food over an open fire. The same can be said of heating a home or even making furniture. Chokecherry’s heat-resistant properties make it ideal for use as table legs or chair legs, as well as floors and walls in your cabin.
Chokecherry wood is also very strong and hard, making it a great choice for carving. The wood’s density makes it a good candidate for tools, handles, and other durable items. The best part about chokecherry wood is that it can be cut into any size or shape you want. It’s easier than most woods to work with because of its uniform grain pattern.
2. Wild Cherry
Wild cherry wood, also known as black cherry, produces a strong and sweet aroma that is ideal for smoking meat. The smoke itself has an earthy flavor that complements the natural sweetness of the pork and other game fowl meats. Wild cherry is also good for smoking fish and poultry.
The wood is dense and hard, so it burns evenly and slowly. Cherry is a good choice for smoking meat because it produces low amounts of creosote and does not impart an overpowering flavor. It also does not burn as hot as other types of wood, which makes it ideal for smoking larger cuts or whole animals without drying out the meat too quickly.
3. Cherry Laurel
Cherry laurel is popular firewood and is often used for smoking meat. It has a higher heat content than most other hardwoods, burns with a sweet aroma, and produces lots of smoke. Cherry laurel is also a great choice for cooking because it holds its flavor well when exposed to high temperatures.
Laurel is an excellent choice for cooking because it holds its flavor well when exposed to high temperatures. It also burns with a sweet aroma, producing lots of smoke.
We hope this section has helped you understand the different types of cherry firewood. We know first-hand how frustrating it can be to make a purchase only to find out later that what you bought was not what you wanted. With this information, we hope you’ll be able to avoid such an experience in the future.
Cherry Firewood Pros and Cons
Pros
- Efficient heat source
- Unique smell
- Easy to process
Cons
- Not very hot compared to other woods
- Rots easily
- Moderate quality coals
Conclusion
Cherry is great firewood. It is low in ash, produces little smoke or sparks, and has an excellent aroma. It also burns longer than most other types of wood, making it perfect for long-lasting fires with less frequent refueling. However, before you decide on which type of wood to use in your fireplace or stove, remember that the quality of heat will depend on how dry it is when you burn it, so do some research first.
In conclusion, there are many different types of wood out there, but if you want something that won’t produce too much ash or sparks, then cherry may be just what you’re looking for. Comment below if you have anything to say about cherry firewood.