Grilling with cedar planks

**72Twenty** · 12-11-2006, 11:40 PM

Anyone ever used THESE on the grill before?

My uncle grilled up some salmon on one of these and it was awesome.
Just put the fish on the plank right on the main rack of the grill.
Good stuff.

**Hutch** · 12-11-2006, 11:52 PM

plank talk bitch!

**MrDirt** · 12-12-2006, 12:21 AM

mmmm, cedar plank salmon.

**smalls** · 12-12-2006, 06:38 AM

mmm...so delicious...

make sure you soak 'em for a while so you're not charring the wood every time. for that extra bit of flavor, soak the planks in water with brown sugar in it (not too much). or use any other combination of herbs, spices, whatnot. can't grill salmon without cedar.

**orange** · 12-12-2006, 08:05 AM

Cedar Plank Salmon. Love that stuff....use a wild salmon with it for added flare.

**iceman** · 12-12-2006, 08:10 AM

What'd he cook - filets, steaks? And did he turn the fish on the plank or just leave it alone?

**Boomer28** · 12-12-2006, 08:22 AM

HUGE fan of the cedar plank grill technique. We finished building our lake hous in Maine which was a cedar log cabin 2 years ago and are still using scrap pieces of cedar for grilling.

Agree with the soaking thing, usually about an hour or so is fine. If you use non-fancy cedar planks like the ones in the pictures, it also helps to run over the side you are cooking the fish on with a palm sander for a few seconds to smooth it out/clean it off.

**lemon boy** · 12-12-2006, 08:51 AM

if you're buying them from a cooking place you're getting ripped off. Just get em at the lumber yard/home center. Make sure though that it is UNTREATED. I usually buy tongue and groove alder planks so I can easily accomodate wider/skinnier pieces of fish and can custom cut to length. Agreed on soaking. Also if I want to keep the skin on for whatever reason (or if you were doing a thick steak and wanted to turn it) a little olive oil onto the plank works fine.

Ice- usually I do filets, which also means I don't need to sand the plank. No need to turn a filet (just close the lid though).

**mooseknuckle** · 12-12-2006, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by lemon boy

if you're buying them from a cooking place you're getting ripped off. Just get em at the lumber yard/home center. Make sure though that it is UNTREATED. I usually buy tongue and groove alder planks so I can easily accomodate wider/skinnier pieces of fish and can custom cut to length. Agreed on soaking. Also if I want to keep the skin on for whatever reason (or if you were doing a thick steak and wanted to turn it) a little olive oil onto the plank works fine.

Note to self: LB has good info on grilling and diesel truck questions, among other possible subjects. Got some planks for a gift a while back, cooked through them all and was wondering about the risks of using scrap cedar from a source other than the yuppie grill stores (that shit is expensive). Good info - thanks.

**PlayHarder** · 12-12-2006, 10:52 AM

Heh, when I built my deck over the summer I bought a couple of extra lengths of cedar decking for my salmon cooking stash.

**PNWbrit** · 12-12-2006, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by lemon boy

if you're buying them from a cooking place you're getting ripped off. Just get em at the lumber yard/home center. Make sure though that it is UNTREATED. I usually buy tongue and groove alder planks so I can easily accomodate wider/skinnier pieces of fish and can custom cut to length. Agreed on soaking. Also if I want to keep the skin on for whatever reason (or if you were doing a thick steak and wanted to turn it) a little olive oil onto the plank works fine.

Ice- usually I do filets, which also means I don't need to sand the plank. No need to turn a filet (just close the lid though).

Tongue and groove idea is a winner.

I bet you could sell those to idiots in cooking stores at an even bigger mark up over lumber yard prices than regular planks.

I've never tried Alder, but I will now.

**lemon boy** · 12-12-2006, 11:04 AM

de nada moose. (BTW congrats on the LBZ whatever else those things are faaast and I'm sure it'll work fine for you)

PNW- Alder has a little bigger taste IMO than cedar but both are great. I bet you could sell my 1' TnG planks for $4/per

**PNWbrit** · 12-12-2006, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by lemon boy

de nada moose. (BTW congrats on the LBZ whatever else those things are faaast and I'm sure it'll work fine for you)

PNW- Alder has a little bigger taste IMO than cedar but both are great. I bet you could sell my 1' TnG planks for $4/per

You're thinking too small.

How about we mill say 3" squares with t&g edges then market them as "fully adjustable" sell 20 pieces in a hemp bag with a picture of a fish. Perhaps a line of hand crafted plank soaking pots - made with metal from decomissioned land mines?

**lemon boy** · 12-12-2006, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

You're thinking too small.

How about we mill say 3" squares with t&g edges then market them as "fully adjustable" sell 20 pieces in a hemp bag with a picture of a fish. Perhaps a line of hand crafted plank soaking pots - made with metal from decomissioned land mines?

oh
my
god

I am thinking small.

don't forget that we can use the sawdust as alder smoking dust probably get five bucks for a 2oz baggie.