How Much Wood Should You Add to Your Fire When Cooking?

The quick answer is: only add enough wood to maintain steady heat and clean smoke — usually one small split log at a time, not multiples or another full load.

More Wood Doesn’t Mean a Better Cooking Environment

Hardwood cooking is an art. It’s all about managing a living fire. Building and maintaining the perfect fire is sometimes harder than it sounds.

When you’re cooking with split wood (whether that’s in a brick oven, a fire pit, or a wood-burning grill), knowing how much wood to add (and when to add it) can ensure your cook goes smoothly.

Too Much Wood Can Smother Your Fire

Adding too much wood cools the fire and creates dirty smoke. It can also smother your fire and lead to plumes of unwanted smoke. So the best approach is to add small, frequent split logs to keep the fire burning hot, clean, and predictable.

Always remember that fire control is flavour control.

Read more in the Complete Guide to Smoke in Hardwood Barbecue.

By BBQ Chef Mike Belobradic