# liquid smoke

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-smoke/2428>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 9, 1999, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-smoke/2428 "1999-08-09T21:42:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea666f/32.png) [@Lou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lou)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-smoke/2428/1 "1999-08-09T21:42:00Z")

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So I really don’t like the taste of liquid smoke. To me it is very unsavory and artificial tasting. So my question is what is it made of?

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**Author:** ![mr\_john](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@mr\_john](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_john)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 1999, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-smoke/2428/2 "1999-08-09T23:33:00Z")

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NATURAL wooden smoke is made by heating wood under pressure which releases oils and other essences .Some processing and there you have it. Creasote is made by heating wood, usually pine, under pressure.  
i don’t hardly never ever use the stuff,I prefer to smoke with smoke. when I have too i make sure it is natural and made of some good smoking wood; hickory,mesquite,apple,pear,oak, pecan (look out walnut can kill you). make sure it is hard wood smoke liquid or the real stuff, other wise it is creasote.  
Then you got your artificial stuff .Mad scientist alone know what that is.

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**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 1999, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-smoke/2428/3 "1999-08-10T19:09:00Z")

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Walnut can KILL you? How?

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**Author:** ![Nickrz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nickrz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 1999, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-smoke/2428/4 "1999-08-10T22:18:00Z")

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I’ve had oak trees fall on my bbq, but never a walnut. So, yeah. How?

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**Author:** ![BugZap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b77776/32.png) [@BugZap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BugZap)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 1999, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-smoke/2428/5 "1999-08-11T01:20:00Z")

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Certain woods have toxic compounds present.  
It’s as simple as some plants have poisons as part of their makeup, amd wood is just a plant.  
Walnut isn’t the only one, Rosewood also contains toxic componets and a dust mask or respirator is necessary when sanding it.  
Rosewood isn’t common? Think guitar fretboards.

Sorry, I don’t know exactly what any of those toxins may be, only that the precautions are necessary.

What he said,  
Walnut don’t make a good smokin’ wood.