Cooking with a grilling plank is an easy way to infuse delicious smoky flavor into food. You’ve probably heard of Cedar planked salmon, but don’t limit your planking to just one recipe. We’ve tried planking everything from pork chops to pizza and find the savory flavor from wood planks enhances all kinds of dishes.
Choosing your plank
When choosing your plank you’ll want to consider which type of wood you want to cook with and what size plank will work for the dish you’re cooking. Different types of wood will infuse your food with different flavors.
Cedar is the most popular grilling plank and gives dishes a fragrant smoky flavor. Cedar pairs best with seafood, vegetables, tofu, and pork chops. If you want to experiment with different types of wood see our flavor pairing guide, which recommends which food will pair best with each flavor of wood.
What size plank do I need?
Another factor to consider is the size of your plank – a 5”x11” plank is great for three 6 ounce servings of salmon, but if you have a large fish fillet you’ll need an extra-large plank. As a general rule of thumb – you want food to cover the majority of the plank, but not to hang over the edges.
We recommend only cooking with our food-safe planks. Since you’re placing your food directly on the wood plank you’ll want to be certain it is 100% pure and clean. Sustainability is something you may want to consider when purchasing wood products. Wildwood Grilling is located in the Pacific Northwest – the heart of the Western Red Cedar botanical range, which minimizes the fossil fuel needed for transport.
Cooking with Cedar Planks
Now that you’ve decided on your plank size and wood type it’s time to get cooking! First, you’ll want to soak your plank in water for at least 15 minutes in a large container and place a weight on top to keep it submerged.
Preheat your grill or oven to 400°F/204°C. Place your seasoned food on the plank and add to the grill. Cook with the lid closed to keep the delicious smoky flavors inside. Cook until done, about 12-15 minutes for a 2 pound salmon fillet. Discard your plank and enjoy!
Here’s one of our all-time favorite recipes for grilling salmon on a cedar plank with just four ingredients: Cedar Planked Salmon with Brown Sugar.
