Is Applewood Good for Firewood?

Apple trees are a common sight in many yards and gardens. They are known for their lovely blooms and delicious fruit.

But can they also be used for firewood?

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The answer is yes, applewood makes good firewood. It’s a hardwood that has a high heat value and burns hot and slow.

It doesn’t produce much smoke and sparks making it a good choice for fires in fireplaces and wood stoves. Since applewood has a pleasant smell when it burns, it is also a good choice for smokers.

Applewood weighs 3888 lbs./Cord when it is dry. It is much denser than most other hardwoods making it a good choice for those who want a longer-lasting fire. Although the wood is quite dense, it is moderately easy to split and stack.

There is very little waste associated with burning applewood. The small amount of ash that is produced can be easily swept up and disposed of.

The problem with applewood is that it is a valuable commodity. It has many uses including musical instruments, tool handles, and cabinetry.

Because of its high demand, applewood is often expensive and hard to find.

Therefore, although applewood makes good firewood, it shouldn’t be your first choice. Choose another type of wood for your firewood needs and save the applewood for something special.

What characteristics does Apple firewood have?

The applewood tree is a deciduous hardwood that is found in many regions of the United States. Here are the main characteristics of apple firewood.

Weight Per Cord

Applewood weighs 4850 lbs/cord when it is green, when it dries it goes down to 3888 lbs/cord. It is much denser than most other hardwoods including ash, alder, birch, and oak.

High Heat Value

Applewood has a very high heat value (27 Million BTUs per cord) which makes it good for firewood.

The firewood burns hot and slow, giving you a longer-lasting fire. To give you a better idea applewood is superior to other firewood of ash, pine, redcedar, spruce, and maple.

Low Smoke and Sparks

Since applewood is a dense hardwood that is quite dry it doesn’t produce much smoke when burned.

This is a good thing for those who have allergies or are sensitive to smoke. Applewood doesn’t generate much spark either, making it a safer choice for fires in fireplaces and wood stoves.

Releases Pleasant Aroma

When applewood is burned, it gives off a pleasant aroma. This makes it a good choice for smokers, as well as people who like to have fires in their fireplaces or wood stoves.

Moderately Easy to Split and Stack

Applewood is moderately easy to split and stack. Also, apple trees don’t grow very thick in diameter, so it’s easy to find a section of the tree that is suitable for splitting.

This makes it a good choice for those who don’t want to spend a lot of time getting their firewood ready.

Low Popping & Crackling

When firewood is burned, it often pops and crackles. This is usually due to the resin in the wood or air pockets that are present.

Applewood doesn’t have a lot of resin and air pockets. So it doesn’t pop and crackle as much as other types of hardwood.

Resistance to Rot

Applewood is a dense wood, which doesn’t have moisture content in it. This makes it resistant to rot, and you don’t have to worry about your firewood molding or decaying over time.

Unless you store your applewood in a humid environment without protection, it will last for years.

Low Seasoning Time

Applewood doesn’t need a lot of time to season. You can use it right after you cut the tree down, but it will be a little green and won’t burn as well.

The wood will lose its moisture content as quickly as six months. This is a much faster seasoning time than most other types of hardwood.

Not a sustainable source of wood

Apple trees are not a sustainable wood source. It takes many years for an apple tree to mature and even then the tree doesn’t reach a very large size. This makes it difficult to harvest enough applewood to meet the demand.

Valuable commodity

Applewood is a valuable commodity. It has many uses and is demanded by many industries. This makes it an expensive wood to purchase.

Therefore, although applewood makes good firewood, it should be your last choice.

If you want to smoke meat or have a fire in your fireplace or woodstove, yeah go ahead and use applewood, but if you’re looking for an economical firewood choice, look elsewhere.

Conclusion

Applewood is a good type of firewood because it has high heat value, produces relatively low smoke, doesn’t generate sparks, releases a pleasant aroma, and is moderately easy to split and stack.

However, it is not a sustainable source of wood since it takes many years for an apple tree to mature. It is a valuable commodity not readily available as firewood.

Therefore, applewood should be your last choice for firewood. If you have an old apple tree in your backyard that is infected and needs to be cut down, go ahead and use the wood for firewood.

If you want to smoke your meat yes, use applewood. You will probably not need much of it to get the job done. But if you’re looking for an economical source of firewood, look elsewhere.