The flavors of barbecue come from many different styles and techniques and one of my favorites is using a cedar plank. No need to fire up the smoker to get those delicious smoky flavors
A cedar plank is a piece of wood that allows you to add smoky flavors to beef, fish, vegetables, or whatever you have in the grill. It’s a form of cooking that uses indirect heat.
You place the food on cedar planks; then place the plank in your grill. The food then absorbs the wonderful cedar smoke. Cedar planks can turn an ordinary piece of salmon into a slice of smoky heaven.
It’s best to pick a plank that is large enough to fit whatever your cooking. We usually recommend one that is 12 inches long and 6 inches wide.
There are endless choices of planks from kiln-dried to disposable. One advantage of kiln-dried is that it absorbs water well and won’t smoke more in the oven if you need to keep your food warm.
You’ll want to know what other features of the planks will affect your food, so let’s jump into it.
Table of contents
Quick Cedar Grilling Plank Comparison
In a hurry to find out my “go-to cedar plank”? Check out the comparison below
| Plank Name (clickable link) | Image | Dimensions | Charlies Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Pick Nature’s Cuisine Cedar Plank |  | 17 x 10 inches | 4.8 / 5 |
| Runner Up Outset F723 Hickory Grilling Planks |  | 12 x 6 inches | 4.7 / 5 |
| 2nd Runner Up Wildwood Grilling Grill Planks |  | 8.1 x 5 inches | 4.7 / 5 |
What To Look For In A Cedar Grilling Plank
Not all cedar planks are made to the same high standard. Since they will be in direct contact with food, you need to know what to look for when you buy them.
Some things to keep in mind when looking for a cedar grilling plank include:
- Ensure your planks are kiln-dried.
- ALWAYS check the dimensions of the plank you intend to buy. You want to ensure what intent to cook will fit on it.
- Don’t use chemically preserved cedar grilling planks.
You can make your cedar plank yourself!
Buy high-quality untreated cedar board from a lumber store. Make sure you ask for an untreated board that is also kiln-dried. Then have it cut to size.
Our Favorite Cedar Grilling Planks
After we discovered how good cooking with cedar planks was, we decided to try all the brands. Below are the ten cedar grilling planks I tried.
1: Nature’s Cuisine Cedar Roasting and Grilling Plank – My Top Choice
I like that the Nature’s Cuisine cedar plank is reusable. These planks were finished to the highest quality and had no harmful chemicals.
Specifications
- Length: 17’’
- Width: 10’’
- Wood Type: Cedar
- Dishwasher Safe: No
- Best For Cooking: Cold smoked salmon, asparagus, meat and vegetables.
Bottom Line
The nature’s cuisine grill plank helped me do a delicious cedar salmon. For the price, we think this board provides the most value as I could use it again and again.
My Rating: 4.8 / 5
2: Outset F723 Hickory Grilling Planks – Runner Up
The Hickory Planks infused a robust, smoky, bacon-like aroma in my piece of salmon. Plus it also gave my salmon a perfect moistness. Offset recommend soaking the Hickory planks in either water, wine or spirit, to improve the flavor.
I soaked mine in a Merlot red wine, it paired well with the cedar and the salmon.
Specifications
- Length: 12″
- Width: 6″
- Wood Type: Hickory
- Soak Time: 1-12 hours
- Dishwasher Safe: No
- Best For Cooking: pork chops
My Rating: 4.1 / 5
3: Wildwood Grilling Small Grilling Planks – 2nd Runner Up
These Grilling Planks came in a 6-flavor variety pack. Including alder, cherry, hickory, maple, and red oak.
I really enjoyed seeing what flavors each type of plank gave to my food. I think that the maple was my favorite one, I used the maple plank for a piece of trout I caught
Specifications
- Length: 8.1’’
- Width: 5’’
- Wood Type: Cedar, alder, cherry, hickory, maple, and red oak
- Soak Time: 5 minutes
- Dishwasher Safe: No
- Best For Cooking: Cedar: salmon and vegetables; alder: white fish and chicken; cherry: chicken and fruit; hickory: beef and lamb; maple: pork and potatoes; red oak: beef
My Rating: 4.7 / 5
4: Beyond Salt and Pepper Cedar Grilling & Oven Planks
These gourmet boards are soaked for 48 hours in Chardonnay. Then they are individually vacuum-sealed.
When I opened the packaging the smell was incredible, these infused flavors also transferred well to the food,
These were a great size 12″ x 6″, these planks however they weren’t reusable.
Specifications
- Length: 12″
- Width: 6″
- Wood Type: Cedar
- Soak Time: Pre Soaked
- Dishwasher Safe: No
- Best For Cooking: pizza, steak, cheese, fruits
The infused flavors of these cedar planks are amazing. There is good value for money, a bottle of Chardonnay costs more than what these planks go for. I do wish they had a reusable option.
My Rating: 4.4 / 5
5: TrueFire Gourmet Cedar Planks
Ever wanted a cedar plank that can double as a serving platter? Search no further! Measuring a generous 14″ x 9″, we found it more than capable of holding food for more than enough for two people. Plus it was perfect as a cheese board the following night.
With proper care, these planks can last for years and still keep their lovely flavors.
Specifications
- Length: 14″
- Width: 9″
- Wood Type: Cedar
- Dishwasher Safe: No
- Best For Cooking: Vegetables, steaks, asparagus.
My Rating: 4.2 / 5
6: Premium Cedar Planks for Grilling
With names like this, you probably shouldn’t expect anything less than premium. The planks are kiln-dried. Nothing absorbs water faster upon soaking like a kiln-dried piece of wood. that meant we didn’t need to soak these planks overnight. Plus I liked could reuse them over and over again
Specifications
- Length:12’’
- Width: 6’’
- Wood Type: Cedar
- Dishwasher Safe: No
- Best For Cooking: pork chops, steaks, salmon, vegetables
My Rating: 3.9 / 5
7: Cedar Grilling & Oven Planks
These planks were pre-soaked in merlot, chardonnay, and bourbon. We did a whole piece of salmon on it. Mainly the bourbon flavor that came thought but it was still wonderful.
The planks contain no chemicals, additives, or dyes, and have a nice finish.
Specifications
- Length: 12’’
- Width: 6’’
- Wood Type: Cedar
- Soak Time: Pre Soaked
- Dishwasher Safe: No
- Best For Cooking: salmon, pork, vegetables, steaks
My Rating: 3.8 / 5
8: Bridgewater Gourmet Cedar Planks
The Bridgewater Gourmet Cedar Planks are famous for the soaking time of only 15 minutes. I found these planks work just fine when they are not overloaded. I liked the price but didn’t like that these boards aren’t reusable. Maybe if your going camping this would be a good option.
Specifications
- Length: 11.75″
- Width: 5.25″
- Wood Type: Cedar
- Soak Time: 5-15 minutes
- Dishwasher Safe: No
- Best For Cooking: vegetables, pork chops, salmons, kebabs.
My Rating
If your looking for a disposable option this plank is most budget-friendly.
My Rating: 4.6 / 5
How to Prepare your Plank for Grilling
Most planks need to be prepared for grilling. See our two steps below.
1. Soaking your Plank
Unlike wood chips you SHOULD SOAK your planks for at least 25 minutes before you use it on the grill.
Some planks may have already been presoaked, so ensure you read the packaging. The length of soaking time varies from wood to wood. Thicker woods generally needs to be soaked for longer.
You can increase flavor by using a variety of liquid-like liquor, wine, or beer to soak your plank
You can use other varieties of wood for planking. Cedar is just one option, maple is another common wood for planks.
2. Toasting your Plank
Place your pre-soaked planks over the grill. Allow it to heat under medium heat for some 3-5 minutes. Some light smoke should begin to emerge. Flip the plank over, and do the same for the other side.
Storing your Reusable Cedar Plank
If you a reusable planks you need to store it correctly. See the following steps for the cleaning and storage of your plank.
- After usage, remove the plank and wait to until it cools and wash it thoroughly.
- Hang to dry and place in a cool, dry place for storage.
- Re-soak whenever you’re ready to reuse.
Smoke On!
Charlie
Author: Charlie Reeves
Hi, I’m Charlie, I have been meat-smoking and grilling for the past 15 years. I have an array of different smokers, thermometers, and have a love for finding the right wood and charcoal combo My favourite recipes are my EXTRA CRISPY smoked pork belly, juicy pulled pork, smoked brisket, duck poppers, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill).
I loves sharing his tips with beginners, helping them navigate the world of smoking. I find it’s not just about cooking; it’s a quest for that perfect smoky flavor.
You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling recipes with you!
You can read more about me on our About Us page.
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