Best Firewood  

The best firewood will always be seasoned firewood.  Seasoned firewood is wood that burns with less smoke and provides greater heat because there is no moisture in the wood.  The particular type of wood is less important than whether it is seasoned wood.  An easy way to tell the difference between seasoned and unseasoned wood is the weight and look.  Seasoned wood will be much lighter in comparison because it will be dried out because of no moisture.  In addition, it will tend to have cracks in the wood and even look a grayer color. 

For people who will only burn a few dozen fires a year, the best firewood for them will likely be softwoods like pine and fir.  These can be especially good during the holidays because they have a great smell that adds to the effects of a Christmas tree.  Cedar should be avoided when possible because it tends to be smokier than some other woods. 

For people who burn more wood than this, hardwoods are generally considered the best. This is because hardwoods tend to be denser allowing them to have more burning fuel.  Popular choices in hardwoods include most oaks, hickory and walnut.  These woods last longer than softwoods and are good not only for warmth, but are the best for cooking also.  One other thing to keep in mind that is because softwoods burn faster, you tend to require a larger quantity of supplies to compensate.  Therefore, their cheaper price tag can be a little deceptive to the unknowledgeable.   

Whether you choose softwoods or hardwoods for your fires, the key is to allow the wood time to season.  Seasoned wood is simply the best firewood period.  For this reason, allow yourself enough preparation time to start seasoning your wood for next year’s use.  In addition, find a quality firewood rack and cover to help protect your wood.