I always used to soak my wood chips until I read this article he sent me who knows smoking woods.
Wood is hydroscopic meaning it will only
absorb
water until it is in balance with the humidity and temperature of the
environment it is in. That is why swamp trees survive so long in water
-
they don't drink the entire time, merely when they need to balance their
cell structures.
You cannot hurt the wood chips by leaving them in water. However,
because
wood contains cellulose and hemicellulose which are sugar molecules, if
the wood is left for an indefinite period of time in water, the sugar
molecules will loosen and that is where some of the flavor is lost.
Our research shows that if the wood chips are left in water, completely
covered mind you, they will begin to develop an unpleasant ordor and
lose
some of the cell structure after about 45 days. So, as long as you can
use up the soaked chips within a few weeks, you should be fine.
You may also remove the wood chips from the water and allow them to dry
again. Generally, you will only change the moisture level by 1-2% when
doing this. Remember, the wood has been cut away from the main supply
system of the natural tree. Although the molecular composition of the
tree allows it to retain and gain moisture again for a short time, the
cells are in the process of dying. This is the reason will generally
recommend that you purchase wood that can be used in an 8-12 week
period.
Also, remember when santizing the wood, you can also use white vinegar
and
water. This is a more "green" method of sanitizing that I personally
prefer.