Strong taste

amhobbs · January 11

I recently cooked some burgers and some steaks and while I know its going to have some charcoal flavor and that is wanted but the flavor was very strong and unpleasant on both of them so much so that you could not taste any of the seasonings. The burgers I cooked direct around 450-500. The steaks I did indirect at 250 until they reached about 115 and then direct about 500 for 2 mins a side. The steaks did have a little less of the taste than the burgers did im guessing because they were mostly cooked indirect. Any suggestions?

Village Idiot · January 11

Typically that would mean that you put the meat on before the VOC (volatile organic compound) smoke had been burned off. I always wait about 30 minutes after lighting to put food on the Egg.

amhobbs · January 11

Ok thanks I waited about 20 mins but I guess I still cant tell when it is ready.

SmokinDAWG82 · January 11

Were these your first cooks on a new egg?

amhobbs · January 11

Yes it was number 2 and 3

Eggcelsior · January 11

How long did you waiting from start-up to cooking? Where you still getting heavy smoke? Perhaps you picked up a strong creosote flavor from this.

amhobbs · January 11

On the steaks I know there was a little white smoke still but not a lot and the time was about 20 mins from start I just put them on when it reached 250, the burgers I dont remember how long my wife started the egg while I was on my way home.

BYS1981 · January 11

I usually wait until the smoke is clear, this is without wood chips or chunks, and then put food on. I also wait until smoke is clear and I am at temp to add wood for smoke - personal prepreference for me I like chunks.

r270ba · January 11

I agree with what BYS1981 says. I had the same problem with some pizzas recently. Just redid them and waited a until the smoke was clear and my problem was solved!

pwalsten · January 11

I've used my BGE twice and now realize that I did not preheat the coals long enough. Should I close the lid as soon as the coals are lit to continue the preheat or leave the lid open throughout? I'm guessing that I should close the lid but so far I seem to be making a lot of wrong choices : ( 'm so glad that I joined this forum and believe with all of your great tips I'll be off and running soon!

BYS1981 · January 11

Closing lid once coals are lit largely depends on temperature. For instance, if I want to do 450 I let a bigger fire start than 250. It will come with experience dont worry

amhobbs · January 11

Thanks all for your comments I guess I got in a hurry and should have waited a little while longer.

Focker · January 11

By stating the indirect steaks were better than the direct burgers it could also be the acrid, burnt grease flavor. Used to get it alot with burgers and chicken. The Kingsford flavor in the Weeber would hide it. Really picked it up when switching to ceramic and lump.

The main reason I now do the majority of cooks indirect. Direct cooks I use a griddle and soak up the grease with a paper towel and discard as needed. You would be surprised how much grease burns in the lump when using the direct setup.

bodski · January 11

I did the same thing when I did my first cook a few months ago. One of the pitches from my dealer, who in hindsight doesn't know much about the Egg, and from BGE literature is that you're ready to go in as little as 10 minutes. This has probably thrown a number of folks off, especially in the beginning. Others have given great advice here about the clarity of the smoke. You can also often tell simply by the smell of the smoke too. As VI said, it's closer to 30 minutes, and sometimes longer, than 10.

Eggcelsior · January 11

Focker said:

By stating the indirect steaks were better than the direct burgers it could also be the acrid, burnt grease flavor. Used to get it alot with burgers and chicken. The Kingsford flavor in the Weeber would hide it. Really picked it up when switching to ceramic and lump.
The main reason I now do the majority of cooks indirect. Direct cooks I use a griddle and soak up the grease with a paper towel and discard as needed. You would be surprised how much grease burns in the lump when using the direct setup.

Sir, it sounds like you need a brand-new Mangrate! This will elevate your cooking to the 4th dimension!

:))

nolaegghead · January 11

did you light the top or bottom of your lump - and how much lump did you have in the egg (and was it lit before or fresh)?

Focker · January 11

Eggcelsior said:

Focker said:

By stating the indirect steaks were better than the direct burgers it could also be the acrid, burnt grease flavor. Used to get it alot with burgers and chicken. The Kingsford flavor in the Weeber would hide it. Really picked it up when switching to ceramic and lump.
The main reason I now do the majority of cooks indirect. Direct cooks I use a griddle and soak up the grease with a paper towel and discard as needed. You would be surprised how much grease burns in the lump when using the direct setup.

Sir, it sounds like you need a brand-new Mangrate! This will elevate your cooking to the 4th dimension!

:))

:))

Driving to Salado and purchasing a bulk order at the demo. You too, will believe. ;)

amhobbs · January 11

Nola I did put some new charcoal in but some of it was left over from the burgers, and I lit it from the top. I filled to almost the top of firebox.

Skiddymarker · January 11

I used to spatch chicken and cook burgers direct raised. We noted that when lighting the egg after these heavy grease cooks, the bad smoke took forever to clear - more than 30 minutes easy. Since adopting the indirect method and using reverse sear for burgers and steaks - no more acrid taste (unless it is junk in the lump)

burr_baby33 · January 11

Any time you add a little or a lot of charcoal you need to burn off the "bad stuff" from the new. The "smell the smoke test" will also tell you when it is time to cook. After just a few cooks you will know when to put on the food.

weredaone · January 11

i have had the same issues at first. If I overload with lump AND not wait long enough i would get the heavy smokey flavor. After adjusting how much lump I put in and letting burn off for a while, I have had ZERO problems!! Gotta love the BGE!!

tulocay · January 11

I learned my lesson early on. I now wait 45 min to let the smoke clear.

amhobbs · January 11

Is there any way to get around the acrid taste on direct cooks?

rtt121 · January 11

Had my medium for over 2 years now. This took a long time to figure out for me as well.

The key for me is waiting until the smoke is clear I just want to mention that the time it takes will vary. With a half chimney full of fully emberred coals onto the top of a full firebox I still wait 30-40 minutes now.

I imagine if I was using those parrafin starters or something smaller I would wait over an hour.

burr_baby33 · January 11

Should not be any strong taste on direct cooks at all, none, as long as you get rid of the VOCs (explained above). You should only have VOCs when you add charcoal. If you relight yesterday's burn there won't be anything to burn off.

nolaegghead · January 11

When you're cooking hot (like when you grill a steak or sear), go commando on the top of the egg - no daisy wheel, no DFMT (dual function metal top) at all.

Pjoe · January 12

Hold your hand over the top vent for a couple seconds then smell your hand. If it smells bad, you are not ready to cook.

nolaegghead · January 12

..and make sure your hand don't smell bad to start with ;)

Eggcelsior · January 12

Better stop drinking in the "al bundy" position.

Eggcelsior · January 12

Pjoe said:
Hold your hand over the top vent for a couple seconds then smell your hand. If it smells bad, you are not ready to cook.

Or you held it there too long and need to go to the ER to get your Darwin award.

Duganboy · January 12

amhobbs said:

Is there any way to get around the acrid taste on direct cooks?

@amhobbs just let the fire get burning "clean" and you will be fine. Other than low and slows most of us cook other things direct without having the problem you are talking about.

Good luck.

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