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"Kerosene" taste

Huffhollow
Huffhollow Posts: 2
in EggHead Forum
Has anyone else experienced an issue with their food having that "Kerosene" taste when they take it off the grill.  I'm not sure if I am doing something wrong, but I find more often than not when the dripping hit the hot coals, the flare up creates an unpleasant taste that I have been told is called "Keroseneing" 

Hopefully there is a fix to this that I am not aware of.

Thanks
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Comments

  • Darby_Crenshaw
    Darby_Crenshaw Posts: 2,657
    edited August 2015
    petro smellstastes are usually from not allowing the lump to burn clean before you put the food on. 

    burnt dripping fat will have its own flavor, and not good either. i hate high-heat burgers on the egg, because of the sooty fatty smoke if you try to control the fire.  but that's more sooty flavored.

    but if it tastes decidedly like kerosene or fuel, it's usually the food hit the fire too soon
    [social media disclaimer: irony and sarcasm may be used in some or all of user's posts; emoticon usage is intended to indicate moderately jocular social interaction; the comments toward users, their usernames, and the real people (living or dead) that they refer to are not intended to be adversarial in nature; those replying to this user are entering into a tacit agreement that they are real-life or social-media acquaintances and/or have agreed to or tacitly agreed to perpetrate occasional good-natured ribbing between and among themselves and others]

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  • DaveRichardson
    DaveRichardson Posts: 2,324
    Agreed.  Let it burn and settle in, especially on new lump, for at least 30 minutes.

    LBGE since 2014

    Griffin, GA 

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  • Wolfpack
    Wolfpack Posts: 3,552
    It often takes me 45 minutes from lighting to be ready to cook. You have to burn off all the VOC's before food get on the grill. if its fat dripping on the coals think about going indirect to render fat first. 
    Greensboro, NC
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  • Raymont
    Raymont Posts: 710
    It's either the above comments or it is possible you have an egg that someone has used lighter fluid or other oil based accelerant in. Did you buy new or used? I've heard of residual foul taste when this has happened. A clean burn may help. 

    Small & Large BGE

    Nashville, TN

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  • johnnyp
    johnnyp Posts: 3,932
    let the thick white smoke clear before adding any food.

    also, did you ever use lighter fluid in the egg?  The ceramic is porous and will have absorbed it.  A clean burn is needed 
    XL & MM BGE, 36" Blackstone - Newport News, VA
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  • Huffhollow
    Huffhollow Posts: 2
    I've had my egg for over 10 years.  Got it new, and never used lighter fluid.  I think you have hit on my mistake.  I don't think the coals were totally ready to go before I put the meat on the grill.  This has been happening to me for years off and on, and I never gave it a thought about making sure all the coals were totally lit especially when I'm dumping new lit coal on top of previously un-lit coals.

    Thanks
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  • DaveRichardson
    DaveRichardson Posts: 2,324
    Its not that they all have to be lit, its that it has to get hot enough in the bed of coals to burn off the VOC's present in the coals.

    Remember, Blue Smoke is good smoke.  Or The Smell Test - hold your hand in the smoke for a few seconds....  if it smells good, then you are good.

    LBGE since 2014

    Griffin, GA 

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  • johnkitchens
    johnkitchens Posts: 5,234
    Okay I will ask it. What brand of lump was it? 

    When I first started egging I had the same problem. I changed to Rockwood and now I don't have to wait forever to cook. It is good to go as soon as I get to temp.

    Louisville, GA - 2 Large BGE's
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  • Darby_Crenshaw
    Darby_Crenshaw Posts: 2,657
    listen to @DaveRichardson

    if it smells good, it'll taste good.

    i only add lump when i need to, also.  older lump won't require any extra time to burn cleanly. VOCs are long gone

    [social media disclaimer: irony and sarcasm may be used in some or all of user's posts; emoticon usage is intended to indicate moderately jocular social interaction; the comments toward users, their usernames, and the real people (living or dead) that they refer to are not intended to be adversarial in nature; those replying to this user are entering into a tacit agreement that they are real-life or social-media acquaintances and/or have agreed to or tacitly agreed to perpetrate occasional good-natured ribbing between and among themselves and others]

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  • stemc33
    stemc33 Posts: 3,567
    +1 on smelling hand after holding over smoke. If you get a slower smoldering fire it will take longer to burn off the bad stuff. Wait until the smell is pleasant.

    +1 with what @johnkitchens said. Rockwood 
    Steven
    Mini Max with Woo stone combo, LBGE, iGrill 2, Plate Setter, 
    two cotton pot holders to handle PS
    Banner, Wyoming
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  • Darby_Crenshaw
    Darby_Crenshaw Posts: 2,657
    edited August 2015
    i always wondered why everyone said to use their hand over the top vent to smell the smoke instead of just leaning in and smelling it.  then i realized everyone had their egg in a nest or table or something.  mine sits on the feet on a paver, right on the ground.

    runnin' lean here.
    [social media disclaimer: irony and sarcasm may be used in some or all of user's posts; emoticon usage is intended to indicate moderately jocular social interaction; the comments toward users, their usernames, and the real people (living or dead) that they refer to are not intended to be adversarial in nature; those replying to this user are entering into a tacit agreement that they are real-life or social-media acquaintances and/or have agreed to or tacitly agreed to perpetrate occasional good-natured ribbing between and among themselves and others]

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  • DaveRichardson
    DaveRichardson Posts: 2,324
    @Darby_Crenshaw - going true Japanese style, 'eh?  Egging on the Ground!!!!

    LBGE since 2014

    Griffin, GA 

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  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,459
    Don't lean over to smell this smoke!  Pretty sure it's clean. 

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