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Lighter Fluid...

KiterTodd
KiterTodd Posts: 2,466
in EggHead Forum
...do any of you notice that everyone else's grilled food tastes like lighter fluid?
(now that you use lump and non-fuel starters)

When I see someone use Match Light and start cooking before they all turn gray, I can't even eat the food. Tastes like sh*t. Even after it's burned off it usually still has residual. And they will always say, "don't you love the charcoal taste?"  "yeah... but this tastes like petroleum." 
(I don't say that out loud any more.  If they don't know, they don't get it.)



LBGE/Maryland
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Comments

  • milesvdustin
    milesvdustin Posts: 2,882
    Yup, that smell is horrible. 

    2 LBGE, Blackstone 36, Jumbo Joe

    Egging in Southern Illinois (Marion)

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  • g8golfer
    g8golfer Posts: 1,025
    I cooked with match light last summer at a friend of mines farm on a cheap grill from Walmar and the taste was terrible. It was my first and last time doing that. 
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  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 10,226
    When my dad grilled burgers it was hard to distinguish the burger from an unused charcoal briquette.  Matchlight made the possible.  The burgers didn't taste as much like gasoline as the briquettes.  

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

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  • KiterTodd
    KiterTodd Posts: 2,466
    Foghorn said:
    When my dad grilled burgers it was hard to distinguish the burger from an unused charcoal briquette.  Matchlight made the possible.  The burgers didn't taste as much like gasoline as the briquettes.  
    Ha!  At least the burgers were well done.  :)

    The worst lighter fluid taste in my experience, is when someone serves you a par-cooked frozen burger heated over briquettes that are still black. 
    Those soggy frozen patties just seem to sponge up all those fumes... :sick:
    LBGE/Maryland
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  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 10,226
    KiterTodd said:
    Foghorn said:
    When my dad grilled burgers it was hard to distinguish the burger from an unused charcoal briquette.  Matchlight made the possible.  The burgers didn't taste as much like gasoline as the briquettes.  
    Ha!  At least the burgers were well done.  :)

    The worst lighter fluid taste in my experience, is when someone serves you a par-cooked frozen burger heated over briquettes that are still black. 
    Those soggy frozen patties just seem to sponge up all those fumes... :sick:
    Oh they were done alright.  My dad's belief was that the only purpose of cooking food was to kill any germs that might be associated with said food.  More cooked = safer food = better food.

    The only exception was mesquite-smoked turkey breast.  He started doing those and switched to an electric starter from Matchlight to avoid the gasoline taste.  It was the best thing that ever happened to his outdoor cooking.

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

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  • milesvdustin
    milesvdustin Posts: 2,882
    Bubba burgers should be a criminal offense

    2 LBGE, Blackstone 36, Jumbo Joe

    Egging in Southern Illinois (Marion)

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  • Gulfcoastguy
    Gulfcoastguy Posts: 7,323
    Yes I started using a Chimney starter and lump charcoal many years before I got an Egg. I could taste the lighter fluid residue and I could taste if it had been cooked on a gas grill.
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  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 10,226
    milesvdustin said:
    Bubba burgers should be a criminal offense
    I only knew about them because multiple peeps here raved about how good they are...

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

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  • Hntnhrd
    Hntnhrd Posts: 713
    I don’t have any friends so I don’t have to worry about this!! And I do all the cooking for outside family functions. I only use lighter fluid now for starting campfires
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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    Maybe the people who cooked those meals for you just didn't know how. I've never used Match Light, but for many years I used Kingsford briquettes and lighter fluid. Eventually, I graduated to a chimney starter. It all tasted fine. And to me, it smells like "grilling"!

    Haven't used fluid in many years, though I do use briquettes on the Weber occasionally. Maybe I'll buy some fluid and refresh my memory. =) 

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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  • Killit_and_Grillit
    Killit_and_Grillit Posts: 4,326
    Carolina Q said:
     And to me, it smells like "grilling"!


    That's funny @Carolina Q,  I was thinking the same thing. Lighter fluid burning on briquettes, fresh cut grass, and gun powder is my favorite smell combo. 

    Reminds me of the 4th of July. 

    That being said, I had burgers at my buddy's house last fall and took one bite and thought it tasted like an oil refinery. Curse of getting the good stuff. 

    "Brought to you by bourbon, bacon, and a series of questionable life decisions."

    South of Nashville, TN

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  • milesvdustin
    milesvdustin Posts: 2,882
    I am not a fan of frozen burgers. 

    Maybe ill grab a box and give them another whirl. 

    I have a burger press that I weigh out fresh ground and make patties with. 

    2 LBGE, Blackstone 36, Jumbo Joe

    Egging in Southern Illinois (Marion)

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  • billt01
    billt01 Posts: 1,882
    if they only know it takes a little bag of coal with not lighting agent and some veggie oil to produce an awesome product..

    Instead of lighter fluid, have them buy a spray can of Canola.....
    Have:
     XLBGE / Stumps Baby XL / Couple of Stokers (Gen 1 and Gen 3) / Blackstone 36 / Maxey 3x5 water pan hog cooker
    Had:
    LBGE / Lang 60D / Cookshack SM150 / Stumps Stretch / Stumps Baby

    Fat Willies BBQ
    Ola, Ga

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  • KiterTodd
    KiterTodd Posts: 2,466
    billt01 said:
    if they only know it takes a little bag of coal with not lighting agent and some veggie oil to produce an awesome product..

    Instead of lighter fluid, have them buy a spray can of Canola.....
    Explain.

    I have a trip coming up and wanted to do a large BBQ on the beach, but didn't want to pack a chimney (or use lighter fluid).  I also thought that starter blocks in a long rectangular grill would take too long to spread to the entire surface, even with stirring things around. 
    LBGE/Maryland
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  • KiterTodd
    KiterTodd Posts: 2,466
    Carolina Q said:
    Maybe the people who cooked those meals for you just didn't know how. I've never used Match Light, but for many years I used Kingsford briquettes and lighter fluid. Eventually, I graduated to a chimney starter. It all tasted fine. And to me, it smells like "grilling"!

    Haven't used fluid in many years, though I do use briquettes on the Weber occasionally. Maybe I'll buy some fluid and refresh my memory. =) 
    At the time, I also didn't think anything of it, but the more I became aware of the taste improvement without using lighter fluid (and using lump) I definitely notice it.

    However, I suspect the largest problem is that people cook without letting it all burn off.  Any coals that had fluid on them really need to be gray all around, and people are usually impatient to cook.
    LBGE/Maryland
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  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 17,343
    So, Myron be Lyin'?
    In his first book Myron Mixon claims to use lighter fluid exclusively, scolds that folks don't let it all burn off before cooking ("like the instructions say!"), and certainly has the hardware to back up his claims. Perhaps a longtime lie to throw off his competitors?  :confused:
    I can't say I've experienced long-term dieting on lighter-fluid food, so can't say if I could detect a taste or not.  My first 18 years of grilled proteins were off Kingsford, lit with non-unleaded Texaco, Octane unknown, by my Dad.  After that it was over bottled gas on a Weber Genesis, until switching to lump about six years ago.  
    I seem to remember posting here, years ago, that lighter fluid was some particular chemical and that, properly burned, yielded only CO2 and H2O + heat, so it shouldn't impart any aftertaste, once burned.  If I get bored this weekend I'll see if I can find the thread.  

    “The best way to execute french cooking is to get good and loaded and whack the hell out of a chicken."

         -  Julia child

    Ogden, UT, USA

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  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 11,549
    edited April 2018
    But the smell sure brings back childhood memories of a simpler time in life ....years from,now they will be laughing at our lump 
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
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  • Foghorn
    Foghorn Posts: 10,226
    KiterTodd said:
    billt01 said:
    if they only know it takes a little bag of coal with not lighting agent and some veggie oil to produce an awesome product..

    Instead of lighter fluid, have them buy a spray can of Canola.....
    Explain.

    I have a trip coming up and wanted to do a large BBQ on the beach, but didn't want to pack a chimney (or use lighter fluid).  I also thought that starter blocks in a long rectangular grill would take too long to spread to the entire surface, even with stirring things around. 
    @KiterTodd, many folks light their lump with a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil.   It works really well.  For the situation you're describing you could use a few of them.  Plus some oil on the lump.

    XXL BGE, Karebecue, Klose BYC, Chargiller Akorn Kamado, Weber Smokey Mountain, Grand Turbo gasser, Weber Smoky Joe, and the wheelbarrow that my grandfather used to cook steaks from his cattle

    San Antonio, TX

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  • blind99
    blind99 Posts: 4,974
    lkapigian said:
    But the smell sure brings back childhood memories of a simpler time in life ....years from,now they will be laughing at our lump 
    @lkapigian I was thinking the same thing. There’s something nostalgic about Kingsford briquettes, lighter fluid, and a Weber kettle. 
    Chicago, IL - Large and Small BGE - Weber Gasser and Kettle
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  • DWFII
    DWFII Posts: 317
    edited April 2018
    I lit one of those 6"-9" pellet smoking tubes with a half paper towel soaked in canola oil...produced smoke in the Weber for three hours+
    Bespoke boot and shoemaker--45+ years
    Instagram
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  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    I think the issue with using lighter fluid is that folks don't let it burn off before they start cooking. 

    I used lighter fluid once, 19 yrs ago, and the burgers tasted like... lighter fluid.  Definitely my fault. Haven't used it since. 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    caliking said:
    I think the issue with using lighter fluid is that folks don't let it burn off before they start cooking. 

    I used lighter fluid once, 19 yrs ago, and the burgers tasted like... lighter fluid.  Definitely my fault. Haven't used it since. 
    Anarchist.  And a quitter. =)
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    bgebrent said:
    caliking said:
    I think the issue with using lighter fluid is that folks don't let it burn off before they start cooking. 

    I used lighter fluid once, 19 yrs ago, and the burgers tasted like... lighter fluid.  Definitely my fault. Haven't used it since. 
    Anarchist.  And a quitter. =)
    Knowing when to quit is a virtue.

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    caliking said:
    bgebrent said:
    caliking said:
    I think the issue with using lighter fluid is that folks don't let it burn off before they start cooking. 

    I used lighter fluid once, 19 yrs ago, and the burgers tasted like... lighter fluid.  Definitely my fault. Haven't used it since. 
    Anarchist.  And a quitter. =)
    Knowing when to quit is a virtue.
    We both know that is true brother.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,699
    It's the use of Matchlight charcoal not the independently applied fluid.  In a previous life I bought a bag of Matchlight when it first hit the stores (mid 1980's?) and used with the good 'ol weber.  One cook and as above, the lighter fluid taste was still there.  Last time I went near the stuff.  Sounds like it possesses the same properties today.  FWIW-
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
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