Chicken thighs taste funny

jalee · Jun 11, 2013

I smoked my chicken thighs Sunday for 1.5 pulled at 167 i used charcoal to stat fire then ran on oak . used wet hickery and cherry for smoke. they were done and juice but had a weird chemical taste to them the charcoal was natural no fluid. Does any one know why

mr t 59874 · Jun 11, 2013

jalee, welcome to the forum. Was it the match light type charcoal?

Tom

fwismoker · Jun 11, 2013

The creosote was out of balance....high wise.

The best advice i can give you is patience. When using wood/charcoal don't put your food in early....let your pit get good and hot first up to your desired temp and let all that primary combustion(white smoke) burn off before you introduce your food to it. Put your wood chunks/chips on the coals a short while before the food also.

You don't need a ton of smoke coming out the exhaust, a very subtle almost invisible smoke is just fine. You'll learn little by little how much wood smoke and flavor you want but remember that is a seasoning and you can't take it back after it's too much.

Also don't use wet wood for lots of reasons, it's worthless to put it simply.

JckDanls 07 · Jun 11, 2013

what kind of smoker are you using ? was the wood wet or green or both ? kinda need more info...

fpnmf · Jun 11, 2013

Ahhhh pictures.... much better!!

Thanks

fwismoker · Jun 11, 2013

He gave some info...he used wet wood, natural charcoal and no lighter fluid.

jalee · Jun 11, 2013

I cooked a brisket for 7.5hr it was fine I pulled it and put the chicken on after.the charcoal I used was red something charcoal and started it in my chimney I let run for 30 min before I put the brisket on. I used seasoned oak after that and didn't add any more charcoal. The wet hickory and cherry was seasoned I soaked it over night. I have a old country smoker and I was having a hard time keeping the temp up I had to leave the door damper open half way or more to keep temp up.I never really got that thin blue smoke.

fwismoker · Jun 11, 2013

Yea Jalee wet wood is no good. If you're worried about the wood bursting into flames it won't if your pit is fairly tight. Only excess oxygen to the fire makes the wood explode into flames.

Use dry wood and don't ever dump in lots of unlit coals when the temp goes down and you'll be just fine. If your pit does need extra fuel then a little at a time or add a chimney but only half lit.

Like i said it's all good, you'll get your TBS you want. Keith

oldschoolbbq · Jun 11, 2013

Why the person that started the "wet wood and chip" theory was all wet himself (IMHO) all you get is thick smoke and it carries the Creosote and Gasses that causes the off flavor in meat.

Wait until you get a thin-bluish-smoke , then cook. You'll see a great difference.

Have fun , better luck with your Smokes and as always . . .

mr t 59874 · Jun 11, 2013

I am curious as to the amount of wood you used and if you did the same for the brisket and the results for it. I agree with FWI as far as the wet wood. The hickory can give a strong smoke flavor if not controlled. As far as the thin smoke, it is not essential on the shorter smokes such as chicken, especially if you like a heavier smoke flavor. It does work very well on the longer smokes such as your brisket though. Try it again with dry wood only and keep track of the amounts. You will be fine.

Tom

JckDanls 07 · Jun 11, 2013

I also notice in your picture that your exhaust vent is almost closed all the way... this vent needs to be opened all the way.. then control your heat with the intake vent... when exhaust vent is closed like that your smoke can not escape fast enough and becomes creosote... so next time run with the exhaust vent wide open and your wood dry... it will take a good 15 minutes after making intake vent adjustments for heat changes to take effect...

jalee · Jun 11, 2013

Ok thanks fellas I will fallow y'all's advice on my next smoke

daveomak · Jun 12, 2013

jalee said:
Ok thanks fellas I will fallow y'all's advice on my next smoke

JckDanls hit it on the head..... exhaust stack wide open at all times..... control the heat with the inlet on the firebox.....

Dave

wisconsinbutt · Jun 12, 2013

I had the same problem for a while then I realized what I was doing wrong. Too much fuel and too little air, the wood was burning too cold and giving a bad taste. I have since lowered the amount of wood I use and opened the vents. A small hot fire gave me the TBS and wonderful taste.

chef jimmyj · Jun 12, 2013

Got to back the boys! Stack wide open and use Dry wood for Smoke...I don't recall ever seeing a Pro/Comp smoker throw wet wood on the fire. I guess it's a Bobby Flay thing...JJ

cliffcarter · Jun 12, 2013

WisconsinButt said:
I had the same problem for a while then I realized what I was doing wrong. Too much fuel and too little air, the wood was burning too cold and giving a bad taste. I have since lowered the amount of wood I use and opened the vents. A small hot fire gave me the TBS and wonderful taste.

Very good advice above, never try to cook with wet or green wood in a stickburner.

dougmays · Jun 12, 2013

ditto on the creosote, do much smoke and need damper wide open

redwood carlos · Jun 13, 2013

JckDanls 07 said:
I also notice in your picture that your exhaust vent is almost closed all the way... this vent needs to be opened all the way.. then control your heat with the intake vent... when exhaust vent is closed like that your smoke can not escape fast enough and becomes creosote... so next time run with the exhaust vent wide open and your wood dry... it will take a good 15 minutes after making intake vent adjustments for heat changes to take effect...

This is what I saw in the picture too. Good luck and let us know how the next chicken comes out.

wwdragon · Jun 13, 2013

Wet Wood.

When I started I always had the wood wet, I would soak it for awhile before putting it in foil in my BBQ, I did the same when I started with my smoker... why? Because when you buy a bag of wood chips, chunks, whatever it says on the bag to soak them before use. It was not until I found this place that I learned never to soak the wood. With the season started expect many new smokers to use soaked wood. I learned thanks to all you guys, but to be honest, most new people are just following the directions on the bag.

Barry

Chicken thighs taste funny

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