I am heartbroken!

[Thunder77]

Christmas Eve my wife reveals to me that she doesn't like the taste of food cooked over charcoal. What?? NOW!!!?? After I just spent 100 bucks to get a new hinged grate and an SnS, you think my charcoal food is too smoky??? AARRGGHHH!!! I guess maybe it is because I cooked on a gasser for like ten years or so. Not used to the flavor anymore. Could a dirty grill cause this? I looked at my kettle, and it didn't seem too bad. Maybe I will give it a good cleaning, and try again. Or are there any charcoals out there that are less "charcoaly?" I heard something about "coshell", made from coconuts. Anyone tried it?

One saving grace: Everyone LOVES my steaks on the SnS!!!

[David Parrish]

We need more info. Give us every detail regarding one of your cooks where the flavor was too smoky. I'm guessing there's a technique or two you can work on to get your smoke more in the thin white to thin blue range that produces great flavor with no acrid taste.

[jmott7]

Hmm. In my limited experience with spouses, sometimes a statement like this has less to do with actual facts than you might first think.

[Thunder77]

:-P

[FLBuckeye]

Make sure all of your briquets are totally ashed over before putting the food on. You will get less of the "charcoally" taste then

[Thunder77]

Did that.

[Thunder77]

We need more info. Give us every detail regarding one of your cooks where the flavor was too smoky. I'm guessing there's a technique or two you can work on to get your smoke more in the thin white to thin blue range that produces great flavor with no acrid taste.

I am using a Weber one touch plus, circa 1989, according to WKC. I think one problem I need to work out right away is the leakage. There was a lot of white smoke coming out under the lid on the food side. This is also where the top vent is, since you recommend putting the top vent over the food. Apparently I have some lid warpage. I was doing all chicken parts, so trying for 325-350 range. Started with a flaming hot full chimney of KBB, no water in the SnS. Both vents full open until 275, then top 1/2 open, and bottom 1/3 open until I hit 325. Three thighs and 8 drums, marinated in Italian dressing, excess marinade brushed off, on at 325. Lid on, and let her go. At this point I only had my Chef Alarm, so only monitoring grill temp, and periodically spot checking food with thermopop. (In purple, of course)

At 155, I shifted to hot side to crisp up the skin, and finish the cooking. There were one or two flare-ups from drips, but I quickly moved the food away. I thought it was pretty good, but wife says too smoky. I tried some more, then I kind of agreed with her, it had a strong aftertaste.

[FLBuckeye]

I suggest using binder clips to help prevent lid leakage. I dropped my lid off of my deck and the clips helped a lot

[David Parrish]

Sounds like you did most things right. Let's talk. Give me a call on our SnS hotline at 704-425-1023 next week and we'll figure out how to make her happy. Happy wife, happy life!

[Thunder77]

@Pit Boss, I think I might have a clue. I have been storing charcoal outside. While it does not get "wet" as in directly rained on, it is subject to Maryland humidity. Could this be the problem?? I have some I have stored indoors, I should try that bag.

[Thunder77]

FLBuckeye, I'm going to try that. It's good for Low N Slow, but it seems like a pain if you have to lift the lid more than once or twice.

[David Parrish]

The clips take all of 15 seconds to put on the lid or remove from the lid. I think you can handle it.

And you only need them for low and slow. They're unnecessary for hot and fast.

[Breadhead]

Hmmm... Some people just don't like the smoke flavor, no matter how you mask it. Your wife MIGHT be one of those humans.🤔

That would be a crying shame to really be into BBQ and your significant other cant stand it,😫

[Thunder77]

That would be ghastly!! How would I live after that revelation?? :-D

[Breadhead]

It's seems we are all attracted to polar opposites.🙊

[Huskee]

My wife has said things before like "kinda getting tired of everything being smoked or grilled." And I replied "I though we had something special, how could you!?!?" SO, no more smoking the kids cereal in the morning or our coffees....

[Jon Solberg]

That is a good one. Didnt see it coming. Spit coffee all over. Got to get some clean up stuff. BRB!

[Thunder77]

I'm kinda partial to smoked oatmeal, myself. :-P

[Livermoron]

I get yelled at every time I smoke the pop tarts...

[scottranda]

In the beginning of my BBQ days, my food would drip over the coals, or my heat deflector (Kamado Joe) would be dirty and drip onto the coals causing a bad taste of smoke. Make sure nothing is dripping onto the coals causing that off flavor.

[scottranda]

To be clear, it was large amounts of grease that was causing me too much smoke. A little bit of drippings isn't bad at all.

[Livermoron]

I have a bag of coconut briquettes that I've been saving for the next time we do an Asian style chicken. Maybe I need to do that sooner rather than later, and report back...

[Powersmoke_80]

Thunder77, I never cooked with charcoal before the SnS came out and I sometimes found an off taste from kbb lighting as it goes across low and slow.Maybe its not the smokey taste but the taste of briquettes not combusting properly as you said from maybe being damp. Maybe try some lump charcoal mixed with your briquettes as lump burns a little hotter. I did this for my brisket cook, i put a layer of kbb on the bottom then the smaller pieces of lump mixed in with a few briquetts on top so it doesn't fall through the grate and was amazed at the different taste.

[Thunder77]

Thanks. I will try that!

[TheMeatGuyJapan]

You don't need cooking advice. You need a new wife.

[Breadhead]

😡...

[ribeyeguy]

Just tell her....."Okay, I guess you're doing all the cooking now". Guarantee you she'll love the taste of charcoal in no time flat.

[The Burn]

Has it always been the same food, for example, chicken? My GF loves just about everything I smoke or grill - fish, lamb, steak, brisket, ribs, pulled pork/beef, etc., but just doesn't like chicken done that way. She prefers rotisserie chicken a la Costco. She does like my chicken wings, but they always have a strong sauce of some sort.

[Breadhead]

What's not to like about a huge chicken rotisserized at Costco for $4.99?😜

[richinlbrg]

Yeah, that Costco chicken is GUUD!

[Danjohnston949]

Boys I bought Eunice 44 years ago and If I Ever See the Preacher That Tied The Knot I am Going to Sue Him! He Sold Me Defective Merchandise That Obey Part Didn't Last a Day! By the Second Day She Had Her Own Opinion's, I am sure you Fellas Agree I have Good Case Against That Preacher!
OH Well What the Hell, Dan

[Breadhead]

That obey clause is like Santa... A good story but eventually we all figure out it's a blatant lie.😡