Strange question..maybe?

[JustKyle]

Do any of y’all ever feel like you’ve made sim much food on the smoker or grill that you lose the layer of taste that comes from the smoke or grill? For instance, I smoked a pork butt today, it turned out really good according to my family and friends. To me is was just ok. The smoke flavor was barely secondary at best. Maybe my pallet has changed. Anyone else have this issue?

[STEbbq]

Your taste buds can be overwhelmed by the smoke from cooking. Take a shower before you eat next time and see if it makes a difference.

[HawkerXP]

+3

[RiverJeff]

I feel a lot cleaner afterwards

[HotSun]

STEbbq, really? I did not know that. My wife always comments that I smell 'manly' after smoking, grilling, etc., haha. Seriously though, I noticed the flavor of my smoked stuff is better the next day. Hmmm, shower...

[Donw]

I can sort of identify with what you are saying. What works for me to take a shower and brush my teeth after a long cook before eating. After spending hours surrounded by smoke my tastebuds and smell receptors have basically shutdown to those smells and tastes.

[Sid P]

Absolutely. Taking a shower and brushing your teeth after you pull the meat definitely helps, but I think your taste buds are still deadened. It’s worst with the stick burner, where some things just taste better the day after.

[WayneT]

The same is true in wine tasting. What you eat or drink prior can have a pronounced effect on your taste or perception of taste afterwards. In fact, smells can even influence how you smell or taste foods that follow. There’s a great book about smell/taste called I Taste Red that explains the scientific principles underlying this phenomenon.

[hoovarmin]

Yes, this is a well known and documented phenomena

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

leftovers always taste smokier.. unless you take a shower, change your clothes, whatever after cooking, do it during the rest period.

[Jerod Broussard]

Smoked meat is so unappealing when you've messed with it all night. The sleep deprivation only amplifies it. Then that gut wrenching alarm noise of the digital thermometers. Geez, I'll feel my blood pressure going up just typing this out.

[Stuey1515]

Take a good long smell of fresh ground coffee beans to cleanse you're senses, makes a huge difference

[jfmorris]

You've gone "nose blind" as one commercial says...

Being exposed to the smoke coming from the smoker all day numbs your senses to the smoke aroma AND flavor of the food you've prepared. I at least change shirts and wash my face before dinner, and it seems to help, but even then, the leftovers often taste smokier to me the next day. Just the price we pay I guess...

[Starsky]

This is all very interesting advice

[JustKyle]

I had never really thought about all of this until reading through y’all’s advice. Typically I shower and what not after cooking so I don’t smell like smoke. The suggestions are great, never really thought about the coffee smelling to clear the olfactory senses.

[HotSun]

Same here. I like to come to dinner in a clean, smoke-free shirt. I'll have to try the coffee trick Stuey1515 suggests.

[jhapka]

I rinsed off the ribs in the shower, now what do I do?

[ofelles]

now is the time to boil them for the finish.

[Max Good]

Before it hits your plate, you already stuffed yourself with your eyes and nose. Happens to me all the time.

[theroc]

To emphasize what everyone else is saying, this is absolutely true. And it isn't limited to smoking. I remember back to my days as a cook in a steakhouse. After slinging steaks all night the last thing I could stomach was a piece of beef. Shocking i know.