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Author Topic: Bad tasting smoked meat?  (Read 4180 times)

Online Sakko300wsm

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Bad tasting smoked meat?
« on: May 05, 2019, 06:07:05 PM »
I have a Green Mountain Grill smoker - use Traeger pellets . I’ve had a couple times the meat comes off with a bad “fuel” flavor? I know it has nothing to do with the meat or pellets I’m using ( as it has happened with another brand as well) .
Any ideas??

Offline Timberstalker

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2019, 06:22:14 PM »
Can you describe this “bad fuel” flavor?

The only thing I can think of is a bitter taste from oversmoking.
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Offline jrebel

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2019, 06:28:16 PM »
Traeger pellets use oils and flavor infused wood...if I'm not mistaking.  I would use a better pellet personally.   :tup:

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2019, 06:29:31 PM »
Was actually short ribs wrapped in foil to make them not very Smokey flavored( 225 for 5 hrs) other times was a whole chicken and a pork roast .
None was over smoked - just ended up with a bad flavor.
Has been a couple uses since I cleaned it?

Offline jrebel

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2019, 06:34:27 PM »
Was actually short ribs wrapped in foil to make them not very Smokey flavored( 225 for 5 hrs) other times was a whole chicken and a pork roast .
None was over smoked - just ended up with a bad flavor.
Has been a couple uses since I cleaned it?

Never clean a smoker......ever!!  Vacuum out the ash and keep cooking.  Brush the great if needed....but never clean.  Did you use chemicals to clean it?  That could be it too.

Offline dscubame

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2019, 06:50:47 PM »
Ditch the Traeger pellets, no bueno.
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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #6 on: May 05, 2019, 07:01:21 PM »
Zero chemicals used - all I ever do is shop vac it.
Have had this happen from 2 brands of pellets. Maybe they both suck? Usually everything turns out perfect! Has only happened a few times - don’t get it tho

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #7 on: May 05, 2019, 07:10:29 PM »
have never used that type of smoker or Traeger pellets but what type of smoke is coming out of the unit ? IMHO 225 is a pretty low temp to run your smoker.  if you're getting a lot of smoke the temp is to low.  if you're getting white smoke the temp is to low.  I can run my Bradley at 225 and the pucks run an almost clear/blue smoke and that's about right but would think the compressed pellets would take more heat to burn them clean
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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2019, 07:34:13 PM »
one more thing is to keep your air/smoke vents coming out of the unit wide open...you don't want to tamper it down.  too much or harsh smoke will make it acrid
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Offline The Weazle

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #9 on: May 05, 2019, 08:21:02 PM »
I have a friend that uses a green egg, and I have a Bradley.  I don’t like his meats.  They always taste a little off.  He uses pellets, not sure of brand, but I’ll ask him when he gets home from deployment.  Mine almost taste undersmoked, but never have an off flavor...
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Offline j_h_nimrod

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #10 on: May 05, 2019, 08:37:46 PM »
have never used that type of smoker or Traeger pellets but what type of smoke is coming out of the unit ? IMHO 225 is a pretty low temp to run your smoker.  if you're getting a lot of smoke the temp is to low.  if you're getting white smoke the temp is to low.  I can run my Bradley at 225 and the pucks run an almost clear/blue smoke and that's about right but would think the compressed pellets would take more heat to burn them clean

Unless they changed the design of the Bradley in the last year or two, the smoke generator is entirely independent of the temp setting and has a constant temp.

All I can think for the off flavor is leaving the vents closed too tightly and having a moist meat surface that is accumulating the volatile, unburned smoke components, the “tar”.  A too cool or hot of a smoke generator may also give an off flavors as well.

Offline Kc_Kracker

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #11 on: May 07, 2019, 10:49:03 AM »
There are 2 common reasons
1-you used ez light briquettes that leave a fuel taste, never use them!
2-your smoke was too thick.

Offline Alchase

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2019, 03:23:54 PM »
have never used that type of smoker or Traeger pellets but what type of smoke is coming out of the unit ? IMHO 225 is a pretty low temp to run your smoker.  if you're getting a lot of smoke the temp is to low.  if you're getting white smoke the temp is to low.  I can run my Bradley at 225 and the pucks run an almost clear/blue smoke and that's about right but would think the compressed pellets would take more heat to burn them clean

Brew, The internal temp setting of your Bradley has nothing to do with the smoke or burn rate of the pucks.
I cold smoke with one of my two Bradley’s all the time. The Smoke Generator is moved six feet from the box which stays at ambient temperature.
Smokes great.
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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2019, 03:39:45 PM »
Agree with j-h-nimrod. I have a Traeger and everything comes out tasting great as long as you leave the vent open and let it breathe. Burning anything creates tar/resign and you want that to be able to escape  before it collects and is absorbed into your meat

Offline Kc_Kracker

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2019, 09:44:53 PM »
yep you want thin light smoke not thick bellowing smoke or it tastes like an ashtray

Offline Blacklab

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #15 on: May 08, 2019, 07:36:57 AM »
 :yeah:

Thin blue smoke (tbs) White smoke is creosote which is a bitter/sour taste.
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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #16 on: May 08, 2019, 10:02:08 AM »
That was most likely the issue!! Just noticed my vent got closed somehow *censored*!

Offline Blacklab

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #17 on: May 08, 2019, 02:29:03 PM »
👍😉🥃

Yes you want your smoke to flow😉🥃. If it dosen’t then it’s stale 😉
« Last Edit: May 08, 2019, 02:42:58 PM by Blacklab »
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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #18 on: May 08, 2019, 03:21:01 PM »
Just threw some pork ribs on to test the theory 🍺
Beef short ribs the other night were #%^*! Horrible

Offline Blacklab

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #19 on: May 08, 2019, 06:49:09 PM »
 It’s only a bad smoke if the dogs don’t eat ir 😂👍😂😂
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Offline trophyelk6x6

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #20 on: May 09, 2019, 04:10:50 PM »
Air circulation, make sure when you smoke the moisture can get out without sweating back on top of your product.  When you open your smoker up touch some of the smokey moisture on rack, walls, or door and taste that.   :yike:

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #21 on: May 09, 2019, 04:56:59 PM »
Trophyelk
I know someone that took his finger to the door. His expression was priceless. Then he was sick the rest of day 😂😂😂
Hey! I'm not a complete idiot I have parts missing. Though sometimes I wonder.

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Offline Kc_Kracker

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Re: Bad tasting smoked meat?
« Reply #22 on: May 13, 2019, 07:49:50 PM »
Trophyelk
I know someone that took his finger to the door. His expression was priceless. Then he was sick the rest of day 😂😂😂
mmmm creosote  :chuckle:

 


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