ProQ 20 Excel First Time Cooking

[Tucker]

So I have started the smoker up to smoke some chicken, however I am still getting the same acrid smelling smoke... should all the coals be white hot before starting the cooking?

I'm using Big K lump-wood charcoal has anyone else had issues using this?

[Steve]

How have you set up?

Are you doing minion method for the coals?

Have ou lit your coals in a chimney starter?

Can you post a picture so that we can see what's happening?

I've used Big K lump plenty and it's fine for me

[Tucker]

Hiya,

Yes Im using the minion method and lit the coals in a chimney starter.

I poured roughly 2 x the amount of unlit coals into the bottom grate and then pourd the lit coals over these.

Im geeting an almost coal smell i.e. the type of smell from a steam train.

[Steve]

Ok, sounds like you're lighting up in the normal way.

That's pretty much what I do. The smell you're describing is definitely not right.

Was the chimney lit properly before you put the coals in the smoker?

Is the charcoal new or old? Could it have gotten damp?

[Blazing]

Try asking you butcher for "Jacobs ladder" - tell him you need them cut short. If he shows you a jacobs ladder - you should be able to tell him the size you want. Much of the butchery in this country has gone to central cutting plants these days, so you will have to go to a more traditional style butcher, who still butchers bodies of beef. You may also need to give him notice. Hope this helps.

Andy Annat (Blazing)

[Tucker]

Thanks Blazing, I will ask for that.

Steve - The Charcoal was defo well lit, it was nearly all white hot. The coal could have got damp as this was bought just after Xmas from the garden centre an I am gussing this was left over from last year. Could damp charcoal cause this type of effect? Is there away to get around this? I have bought another pack of charcoal from them today and used a few hand-fulls on todays burn.

[Steve]

Honestly, I can't be sure what your problem is. I would think damp charcoal would smoulder more than burn and might smell while doing so.

If your charcoal was well lit, under normal circumstances it sounds like what you're doing is all fine. My first suspect would be the charcoal given what you've told me.

Did you have no wood on the fire when you were getting this smell?

[Tucker]

Yep, it was just the charcoal on its own, I placed the water bath on and it was already starting to smell like oil (engine / steam train)... odd smell. Do you think it could be the pain from the BBQ? this is the second time I have used it so I would have thought any dust / paint / oil would have been burnt off. Not to sure what to try next

[Steve]

Neither of my Excels ever smelled bad on the first burn so I think that we can pretty safely rule that out.

If you had no wood on the fire then it's your fuel. Stupid question but you've not picked up instant lighting stuff by mistake have you? I only ask because I'm struggling to explain your problem.

[Tucker]

Yep, I'm using the normal lunpwood charcoal. Without the easy light va va voom.

I'm going to try and get some different charcoal this weekend.