Creosote in the Drum

DDave · Dec 29, 2008

I was cleaning the grate on my drum today in preparation for a 5 pound butt that is going on New Year's Day and there seemed to be an awful lot of oily creosote residue on the grate. I have 8 - 1/2" holes in the lid and whenever I was test firing it and the one time I cooked on it, all of the holes were open. I only blocked them off at the end of the fatty cook to put the fire out.

Should I remove the grate at the end of the cook when I am putting the fire out? There seems to be a lot of residue on the lid as well. Do you just clean it real good before each use?

On edit: It was fairly cool and damp out the times I have been using it. Is this more of a winter time problem that may clear up when the weather warms up a bit?

Thanks.

Dave

Midnight Smoke · Dec 29, 2008

DDave said:
I was cleaning the grate on my drum today in preparation for a 5 pound butt that is going on New Year's Day and there seemed to be an awful lot of oily creosote residue on the grate. I have 8 - 1/2" holes in the lid and whenever I was test firing it and the one time I cooked on it, all of the holes were open. I only blocked them off at the end of the fatty cook to put the fire out.

Should I remove the grate at the end of the cook when I am putting the fire out? There seems to be a lot of residue on the lid as well. Do you just clean it real good before each use?

On edit: It was fairly cool and damp out the times I have been using it. Is this more of a winter time problem that may clear up when the weather warms up a bit?

Thanks.

Dave

Sounds like you had a lot of smoke and a very low heat.

Did you season the Drum?

I always use a grill brush on my grate at the end and the start of every cook.

swamprb · Dec 30, 2008

Sounds normal to me.
I have tendancy to use too much smoke wood in the drums and have received Judges comments like "creoste or liquid smoke taste".
I use the weed burner to burn off the crusties on the grate before i cook and wire brush or use a wad of foil to clean it off.
Are you using lump?
Try cutting back on the smoke wood or bury it in the charcoal basket.

Cliff H. · Dec 30, 2008

I ran into similar problems this week with a flat lid. The dome lids don't collect drippings. I hate seeing black drips in the middle of my brisket.

I don't think it is creasote. I think it is moisture that is forming due to the high humidity inside and outside the smoker.

Ashmont · Dec 30, 2008

LOL A friend of mine just recently did 8 butts in s WSM. Dont ask me how he managed that jigsaw puzzle. Any way at the end of the cook (16 hours) he took everything off and went inside. Left the lid off the WSM and minutes later I look out to his WSM and it looked like an F18 taking off full burn..... Even sounded like it as well! he turned to me and said I guess I need to clean it more often...... Beer please!!!!!!!!!!!!

bbq lover · Dec 30, 2008

I HAVE a pellet eating stainless drum and my lid is flat .. but get alot of moister all meat and chicken is very juicey more so then the bbq and or masterbuilt smoker

CajunSmoker · Dec 30, 2008

Cliff H. said:
I ran into similar problems this week with a flat lid. The dome lids don't collect drippings. I hate seeing black drips in the middle of my brisket.

I don't think it is creasote. I think it is moisture that is forming due to the high humidity inside and outside the smoker.

Yep, when I was using my weber lid on the UDS the moisture would run down the lid and down the side of the barrel. With the flat lids I get an occasional drop on my meat. I don't get any creosote taste though.

Divemaster · Dec 30, 2008

I think what you are seeing is a natural version of 'Liquid Smoke'... Basically smoke that has collected within moisture drops... Give her a good cleaning and you should be fine... (BTW, I find the same thing on my Lang if I'm cooking a ton of meat at one time...)

DDave · Dec 30, 2008

Thanks for the input, guys.

Pork Smoker said:
Did you season the Drum?

Yes

swamprb said:
Are you using lump?

I have used two bags of Kingsford briquettes, about half a bag of Royal Oak briquettes and one bag of lump (Cowboy) but am going to pick up some Lazzari lump.

Cliff H. said:
I don't think it is creasote. I think it is moisture that is forming due to the high humidity inside and outside the smoker.

Divemaster said:
I think what you are seeing is a natural version of 'Liquid Smoke'... Basically smoke that has collected within moisture drops...

I think you guys might be right. I noticed that my SnP which hasn't been lit since the brisket I smoked the first week of November is getting a little moisture in it which is turning the inside coating (seasoning) a little wet and oily feeling. I know the inside of this smoker was dry when I cleaned it out after the brisket. I guess I'll have to keep an eye on it in the damper weather.

Thanks again.

Dave

BigAl · Dec 30, 2008

Divemaster said:
I think what you are seeing is a natural version of 'Liquid Smoke'... Basically smoke that has collected within moisture drops... Give her a good cleaning and you should be fine... (BTW, I find the same thing on my Lang if I'm cooking a ton of meat at one time...)

Great looking advar !!!!!!:icon_wink:shock::eusa_clap:biggrin:

DDave · Dec 30, 2008

BigAl said:
Great looking advar !!!!!!:icon_wink:shock::eusa_clap:biggrin:

Thanks! It's my first drum, but I think it turned out okay.

OH!!, You meant Divemaster. :biggrin: Yeah, that is a nice avatar.

Dave

JD McGee · Dec 30, 2008

This is what the outside of my drum looked like after loading it to the gills with 2 racks of chicken thighs...about 5 dozen. There was so much moisture that the black food build up on the dome dripped down all over the drum. None got on the food though...love the dome lids!

Before...just fired up...

After...

Please pardon the scorched bottom...that was Swamprb's fault! :twisted: He doesn't seem very upset that he just trashed my drum though...does he?

Meat Burner · Dec 31, 2008

JD, same drippings on my drums when cold or real humid outside. Comet Spray Gel works better than anything I have tried to clean it off. My drums are painted with hi-temp engine paint and the Comet doesn't seem to be a problem at all.
Doesn't look like swanprb is too concerned either way. LOL

Creosote in the Drum

DDave

Knows what a fatty is.

Midnight Smoke

somebody shut me the fark up.

swamprb

somebody shut me the fark up.

Cliff H.

is Blowin Smoke!

Ashmont

Babbling Farker

bbq lover

Guest

CajunSmoker

is One Chatty Farker

Divemaster

somebody shut me the fark up.

DDave

Knows what a fatty is.

BigAl

is One Chatty Farker

DDave

Knows what a fatty is.

JD McGee

somebody shut me the fark up.

Meat Burner

Quintessential Chatty Farker

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