Good Eats Q Episode

[Cliff H.]

Alton Brown made of couple of comments that I am mulling over.

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ2Uj_3v6Dw

LP creates water vapor which acts as barrier between the meat and the smoke. ( For the record, I don use gas anyway ).


Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ka2kpzTAL8

When possible, use whole spices and grind them just before using.

If you brine the butt then there is no need to add salt to the rub.

Flames produce soot and soot is not good to eat.

In the end, Alton's butt didn't pull to easy.

[bigabyte]

Crap. AB's lost his farking mind. I'm torn apart. He was my hero.

[GreasePig]

Originally Posted by bigabyte

Crap. AB's lost his farking mind. I'm torn apart. He was my hero.

LOL I LOVED that episode!

[91vw03]

Flames do produce soot. That's why you want your "fire" to smolder

One I watched yesterday, he made pork wellington.

[landarc]

I think he is right on with all of that. LP gas does create additional moisture when burned, it is why most pastry bakers use electric or gas convection and do not use regular gas ovens unless the are making soft breads.

I do not brine butts, but, if I did,I would not use salt on the rub, as that would be too salty. I do not cook over a fire giving off soot either.

Alton is not my hero

[Harbormaster]

ALL combustion produces water vapor as a byproduct.
Whenever a hydrocarbon is ignited in the presence of oxygen, you will end up with carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water, among various other chemicals.

Just sayin'.

[bigabyte]

To get clean smoke, you want clean burning coals, meaning as much air as they can naturally pull in. A flame is usually produced before the coal stage, while a wood is burning off lots of resins and stuff which come out as flammable gases. It is sadly not "flame" that causes soot. You can have clean burning coals and begin suffocating your fire and produce soot. Soot is produced by an inefficient burn.

[Cliff H.]

I agree with AB on most everything. The only exception I take is the flame/soot statement.

When I am using a stick burner, I shoot for a small fire. I am wanting a nice size bed of coals and one stick fully engulfed at all times.

Am I in need of rebuke ?

[chasmosis]

I really like Alton and I watch his show when I can. There have been a number of things I've disagreed with him on over the years as well.

Something I definitely disagreed with him on was his Turkey Frying Episode when he went to great lengths for safety building the Turkey Crane out of a step ladder then he didn't turn off the burner when he put the Turkey in... When I fry Turkey's I always turn off the burner when I put the Turkey in, then when the grease settles down after a minute, you re-light the burner.

Alton failed me that day

[Bbq Bubba]

Originally Posted by 91vw03

Flames do produce soot. That's why you want your "fire" to smolder

Actually you have that backwards.
You want a small clean burning fire which leaves no impurities period.
If your smoking with smoldering wood your not getting as clean a "smoke" as you could.

[Smokin' D]

I'm certainly no scientist, but when I'm firing up the mini reverse flow I use propane gas. Lump and wood chunks in the fire box. While the propane is in use there is a lot of water vapor/condensation on the inside of the smoke chamber. Once the gas is turned off the water goes away. So from my simple point of view, burning gas produces more water vapor than lump charcoal.
Just sayin'.

[bigabyte]

I actually don't have any problems with the other points in the show, I agree pretty much. The brining of the butt is a bit weird though. It's tough to brine a butt. Injecting is better, perhaps he injected? I didn't see the show, but of the points listed, I know the one about flames/soot is not correct.