Does the MAK with hickory pellets over smoke your meat?

[Bob C Cue]

A neighbor friend recently got a MAK 1 Star and is extremely happy with it. The only problem for him and his wife is that the Bear Mountain hickory pellets that shipped with the grill produced a bit more smoke flavor than they prefer. He switched to a Weber blend that produced a lighter smoke flavor they they really like. They feel that it's closer to the charcoal flavor they are used to.

True story.

 

[tom b]

Well actually yes. I have felt that 100% hickory pellets on smoke setting over night was more smoke that I was looking for. Even more smoke that I get from a cleanly run stick burner. Never got a charcoal flavor though.

 

[rwalters]

Definitely subjective. I use Bear Mountain (almost said BM, but that’s weird… lol) hickory pellets all the time. Never have I felt food is over smoked. Tom mentioned 100% hickory being to heavy for him. Bear Mountain are not 100%.

 

[JGarvey]

I prefer Bear Mountain Hickory as well. No one has complained about being too smoky. I have tried Bear Mountain oak, apple, & cherry but have gone back to Hickory.

 

[DBBQ]

No, when I had my Mak, I never thought anything was over smoked.

 

[Bob C Cue]

My friend does cook at 225° the whole time so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[rwalters]

My friend does cook at 225° the whole time so maybe that has something to do with it.

Still say taste is subjective. I have smoked start to finish @ 210° many times. Never over smoked to ‘our’ tastes. [emoji2371]

 

[Bob C Cue]

Still say taste is subjective. I have smoked start to finish @ 210° many times. Never over smoked to ‘our’ tastes. [emoji2371]

But you are one tough heavy duty smokin' hombre if there was one!

 

[Fishwater2002]

I had an experience a few years back with hickory pellets & have sworn them off since, just the smell makes me queasy. I did a tray of Mac & Cheese & a prime rib on my pellet grill with hickory, the entire smoke I was not liking the smell but forged ahead since I made it all. I could barely eat it when I sat down then got sick that night after eating & haven’t made smoked Mac & cheese or used any form of hickory since. Since then any other pellet or charcoal is fine, could have been a fluke but I’ll never try hickory again.

 

[jkief]

BM hickory is my go to. They’re extremely hard to find in my area. Tractor Supply has BM, but not the hickory. I’ve used B&B, but prefer BM. To be fair though, my 1 Star does produce a heavier smoke profile over the Yoder, so depending on preference, I can see that from a MAK.