Tingly pork butt!

[JackMonroe]

Ok, odd question. Built a uds this spring and have been using it to delicious effect. I just have one slightly strange question. Both times I've done pork butt they've been delicious and juicy, but the bark, while very tasty, causes a slightly tingling feeling in my mouth when I eat it. Anyone know what this is or what causes it? Am I poisoning my guests? Just kidding, but does anyone have any ideas?

 

[JbTech]

What kind of rub or seasoning are you using?

 

[IamMadMan]

^ +1 ..... What rub and what type of wood?

 

[Joe Black]

I'll be following this for sure.

 

[WareZdaBeef]

Are you basting with vinegar?

 

[JackMonroe]

I've been using Rudy's Rub. My brother brought it back from his trip to texas. No vinegar. Burning Kingsford with a few chunks of apple wood.

 

[cowgirl]

Interesting.
Are the apple wood chunks from a store? You have to be careful when getting fruit woods from a private source... some trees are treated with pesticides.

Hope the problem goes away, what ever it is. Good luck!

 

[JackMonroe]

Got a big bag of apple wood chunks at Walmart. Used them on ribs several times and haven't experienced the same phenomenon. Of course the ribs weren't in the smoker as long.

 

[Big Swole]

I had the too. Creasote maybe from early white smoke?? I tend to put mine on early before it cleans up.

 

[IamMadMan]

I've been using Rudy's Rub. My brother brought it back from his trip to texas. No vinegar. Burning Kingsford with a few chunks of apple wood.

Rudy's has a substantial amount of black pepper, a fair amount of chili powder in it, as well as some red pepper. It does leave a little pepper bite in the mouth when I used it on pork. In my opinion it doesn't really suit my flavor profile for pork, but it's really awesome on beef... But just because I don't like it for pork, I am sure there are many others who do. When you taste it on your finger you don't notice the heat, more noticeable after cooking.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3586318&postcount=15

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[El Ropo]

If your BBQ makes your mouth tingle, it is from a dirty fire. Creosote buildup on the bark is what causes it.

 

[medic92]

I used to get the same thing, but then I quit using Pop Rocks in my rubs.

 

[Decoy205]

If your BBQ makes your mouth tingle, it is from a dirty fire. Creosote buildup on the bark is what causes it.

I've never experienced this. If it happens now I'll be aware of why. Interesting.

 

[JackMonroe]

If your BBQ makes your mouth tingle, it is from a dirty fire. Creosote buildup on the bark is what causes it.

Ok, so creosote seems to be the leading contender. Tips/advice for avoiding this in the future?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Bigr314]

Bad smoke is the first thing that came to mind.

 

[QQQ]

Ok, so creosote seems to be the leading contender. Tips/advice for avoiding this in the future?

Thanks for the help!

assuming you are using some variation of the minion method (a small amount of lit coals on top of unlit briqs) you might need to wait a little longer for the unlit and wood chunks to burn clean. on my uds it takes 45 mins to an hour until the thick white smoke becomes a thinner blueish smoke. if you are putting your meat on before you a seeing the nice thin blue tinted smoke you could be getting some nasty flavors from the thick white smoke on your meat. hope this helps

 

[Fwismoker]

Crappy fire

What you need is a small hot fire...that small hot fire is warming up and slowly lighting off the unlit is what you want.

 

[Joe Black]

If you find creosote to be the problem, give your smoker a good cleaning. Then re-season the CC. Let your charcoal burn to coals like the above folks have suggested. If you use wood splits, then pre-heat the splits before putting them in. This will give you a much quicker ignition and eliminate too much white smoke.

 

[Single Malt Slacker]

Ok, so creosote seems to be the leading contender. Tips/advice for avoiding this in the future?

Wait for the thin blue smoke before you put your meat on.

 

[RevZiLLa]

Interesting.
Are the apple wood chunks from a store? You have to be careful when getting fruit woods from a private source... some trees are treated with pesticides.

Hope the problem goes away, what ever it is. Good luck!

Quite possible