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User Guidelines and Instructions => Basics for a Beginner => Topic started by: epr25 on April 02, 2020, 02:39:30 PM

Title: Large puffs of smoke while seasoning?
Post by: epr25 on April 02, 2020, 02:39:30 PM

I’m seasoning my smoker it’s been running for about an hour now. There are 2 blocks of the provided wood in the smoke house the temp is set at 250 as instructed. Twice the smoker has done a large puff or whoosh of smoke. Is this normal? Or is this just part of the first time seasoning?

Title: Re: Large puffs of smoke while seasoning?
Post by: mike1910 on April 02, 2020, 03:28:15 PM

I’m not expert when it comes to this but I think you’re describing the ‘belch.’ And yes it’s normal. There’s a few different theories about if it’s wood catching fire or gasses exploding etc. Either way, I wouldn’t worry.

Title: Re: Large puffs of smoke while seasoning?
Post by: swthorpe on April 02, 2020, 04:46:46 PM

Yes, this sounds like what we have lovingly call "the belch".  It is typically caused by dry wood that catches fire when the heat gets to about 180 or so in the smoker.   After the belch, the wood should smoke fine.   You can find lots of posts on the discussion board about what others have tried to minimize the belch, such as foil wrapping the wood, or using wood chunks with a higher moisture content.

Title: Re: Large puffs of smoke while seasoning?
Post by: Pork Belly on April 05, 2020, 01:56:34 PM

Stop watching your smoker. Put wood in, set the temp and walk away. Watching smoke and temps will make you crazy.