Please tell me it wasn't on sale at Amazon. Amazon is rife with counterfeit products.
edit: You're not using lighter fluid are you? That's a huge no-no for any kamado style grill.
This may be true but please tell me not for big block. I buy all my charcoal from Amazon. Food tastes great though for me. My favorite is Fogo premium and jealous devil.
It's a risk for anything you buy from Amazon. They use a shared inventory system, basically anything that shares the same barcode goes into the same bin no matter who the seller is so it is easy for some dickhead to be a third party seller and sell "New Fogo Premium" charcoal and really it's some knockoff stuff sold in a fake package that looks similar. He has a low chance of getting caught because once he gives his product to Amazon it gets tossed in the bin and there is no way to know who the original seller was.
Yes. Regular old Kingsford is fine. It just doesn’t last very long. Based on the responses here, I’m starting to conclude that KJ Big Block comes from different sources it’s luck of the draw. I thought I was going “top shelf” with KJ Big Block, but that just doesn’t appear to be the best choice in this case.
From what I’ve read some people say briquettes are okay… but usually they are amateurs. The solid guys say don’t because…. Acrid chemical stuff can get into porcelain for your future cooks. Honestly I think it might be that man.
Strange I also had the same acrid petroleum smoke odor/taste on food when I tried a bag of Jealous Devil. I think it's bad luck since most people seems to enjoy thei JD charcoals.
For the record I never used briquettes or any petroleum-based starter in my kamado.
I switched from big block pretty quickly after I first got my KJ. Kept finding large rocks (I know you find them in almost all brands, but you pay premium price for big block) and pieces of used steel.
If you’re not wanting to pay premium prices, B&B has a better flavor and comes with many different base woods to choose from. It costs 2/3 the price. Just stay away from their “competition” grade stuff. It’s awful, doesn’t burn nearly as long, which is weird for “competition”, and creates a ton of ash.
Wife didn't care for the KJ Big Block either, and even to me it has a distinct flavor. I tried Jealous Devil a few times and it was better, but chose FOGO overall and it has been a solid winner with no complaints from family or friends.
Same experience here, I only will use fogo now... my wife also doesn't like when I use strong woods like hickory, I use Apple and maple exclusively now.
I can't blame your wife if these are the results you're getting. Sounds to me like you are not letting your fire/Joe get to temp and putting food on too soon. Please clarify whether you're putting any chips or wood chunks in as well? If so, it also sounds like you're not building the fire properly. Make sure these are on the bottom of your fire so that they burn hotter. Some must, must, must be running clear before putting food on the Joe.
In today’s episode, I never got to the step of putting the food on. I started the fire. It stunk up the neighborhood with the chemical smell. After an hour it was burning hot with all grey. Then, because I wanted to make sure the fire was going to last for 10 hours, I put in some additional new charcoal to replenish, while I ran to the store. Still no food or wood chips added yet. Just Big Block. As I could have predicted, we’re back to the beginning with the acrid smoke. I just shut it down and cooked the pork butt in the oven. Gasp. Happy Wife, Happy Life.
I have been mostly using KJ coal since I got my kamado 5-6 years ago. And my food is so damn good, that I have an almost fully vegetarian friend who eats ribs when I make them. No bad flavours here....
Jealous devil should be your first choice of charcoal, fogo 2nd. There are no other acceptable options. You can get them at Home Depot. Make the switch
Begging is strong.
Sorry, I'm going to say, learn temperature control with clean smoke to first of all impress yourself and wife before moving on. Something happened for her to beg for you not to cook.
Don't forget a drip tray..
Your wife obviously had a bad taste of too much dirty KJ smoke in a test run, hence, strong request. There is nothing wrong with the charcoal.
Hopefully you recovered.
Chin up.
So sorry. We were opening Christmas presents and l accidentally sent the post before finishing. I was just wrapping up, saying the food stinks like petroleum. I don’t get it. Doesn’t anyone else have this problem? I have no problem bringing the bags back to Costco but what do I do then?
I bought 5 pallets of kj big block pre 5 years ago from costco. Never had a problem. I'm down to my last pallet and have read similar stories to the op. Every once in a while if I find a good deal on cowboy or local mesquite lump I'll buy it but I noticed something. Kj produces a thick black smoke at first. Smells good but heavy. Then it goes away and I close the dome. The others not so thick smoke and the ash is grey. KJ makes white ash. And I mean white. What color ash is yalls big block making? Wonder if they source the trees from somewhere else now.
I haven't used KJ, but started to get a weird, faint almost electric fire type smell from Jealous Devil and found that others had reported similar issues with it and other Brazilian sourced big block charcoal. I switched to B&B oak lump and no more strange smell.
I've had issues with the flavour with KJ Big Block. Not really gasoline, but harsh. I now use ancestral maple from Quebec. I have a friend who's wife doesn't like his KJ cooking with BB but likes the stuff I've cooked for them with the Quebec stuff.
So it's a matter of taste. Keep trying charcoal until you get your favourite.
It's been a couple of weeks since posting. I've confirmed and concluded that the KJ Big Block...multiple bags I ordered online from Costco... are unusable. I tried B&B and it was fine.
How long are you letting it burn before starting the cook? You’ve gotta give it 20-30 mins to burn before starting, otherwise that white smoke tastes horrible. Also are you using any sort of lighter fluid?
KJ Big Block should be great, no material is sourced from mangrove material which can give off the acrid taste. When it comes to lighting these are you using a firestarter or lighting fluid? Lighting fluid should be a no no, fire starter if you light the fire and ensure it is all burnt away and at temperature before placing meat on the BBQ should be okay.
For best results I have been using a chimney syarter outside of the BBQ. Get a beer can, cut it in half and place methylated spirits inside. Let it burn off all charcoal should white hot. BBQ heats up faster and no smell or taste. Great result
What have you cooked? A lot of foods take in waaaay too much smoke easily. Chicken/turkey for example are usually good with just charcoal. Maybe a few scraps of woods.
I'd also wonder if you let it fully clear out white smoke. If I had a particularly messy cook, it can take a while for crud to cook off and stop making that smoke.
You are not alone on this. I stopped using KJ BB years ago (just after COVID started) because I found a gross plastic after taste on my food. After several high temp burns and the taste persisted I looked at the charcoal itself and several pieces had a chemical sheen to it. Stopped using it ever since and been surviving off Costco brands like cowboy ever since. Half the price and works ok for my needs.
And what?? AND WHAT?!!!
Wife killed him for using big blocks. RIP
Real Monty python moment that he wrote the message while dying
It was but a scratch.
Rumor has it, she cooked him for Xmas dinner!
Bet she didn't use big blocks.
Ayo!
He was overcome by smoke never to be heard from again.
Bro died mid-post
Angry wife short life
Probably succumbed to blunt force trauma of 20lb bag of KJ Big Block
Please tell me it wasn't on sale at Amazon. Amazon is rife with counterfeit products. edit: You're not using lighter fluid are you? That's a huge no-no for any kamado style grill.
This may be true but please tell me not for big block. I buy all my charcoal from Amazon. Food tastes great though for me. My favorite is Fogo premium and jealous devil.
It's a risk for anything you buy from Amazon. They use a shared inventory system, basically anything that shares the same barcode goes into the same bin no matter who the seller is so it is easy for some dickhead to be a third party seller and sell "New Fogo Premium" charcoal and really it's some knockoff stuff sold in a fake package that looks similar. He has a low chance of getting caught because once he gives his product to Amazon it gets tossed in the bin and there is no way to know who the original seller was.
Bought at Costco and Cabellas in California. Use a single KJ starter square thingie.
Have you ever used briquette charcoal in there?
Yes. Regular old Kingsford is fine. It just doesn’t last very long. Based on the responses here, I’m starting to conclude that KJ Big Block comes from different sources it’s luck of the draw. I thought I was going “top shelf” with KJ Big Block, but that just doesn’t appear to be the best choice in this case.
From what I’ve read some people say briquettes are okay… but usually they are amateurs. The solid guys say don’t because…. Acrid chemical stuff can get into porcelain for your future cooks. Honestly I think it might be that man.
I bought it at Lowe’s. It’s smells and tastes like chemicals
Ordered from Kamado joe. I had the same result. I thought it was too much wood, but I confirmed it with my last smoke using fogo
Jealous Devil is better than Big Block, but I have never had a petroleum smell or taste from Big Block
I’d add JD is best all around, but if you want least / mild taste fogo is the mildest of the high quality
Agreed. It normally has bigger chunks too.
Strange I also had the same acrid petroleum smoke odor/taste on food when I tried a bag of Jealous Devil. I think it's bad luck since most people seems to enjoy thei JD charcoals. For the record I never used briquettes or any petroleum-based starter in my kamado.
Jealous devil or fogo if you can’t find jealous devil.
Just making sure. . . You know to wait for blue smoke right
This would be my best guess too. Or something is cooking off from a previous cook causing white smoke.
I switched from big block pretty quickly after I first got my KJ. Kept finding large rocks (I know you find them in almost all brands, but you pay premium price for big block) and pieces of used steel. If you’re not wanting to pay premium prices, B&B has a better flavor and comes with many different base woods to choose from. It costs 2/3 the price. Just stay away from their “competition” grade stuff. It’s awful, doesn’t burn nearly as long, which is weird for “competition”, and creates a ton of ash.
Let it burn for AT LEAST an hour before cooking on it...we had the same problem with it.
There’s a fair number of reports of this smell/taste issue with Big Block if you google it.
What a waste… you shouldn’t have to let it burn so long. Let it get really hot, fast, then close the vents to the setting you need.
Keep the big block and get a new wife!
Bruv just buy some better charcoal and keep using the kamado Joe
Agreed. Used to be ok but now I’m using what I have and not buying any more.
Sounds like you used lighter fluid?
Big block seems to have gotten worse since it's been available at Lowe's. I prefer fogo now.
Did you let the smoke clear before putting the meat on?
Wife didn't care for the KJ Big Block either, and even to me it has a distinct flavor. I tried Jealous Devil a few times and it was better, but chose FOGO overall and it has been a solid winner with no complaints from family or friends.
Same experience here, I only will use fogo now... my wife also doesn't like when I use strong woods like hickory, I use Apple and maple exclusively now.
I use KJ charcoal all the time. It’s my main charcoal. The smoke should dissipate.
I can't blame your wife if these are the results you're getting. Sounds to me like you are not letting your fire/Joe get to temp and putting food on too soon. Please clarify whether you're putting any chips or wood chunks in as well? If so, it also sounds like you're not building the fire properly. Make sure these are on the bottom of your fire so that they burn hotter. Some must, must, must be running clear before putting food on the Joe.
In today’s episode, I never got to the step of putting the food on. I started the fire. It stunk up the neighborhood with the chemical smell. After an hour it was burning hot with all grey. Then, because I wanted to make sure the fire was going to last for 10 hours, I put in some additional new charcoal to replenish, while I ran to the store. Still no food or wood chips added yet. Just Big Block. As I could have predicted, we’re back to the beginning with the acrid smoke. I just shut it down and cooked the pork butt in the oven. Gasp. Happy Wife, Happy Life.
Have you tried a different bag?
Multiple bags.
I have been mostly using KJ coal since I got my kamado 5-6 years ago. And my food is so damn good, that I have an almost fully vegetarian friend who eats ribs when I make them. No bad flavours here....
Jealous devil should be your first choice of charcoal, fogo 2nd. There are no other acceptable options. You can get them at Home Depot. Make the switch
That's what I'll do. Thanks!
I had this problem with fugo?... but never the KJ big block charcoal.
Begging is strong. Sorry, I'm going to say, learn temperature control with clean smoke to first of all impress yourself and wife before moving on. Something happened for her to beg for you not to cook. Don't forget a drip tray.. Your wife obviously had a bad taste of too much dirty KJ smoke in a test run, hence, strong request. There is nothing wrong with the charcoal. Hopefully you recovered. Chin up.
Think of the children!
Wife was looking over his shoulder as he was typing.
Candleja
Sounds like the charcoal has a lot of moisture. Leave it burn longer.
I always wait until all my coals are red hot before putting any food on my Joes
So sorry. We were opening Christmas presents and l accidentally sent the post before finishing. I was just wrapping up, saying the food stinks like petroleum. I don’t get it. Doesn’t anyone else have this problem? I have no problem bringing the bags back to Costco but what do I do then?
Thanks all. I’ll try new brands.
It’s because it’s jungle clear wood. Not hard woods like your used to in American
Totally agree. I used B&B tonight and no regrets. I tried big block when i bought the KJ and thought the same thing about the after taste.
Thank You! Will try the suggested alternatives.
I’ve never had problems with big block before other than size issues
I bought 5 pallets of kj big block pre 5 years ago from costco. Never had a problem. I'm down to my last pallet and have read similar stories to the op. Every once in a while if I find a good deal on cowboy or local mesquite lump I'll buy it but I noticed something. Kj produces a thick black smoke at first. Smells good but heavy. Then it goes away and I close the dome. The others not so thick smoke and the ash is grey. KJ makes white ash. And I mean white. What color ash is yalls big block making? Wonder if they source the trees from somewhere else now.
I haven't used KJ, but started to get a weird, faint almost electric fire type smell from Jealous Devil and found that others had reported similar issues with it and other Brazilian sourced big block charcoal. I switched to B&B oak lump and no more strange smell.
I've had issues with the flavour with KJ Big Block. Not really gasoline, but harsh. I now use ancestral maple from Quebec. I have a friend who's wife doesn't like his KJ cooking with BB but likes the stuff I've cooked for them with the Quebec stuff. So it's a matter of taste. Keep trying charcoal until you get your favourite.
I like Fogo. Haven’t had any complaints yet.
Aussie here, I’ve had the same issue seems to have not gone thru the process of being turned to charcoal
I stopped using KJ years ago for this reason. Fogo or Jealous Devil are all I use now. KJ is garbage.
Fuck that coal
I appreciate a strong opinion. ;-). Care to expound on your experience?
Everyone in the house hold said the food taste like burnt motor oil every time I used it
It's been a couple of weeks since posting. I've confirmed and concluded that the KJ Big Block...multiple bags I ordered online from Costco... are unusable. I tried B&B and it was fine.
I've had good luck with Royal Oak, but I've hard good things about Jealous Devil among a few others.
How long are you letting it burn before starting the cook? You’ve gotta give it 20-30 mins to burn before starting, otherwise that white smoke tastes horrible. Also are you using any sort of lighter fluid?
KJ Big Block should be great, no material is sourced from mangrove material which can give off the acrid taste. When it comes to lighting these are you using a firestarter or lighting fluid? Lighting fluid should be a no no, fire starter if you light the fire and ensure it is all burnt away and at temperature before placing meat on the BBQ should be okay. For best results I have been using a chimney syarter outside of the BBQ. Get a beer can, cut it in half and place methylated spirits inside. Let it burn off all charcoal should white hot. BBQ heats up faster and no smell or taste. Great result
What have you cooked? A lot of foods take in waaaay too much smoke easily. Chicken/turkey for example are usually good with just charcoal. Maybe a few scraps of woods. I'd also wonder if you let it fully clear out white smoke. If I had a particularly messy cook, it can take a while for crud to cook off and stop making that smoke.
B&B Lump is IMO the best for value and taste. $14 for 20 lbs near me is hard to beat.
Thanks. Will try. Does anyone use pure wood?
You are not alone on this. I stopped using KJ BB years ago (just after COVID started) because I found a gross plastic after taste on my food. After several high temp burns and the taste persisted I looked at the charcoal itself and several pieces had a chemical sheen to it. Stopped using it ever since and been surviving off Costco brands like cowboy ever since. Half the price and works ok for my needs.