After reading some posts, i did my last smoke using "play sand" that i picked up from Ace Hardware. I washed the sand in a 5 gal buckets, using plain water. I then dried it and put in the water pan. However, it seems to have an odor, not necessarily offensive, but a distinct odor. Is this normal and will it impact a flavor or smell in the food? I like the sand heat sync, but worry this odor will adversely impart flavor on the food.
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Sand in water pan, has smell?
- Thread starter DavidD
- Start date
Larry Wolfe
Closed Account
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Davidd:
After reading some posts, i did my last smoke using "play sand" that i picked up from Ace Hardware. I washed the sand in a 5 gal buckets, using plain water. I then dried it and put in the water pan. However, it seems to have an odor, not necessarily offensive, but a distinct odor. Is this normal and will it impact a flavor or smell in the food? I like the sand heat sync, but worry this odor will adversely impart flavor on the food. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
David,
I only use sand in one of my WSM's (2 firebricks in the other) and it's the same sand I've had in there for close to 5 years now, because it hardened like concrete. I don't recall any odor when I first put it in, but I would not worry about it. If it concerns you do a dry run at higher temps to try to burn it off. But me personally, I wouldn't worry about it.
After reading some posts, i did my last smoke using "play sand" that i picked up from Ace Hardware. I washed the sand in a 5 gal buckets, using plain water. I then dried it and put in the water pan. However, it seems to have an odor, not necessarily offensive, but a distinct odor. Is this normal and will it impact a flavor or smell in the food? I like the sand heat sync, but worry this odor will adversely impart flavor on the food. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
David,
I only use sand in one of my WSM's (2 firebricks in the other) and it's the same sand I've had in there for close to 5 years now, because it hardened like concrete. I don't recall any odor when I first put it in, but I would not worry about it. If it concerns you do a dry run at higher temps to try to burn it off. But me personally, I wouldn't worry about it.
Larry Wolfe
Closed Account
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jerry N.:
I wouldn't/didn't wash the sand. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I agree.....If it's like the sand I had, it said it was sterilized already.
I wouldn't/didn't wash the sand. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I agree.....If it's like the sand I had, it said it was sterilized already.
Dave Hutson
TVWBB Super Fan
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Larry Wolfe:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Davidd:
After reading some posts, i did my last smoke using "play sand" that i picked up from Ace Hardware. I washed the sand in a 5 gal buckets, using plain water. I then dried it and put in the water pan. However, it seems to have an odor, not necessarily offensive, but a distinct odor. Is this normal and will it impact a flavor or smell in the food? I like the sand heat sync, but worry this odor will adversely impart flavor on the food. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
David,
I only use sand in one of my WSM's (2 firebricks in the other) and it's the same sand I've had in there for close to 5 years now, because it hardened like concrete. I don't recall any odor when I first put it in, but I would not worry about it. If it concerns you do a dry run at higher temps to try to burn it off. But me personally, I wouldn't worry about it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I would say that, essentially, your sand has BECOME a firebrick old bean! I never washed my sand and do not notice any aroma other than a strong oversmoked one
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Davidd:
After reading some posts, i did my last smoke using "play sand" that i picked up from Ace Hardware. I washed the sand in a 5 gal buckets, using plain water. I then dried it and put in the water pan. However, it seems to have an odor, not necessarily offensive, but a distinct odor. Is this normal and will it impact a flavor or smell in the food? I like the sand heat sync, but worry this odor will adversely impart flavor on the food. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
David,
I only use sand in one of my WSM's (2 firebricks in the other) and it's the same sand I've had in there for close to 5 years now, because it hardened like concrete. I don't recall any odor when I first put it in, but I would not worry about it. If it concerns you do a dry run at higher temps to try to burn it off. But me personally, I wouldn't worry about it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I would say that, essentially, your sand has BECOME a firebrick old bean! I never washed my sand and do not notice any aroma other than a strong oversmoked one
Steve Petrone
TVWBB Platinum Member
Or try no sand in a Piedmont pan.
Tom Barineau
TVWBB Super Fan
I used "play sand" for awhile. It supposedly has been washed and dried, so as to be safe for "play", in a sandbox, I presume. However, no matter how many layers of foil I used, even with extra heavy duty, I always seemed to get grease dripping thru into the sand.
While the grease probably doesn't hurt anything, it does become rancid and smells, and if left too long will indeed become like a firebrick and almost impossible to get out of the water pan.
Just MY experience.
While the grease probably doesn't hurt anything, it does become rancid and smells, and if left too long will indeed become like a firebrick and almost impossible to get out of the water pan.
Just MY experience.