Pellet Fan
All Things Considered => General Discussion--Non food Related => Topic started by: pmillen on August 08, 2019, 11:58:40 AM
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I periodically read a comment where someone writes about having a clean firepot after completing a cook. A typical one was made when comparing two pits, "I find that the firepot cleanout is easy, and not as often as you might think. The fan seems to keep it blown out of serious ash buildup."
So, where does this ash go? Does all of it go out the chimney?
Do you see it sitting around on the pit's insides?
Is it reasonable to assume that an equal amount is sitting on our food?
How much wood ash are we eating? How much should we be eating?
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Most of the ash gets blown out of the firepot and collects in the bottom of the smoker. On the Memphis, very little makes it to the food area. On some grills, I've seen more ash landing on the food. I don't think it's a concern with the small quantity that we get.
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Never had a problem or really given it much thought about ash on food.
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Never had a problem or really given it much thought about ash on food.
+1
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Most of ash is on the bottom of the pit. Not much seen above. Lot depends on the type of pellet. One brand I tested leaves more ash up above. It has the most bark in it.
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I will try and answer this.
Coata Rica. Very little.
Almost all of it.
No.
Probably less then 1.0g over the course of a month. I have no idea.
So, where does this ash go? Does all of it go out the chimney?
Do you see it sitting around on the pit's insides?
Is it reasonable to assume that an equal amount is sitting on our food?
How much wood ash are we eating? How much should we be eating?
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Never had a problem or really given it much thought about ash on food.
+2
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It's composed of a large amount of calcium carbonate ( good for bone structure) and has several minerals, so it's nutritious. Just an added benefit of cooking with wood.
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And Creosote, and soot, and nitrosamines ???
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Eat more kale. Kale fixes everything...
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I'm sure it's known to cause cancer in the state of California but I don't worry about it. I live in Washington.
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I'm thinking kale has a warning on it in California. :rotf:
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I'm thinking kale has a warning on it in California. :rotf:
If it doesn't it should. :puke:
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I'm sure it's known to cause cancer in the state of California but I don't worry about it. I live in Washington.
I'll bet the reminder is on the pellet sack.
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If ash on their food concerns anyone, I would suggest not cooking on a pellet grill. To me, I don't care. I will take the limited risk.
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I'm sure it's known to cause cancer in the state of California but I don't worry about it. I live in Washington.
I'll bet the reminder is on the pellet sack.
Yup the warning is on the lower left hand corner on the back side of your favorite pellets. It has become sort of a joke rather than a warning. Most of those risks are based on statistical manipulation rather than on direct cause and effect. I could convince you of almost anything by statistical analysis.
Example: Let us say that in a big study of 100,000 people exposed to wood ash there were 6 cancer deaths in 5 years. And there were only 4 cancer deaths per/100,000 in those not exposed. They could state that the incidence of Cancer deaths was 50% higher in the wood ash group. And a 50% increase is certainly significant from that viewpoint. What they would not tell you is that the actual risk is .006 % in the exposed group and .004% in the non exposed group. Which is statistically insignificant. That sort of incomplete reporting is used all the time in research to try and market or stop the marketing of a product. Statistical analysis is a great tool, but only if ALL the facts are listed. :2cents:
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If you lived a life just to eliminate all that is bad for you, you would never eat again. ie, red meat grilled/smoked/charred/stewed/braised/raw, doesn't matter how you prepare it, it's all bad for you. Charring up some ribeyes tonight. :lick:
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If you lived a life just to eliminate all that is bad for you, you would never eat again. ie, red meat grilled/smoked/charred/stewed/braised/raw, doesn't matter how you prepare it, it's all bad for you. Charring up some ribeyes tonight. :lick:
I'm with you. :lick:
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I know iv'e ate worse stuff and im still here!
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Hey we all have to go sometime, and we only get to do this thing once. I say enjoy while you can. If cooking on my pellet grill and the ash that is produced exposes me to a .006% chance so be it, (Okie, I know you were only making a point and those are not real verified numbers). At least I can enjoy what I like while I still can.
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Paul, you must be LYAO....
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I'm sure it's known to cause cancer in the state of California but I don't worry about it. I live in Washington.
I'll bet the reminder is on the pellet sack.
Yup the warning is on the lower left hand corner on the back side of your favorite pellets. It has become sort of a joke rather than a warning. Most of those risks are based on statistical manipulation rather than on direct cause and effect. I could convince you of almost anything by statistical analysis.
Example: Let us say that in a big study of 100,000 people exposed to wood ash there were 6 cancer deaths in 5 years. And there were only 4 cancer deaths per/100,000 in those not exposed. They could state that the incidence of Cancer deaths was 50% higher in the wood ash group. And a 50% increase is certainly significant from that viewpoint. What they would not tell you is that the actual risk is .006 % in the exposed group and .004% in the non exposed group. Which is statistically insignificant. That sort of incomplete reporting is used all the time in research to try and market or stop the marketing of a product. Statistical analysis is a great tool, but only if ALL the facts are listed. :2cents:
As much as I would like to leave this alone, I hear this type of argument all too often. This is not how science is done. Statistical analysis is much more sophisticated than that. Only non scientists who are either ignorant of how statistics work, or are trying to be deceptive would do what you describe. Statistics, like any tool, can be misused. Legitimate science frequently gets lumped in with the "how to lie with statistics" crowd. Recognize that by the time you see something in the mainstream media most of the rigor has been stripped away in addition to any discussion on the reliability of the findings, which, by the way, is calculated using statistics.
My first exposure to the issue of burnt material being mutagenic was back in the early 80's when I was a graduate student in chemistry. It was brought up by a visiting scientist during one of our regular seminars. He had stated that all burnt materials were mutagens. It was presented as more of an interesting factoid than a true health concern. But then you never know. We used to do experiments where we put various chlorocarbon compounds on our finger so we could feel cooling by evaporation. Now those chemicals are known carcinogens and are no longer in common use.
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Good point Hank. And what you said is mostly true, and I covered that in my last sentence.
I am sending you a PM.
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I periodically read a comment where someone writes about having a clean firepot after completing a cook. A typical one was made when comparing two pits, "I find that the firepot cleanout is easy, and not as often as you might think. The fan seems to keep it blown out of serious ash buildup."
So, where does this ash go? Does all of it go out the chimney?
Do you see it sitting around on the pit's insides?
Is it reasonable to assume that an equal amount is sitting on our food?
How much wood ash are we eating? How much should we be eating?
I ate dirt as a kid, Elmer's Glue and Playdough, drank water from a hose. Not too worried about it.
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I periodically read a comment where someone writes about having a clean firepot after completing a cook. A typical one was made when comparing two pits, "I find that the firepot cleanout is easy, and not as often as you might think. The fan seems to keep it blown out of serious ash buildup."
So, where does this ash go? Does all of it go out the chimney?
Do you see it sitting around on the pit's insides?
Is it reasonable to assume that an equal amount is sitting on our food?
How much wood ash are we eating? How much should we be eating?
I ate dirt as a kid, Elmer's Glue and Playdough, drank water from a hose. Not too worried about it.
Remember when we were told that activated charcoal was good for our digestion?
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Remember when we were told that activated charcoal was good for our digestion?
I do. I immediately started eating burnt toast to cure a hangover.
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Remember when we were told that activated charcoal was good for our digestion?
I do. I immediately started eating burnt toast to cure a hangover.
Didn't work (I tried it).
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Remember when we were told that activated charcoal was good for our digestion?
I do. I immediately started eating burnt toast to cure a hangover.
"Hangover". Is that a position that a pitmaster preforms? Leaning over his pit to check things out ?
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"Hangover". Is that a position that a pitmaster preforms? Leaning over his pit to check things out ?
Today it more closely relates to my waist.
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I use to get a few hangovers when I was drinking...was always caused by bad ice.
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Our high school football hydration station was a garden hose with rusty nails onto a board hanging on a fence. You would get a break and a coach would turn on the water and you would stand in line to get one of the 10 or so holes in the hose that water would spray out of. I'm a few months from being 50 so I've lasted about 35 years since using the water hose.
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I played in the mid to late 70's and we got to bring our own thermos with anything in it we wanted...I guess my coaches were ahead of the curve!
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I played in the mid to late 70's and we got to bring our own thermos with anything in it we wanted...I guess my coaches were ahead of the curve!
Yeah...this was mid 80s for me.
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I played mid to late 60's and there was NO water allowed on the field during practice. We got a bucket to wet towels to suck on during games. Slightly soapy towels no less. :puke:
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I played mid to late 60's and there was NO water allowed on the field during practice. We got a bucket to wet towels to suck on during games. Slightly soapy towels no less. :puke:
Yeah, coaches in that time period and earlier had some really strange ideas about how the body worked and being tough.
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I played mid to late 60's and there was NO water allowed on the field during practice. We got a bucket to wet towels to suck on during games. Slightly soapy towels no less. :puke:
Yeah, coaches in that time period and earlier had some really strange ideas about how the body worked and being tough.
Its surprising that more people didn't die like we have heard in the news over the last few years. Although, quite possible it happened but we didn't have the media sources that exist today for people to hear about it almost immediately.
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I played mid to late 60's and there was NO water allowed on the field during practice. We got a bucket to wet towels to suck on during games. Slightly soapy towels no less. :puke:
Yeah, coaches in that time period and earlier had some really strange ideas about how the body worked and being tough.
Its surprising that more people didn't die like we have heard in the news over the last few years. Although, quite possible it happened but we didn't have the media sources that exist today for people to hear about it almost immediately.
Actually, there were deaths from this stupid practice. Coaches thought that putting water in your stomach would make you sick or weaker. The development of electrolytes and carb drinks have saved the day, although just a lot of water is very helpful. If you are really hot and for long periods, and exerting, you should drink enough liquids that you have to urinate during or after the workout. You will find your mind clearer, and feel better if you use the electrolyte liquids with strenuous exercise.