Bitter taste after smoking

[Evgeny]

Guys,
I'm new here and with smoking
Just got my Number 1, 2 days ago.
I tried to smoke chicken and it was tender, but tasted bitter and was inedible.
I smoked using BBQ delight pellets, 70 gram.
215F, until internal heat got to 162F (about 3 hours)
Any ideas why that happen?
Appreciate any help,
Thanks.

 

[SuperDave]

Welcome to the site. 
1) Combustion
2) Quality of the pellets

If you have used the pellets before, I would say that they caught fire, which puts off a rancid smoke in our style of smoker.  They prefer larger chunks of wood because they don't ignite as easily as smaller pieces.  When I have used pellets, I've found that if I place them at the very back of the smoke box they don't ignite. 

 

[Evgeny]

Thank you!
I never used pellets before, I never actually smoked anything.
Pellets that I use are: http://bbqdelight.net
In my understanding they are from highest quality (I may be wrong  )
I'll try 2 do 2 things next time:
1. I'll use half amount
2. I'll put them at the back of the smoke box.

 

[kz0m]

Welcome to the forum, it's a great place for information!
I had a very similar experience with chickens when I tried a very dry pecan wood.  I, like you, was very new to smoking meat and had heard pecan was good to use.  I had some firewood I bought from a grocery store, wrong move on my part.  The wood was so dry it caught fire and nearly ruined the entire smoke but luckily I removed the skin on the chickens and did salvage much of the meat.  I also have a pellet smoker and the pellets are very dry as well.  I haven't tried it but they may work in a boat of foil, enclosed and a few holes punched in the foil.  It would probably keep the pellets from flaming up but I like using small chunks of wood with a good moisture content of around 20% .
Here is a great place to get that kind of good smoking wood:

http://www.smokinlicious.com/

enjoy the smoker, they're great!

Carl

 

[Grampy]

I don't have a lot of experience with pellets but it sounds like you may have just used too many pellets. These smokers require very little wood. It has been my experience that the bitter taste you describe comes more from over smoking more so than just combustion alone. I would cut way back on the amount of pellets and try again. It is better to under smoke something than it is to over smoke until you figure out the amount of smoke taste you prefer.

 

[SuperDave]

He only used 2 oz. of pellets.  Unless pellets produce a lot more smoke by weight, it shouldn't have too a quantity issue.