My Ooni Karu 12G is producing lots of smoke/soot.Updated 7 months ago
**If cooking with solid fuels:**
When cooking with solid fuels, there will always be some smoke and soot
produced. You can minimize this however by following the tips below:
* Use hardwood instead of softwood (our [Ooni Premium Hardwood 5″ Oak Logs](https://ooni.com/collections/oven-fuel/products/ooni-premium-hardwood-5-oak-logs) are perfect)
* Start out by adding a base layer of lumpwood charcoal with around 4-5 small logs on top.
* Only remove the door when launching, turning or removing your pizza.
* Ensure the chimney baffle is open.
* Position your oven so that any wind enters through the back instead of the front.
* Ensure your fuel has been stored securely to prevent any moisture from getting in.
* Only add more wood when you need a spike in temperature (don't overfill the fuel tray).
You can see the difference between hardwood and softwood in the GIF above.
Softwood produces more smoke/soot than hardwood does.
**If cooking with gas:**
When using your [Ooni Karu 12 Gas Burner](https://ooni.com/collections/gas-
adaptors/products/ooni-gas-burner) with Ooni Karu 12G, a small amount of
smoke/soot can be expected while your oven and stone are preheating. Once your
oven has reached top temperatures, this should disappear.