Thanks for that. I should disclose I have a natural gas grill so I rarely if ever break out the charcoal anymore, this discussion makes me wish I did.
Lump or Briquets
- Thread starter Gebo
- Start date
4WD
$50 site donor 2024
10-4 Bradley … that’s why I use standard Kingsford to start with … easy to light, not too hot, but don’t last long !
I’m going to put something else on top depending on the mission …
My gas grill was replaced with a 5 burner stove with an oven …
I like using Cowboy Charcoal that I get from Ace Hardware
Try those Kingsford Hardwood briquettes... Seriously... They really are really, really quite good... And they smell great too.
I can make a large enough fire to make the handle so hot that I have to use a mit to take it off with... However I only have 1/3 of my grill space allotted for fire... 2/3 is set up for indirect heat cooking or smoking... And if I use enough Kingsford Hardwood briquettes... In that 1/3 space... It burns super hot... And cooking very high indirect heat is easier, stress free and cooks steaks or chicken extremely well. Hot enough to put a great char on the steaks or chicken... Quite impressive only using 1/3 of the space.
Build a small fire... For smoking hot dogs or beef ribs or real smoked spiral hams or pork ribs..
Had this same Webber grill now for 8 years. Still works extremely well.
Yes. Usually found for about $10 around the big 3 summer holidays.
I have had the best luck (heat) with briquettes. For a while, our Walmart had Royal Oak briquettes that were around the $10 price for 2 15-18lb bags (can’t remember size exactly). While Kingsford is my go to, I couldnt tell a difference in performance between the 2. I backed the truck up back in March and had about 2 carts full. Got a lot of looks.
No more Royal Oak at my WM now sadly.
We sometimes think a discussion of oil and filters is overboard, wait til you get into the area of charcoal. LOL
Yes, it does provides heat. But it also provides differing flavors, different burn times, different temps, etc.
Some charcoal is made from demolished buildings, scrap treated lumber, yuck. Some is made from tree wood
from South America. Some is made from good 'ol USA wood. Yep, talk about a can of worms.
I've been experimenting with charcoals lately. Cooked up a bunch of stuff the other day on Royal Oak. Not only was it difficult to light, but it consumed itself faster than the food was cooking, and temps went down into the mid 200's in my classic Weber. In the end, my food was absolutely delicious, but took about an hour to cook.
Regular Kingsford would have done the job in half the time.
Mesquite and Hickory Kingsford does add a mild smoke flavor and I like both.
Cowboy charcoal is much like Royal Oak, runs out of heat faster than I'd like.
I'm going to try the Hardwood Kingsford next, along with the Competition. Costco "had" the Competition in a two-pack, but they were sold out today. Ugh.
I guess that in the end, it's Briquettes for me. I'll put up with the extra ash for the longer and more consistent heat.
Regular Kingsford would have done the job in half the time.
Mesquite and Hickory Kingsford does add a mild smoke flavor and I like both.
Cowboy charcoal is much like Royal Oak, runs out of heat faster than I'd like.
I'm going to try the Hardwood Kingsford next, along with the Competition. Costco "had" the Competition in a two-pack, but they were sold out today. Ugh.
I guess that in the end, it's Briquettes for me. I'll put up with the extra ash for the longer and more consistent heat.
Cujet, mix em! In my smoker, I use briquettes and when they are hot ,put some royal oak on top, along with hickory chunks.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2024
I always use Briquets in the rare times we do use the charcoal grill. We mostly use the gas grill nowadays.
I use a mix of lump and briquet charcoal when I smoke meat in my wood fired smoker along with some firewood. I use briquest charcoal in my Weber kettle. I prefer Royal Oak. Kingsford ahs a weird smell. I have also used the Ember's brand from HD with good luck. Nothing beats a charcoal grilled Ribeye!
Just my $0.02
Just my $0.02
