Charcoal grilling info

[Mycamaro_68]

Hey everyone, I thought I would start a thread specifically for charcoal grilling. Any tips, tricks or questions anybody wants to post please do so!

A little back story for me. I started using charcoal a little over a year ago so I still consider myself a novice and am always interested in others experience with charcoal grilling. I just finished up my supply of charcoal (I have only ever used Kingsford Original) and want to know what different types of charcoal everybody likes best. I will be doing my own research on what "additives" are in the different charcoal as I want to use the "cleanest" stuff I can find. I am currently going through cancer treatments and that has drastically changed my view point on preservatives and chemical additives that are seemingly in everything.

So please post up what you are using and any tips or questions! Happy Grilling!

 

[cuinrearview]

 

[Sloughfoot]

Lump charcoal is about as additive free as you can get.

 

[cuinrearview]

Lump charcoal is about as additive free as you can get.

I really want to like lump but the briqs burn longer for overnight cooks in the wsm. Stubbs used to be my #1, pure wood with natural binder. Unfortunately they quit offering it. The b&b is the closest I've been able to find. I like lump for a quick hot cook in the kettle. Those giant bags of Cowboy at Costco always got looks when I walked out with it.

 

[Sloughfoot]

That's true. I mostly use a smoker. Only grill a couple of times a year and use lump because it's what I've got. It does seem to burn a lot faster than briquettes in the grill. Couple of hand fulls will last for hours in a smoker and barely long enough to cook a few burgers on the grill.

 

[MtnHaul]

I really want to like lump but the briqs burn longer for overnight cooks in the wsm. Stubbs used to be my #1, pure wood with natural binder. Unfortunately they quit offering it. The b&b is the closest I've been able to find. I like lump for a quick hot cook in the kettle. Those giant bags of Cowboy at Costco always got looks when I walked out with it.

How long are you burning once the smoker gets going? I have the mid-size WSM and use lump mesquite charcoal. I never burn overnight but I've had some good 8-9 hour smokes with just a big load of unlit charcoal in the bottom and a load of hot coals added on top.
As for grilling, one of the best cooks I ever had was using up the last of a bag of lump charcoal and supplementing with some well seasoned oak branches about 2"-4" diameter--the smoke flavor was outstanding.

 

[cuinrearview]

How long are you burning once the smoker gets going? I have the mid-size WSM and use lump mesquite charcoal. I never burn overnight but I've had some good 8-9 hour smokes with just a big load of unlit charcoal in the bottom and a load of hot coals added on top.
As for grilling, one of the best cooks I ever had was using up the last of a bag of lump charcoal and supplementing with some well seasoned oak branches about 2"-4" diameter--the smoke flavor was outstanding.

I've gotten 12 between loads with the b&b. It's cooling a bit at that point but not under 200. 60 and above, light/no wind.

 

[cuinrearview]

Mines the 22"

 

[MtnHaul]

I also gotta' ask: Am I the only one who gets impatient and uses a MAPP gas torch to light the coals? A couple minutes with the torch has been way easier and faster than using paper.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

@Redfin

 

[Jusgunn3]

I use my pellet smoker or my gas grill for everything, I like the idea of charcoal but it just seems everything is full of chemicals. I guess the smoker pellets could be as well

 

[stihl livin]

Hey everyone, I thought I would start a thread specifically for charcoal grilling. Any tips, tricks or questions anybody wants to post please do so!

A little back story for me. I started using charcoal a little over a year ago so I still consider myself a novice and am always interested in others experience with charcoal grilling. I just finished up my supply of charcoal (I have only ever used Kingsford Original) and want to know what different types of charcoal everybody likes best. I will be doing my own research on what "additives" are in the different charcoal as I want to use the "cleanest" stuff I can find. I am currently going through cancer treatments and that has drastically changed my view point on preservatives and chemical additives that are seemingly in everything.

So please post up what you are using and any tips or questions! Happy Grilling!

Ryan sorry to hear about your battle with the c word. I don’t have any advice on charcoal but wish you the best in your fight.

 

[Sloughfoot]

I also gotta' ask: Am I the only one who gets impatient and uses a MAPP gas torch to light the coals? A couple minutes with the torch has been way easier and faster than using paper.

I use a charcoal starter chimney lit with paper towel sheet soaked in cooking oil placed underneath. Dump it in the smoker after about 10 minutes.

 

[nbbt]

I also gotta' ask: Am I the only one who gets impatient and uses a MAPP gas torch to light the coals? A couple minutes with the torch has been way easier and faster than using paper.

I've been using an electric lighter for more than 20 years when 110v is available.
A torch or building a small twig tee-pee works good when out in nature.

I never use lighter fluid, it takes way to long for the stink to burn out.

 

[Mycamaro_68]

Ryan sorry to hear about your battle with the c word. I don’t have any advice on charcoal but wish you the best in your fight.

I appreciate that! I am confident that i am more stubborn than the cancer is and I will kick it's ass!

 

[fredx]

If your worried about chemicals then charcoal grilling is not the way to go. I myself dont care. I use chimneys also to start mine and use to use the method like in post #13- then went to tumbleweeds, and now i just use a weedburnerfor about 30-45 seconds on a half filled chimney then fill up the rest after that.
As far as the basic grilling i never start cooking untill the coals are ashed over, only use grill spray on a heated / hot grill ( never cold ) - I cook most everything indirect then remove the grill, add chips to coals to get a flame and replace the grill and finish off over open flame. General rule of thumb for me is always cook poultry with the lid on / closed and beef lid open except when its pretty thick. I always use a thermometer on poultry & pork but beef i can always tell by "pushing" on the steak. Check out Cowboy Kent Rollins on YT- he's great

 

[MtnHaul]

If your worried about chemicals then charcoal grilling is not the way to go.

I've read that supposedly grilling/BBQ/smoking are processes that inherently result in carcinogenic compounds on the food--I'm not going to stop grilling my steaks and burgers anytime soon though.

I use a charcoal starter chimney lit with paper towel sheet soaked in cooking oil placed underneath.

I like that idea. Back in the days when we got the newspaper I never had a problem lighting off the charcoal chimney, but now it seems that whatever free local papers I can find are composed of some blend that discourages burning and they just smolder. Old newspaper was the best.

 

[Sloughfoot]

I've read that supposedly grilling/BBQ/smoking are processes that inherently result in carcinogenic compounds on the food--I'm not going to stop grilling my steaks and burgers anytime soon though.

I like that idea. Back in the days when we got the newspaper I never had a problem lighting off the charcoal chimney, but now it seems that whatever free local papers I can find are composed of some blend that discourages burning and they just smolder. Old newspaper was the best.

Yeh, gotta have an old school newspaper subscription to have it around these days. Charcoal bag paper is a pretty good starter, ironically. Cotton balls in rubbing alcohol is what I did for a while. I keep a plastic jar full of the oiled paper towel sheets but they're quick and easy to make as needed, too.

 

[Sloughfoot]

I really want to like lump but the briqs burn longer for overnight cooks in the wsm. Stubbs used to be my #1, pure wood with natural binder. Unfortunately they quit offering it. The b&b is the closest I've been able to find. I like lump for a quick hot cook in the kettle. Those giant bags of Cowboy at Costco always got looks when I walked out with it.

I got a huge bag of lump charcoal from Costco a while back branded El Diablo for like $20. It burned a lot cleaner than the Kamado Joe from Lowes I'd been using. I'm about out and think I'll try B&B.

 

[MtnHaul]

This is what I get locally, https://www.chefstore.com/p/lazzari-mesquite-charcoal_1803287/ , it's especially good for smoking because it has a lot more large pieces than the 20lb bags at Ace Hardware and the price is right.