Chimney starter question

scottyintx · August 2012

Do you dump the coal from the chimney starter after the flames are gone and just red hot coal...or do you dump into egg while still flaming?

Griffin · August 2012

I don't think most people use the chimney starter method here, but I'm sure somebody will be along shortly to help.

AleBrewer · August 2012

I don't really use my chimney for the Egg, but when I do use it for the Weber Kettle, I dump the charcoal while it still has flames....no need to wait until they die down.

Budgeezer · August 2012

I still use the chimney, I load the egg and the chimney then put the chimney in the egg and light it. It gets the lump in the chimney and below going in a pretty quick fashion.

JerkChicken · August 2012

Flaming. But there are better options for the egg. Give the isopropyl alcohol 90% a try. It's cheap and easy, you use it just like you would lighter fluid.

Gezr · August 2012

I use the chimney in my large, there is plenty of room to operate in whereas the small is too cramped to dump the coals without a risk of spilling it where you don't want it.
Costs nothing to operate and quick.

Amorybulldog · August 2012

I retired my chimney and now use the vegetable oil dipped paper towel wrapped in another paper towel. Dig a little hole in the lump and stuff this down in there and light it. Works like a champ. Read about it on this site.

First time to post.

nolaegghead · August 2012

I 86'd my chimney starter with all my old grills and smokers after I got my LBGE...

If the charcoal on top is burning, it's ready to go.

LongboardR · August 2012

I am a rookie but use the side burner off my old gasser. Works great and is super quick. A little tricky dumping in burning coals. It literally takes no time.

nolaegghead · August 2012

Nuffin' wrong with that.

nolaegghead · August 2012

"It literally takes no time" - That's FAST!

Ellis · August 2012

I have used the chimney starter a few times, it works O K. I put it in side on top of the coals and the paper started the coals in the chimney and the coals in the egg at the same time, so when I got back out there the chimney was tiped over, not good. every thing was ok but the next time I did of to the side. I use the electric one alot. I going to try the oil and papper towel tonight.

chuff · August 2012

I sometimes use the chimney when I want a hot fire. I put a weber firestarter in the center and set a 3/4 or so full chimney on top of it. The starter lights both the chimney and the lump underneath it, then when the chimney is ready I spread it around the perimeter of the fire and it gets the whole thing going very evenly very quickly. Other than that I never use the chimney in the egg.

To answer your question, though, I wait until the lump on top is good and lit but there are definitely still flames.

brewbq · August 2012

I used to use one of these on my old barrel smoker. They are incredibly efficient and had I not gotten the egg I would still use it. You do NOT need to wait for the coals to stop flaming. Once they are good and burning you can dump them in the egg and they will continue to burn down to the glowing red/ashy lumps you want to cook with. The advantage of this is that while they are still burning down, you start heating up the firebox and surrounding ceramic so that when you are ready to cook, getting up to the desired temp should be a snap. Additionally, you can rearrange the coals while they are burning down so that the fire is nice and spread out, giving you even heat and burning. Hope that helps.

Aviator · August 2012

May I make a suggestion, please.

Run out to HD and get yourself one of those electrc charcoal starters. I had my doubts, but after a few times now, I can tell you, its absolutely painless. Stick it into the pile of lump in your egg, cover it with lump and come back in 10 min.

gte1 · August 2012

I sometimes use the chimney when I want a hot fire. I put a weber firestarter in the center and set a 3/4 or so full chimney on top of it. The starter lights both the chimney and the lump underneath it, then when the chimney is ready I spread it around the perimeter of the fire and it gets the whole thing going very evenly very quickly. Other than that I never use the chimney in the egg.

To answer your question, though, I wait until the lump on top is good and lit but there are definitely still flames.

I started out using the chimney, and as stated above it works great for a larger hot fire. For a low/slow it gets too much lump going. I guess you could just put a little in the chimney and dump only in the middle for l/s.

George

Canuck_Smoker · August 2012

I use the BGE firestarters, once I run out will use thebacon grease on paper towels (because I like the smell too)

scottyintx · August 2012

My first cook was a low and slow pork butt. I used a tutorial from Nakedwhiz and he used a chimney to get it started. So I bought one and used it and it worked perfectly. I distributed the hot coals evenly on top of the lump in the egg. It was very simple. I just wasn't sure if I was suppose to put flaming coals in egg or let em die down to red hot. I have since used that method on 2 steak cooks and another pork butt.

For some reason I was under the impression that was a common method to light the egg up. I was surprised to hear that so many don't use it anymore.

tommysegg · August 2012

+1 on the paper towel and vegetable oil method. I ran out of the BGE starter cubes that the dealer through in with the deal. I read about the paper towel/ veg oil method on the BGE forum and gave it a try. I also like it because of the cost...(next to nothing). It works great, though a bit more smokey at the start.

Coastalcooker · August 2012

I like my chimney. I use an old oven rack on top of the bottom part of the egg, fill the firebox, light the chimney and remove the rack and dump on top when the lump is flaming. Dragging an extension cord to the egg every cook would be a pita. I cook more low and slow than anything else.
Bob

Chimney starter question

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