Big Green Egg - EGGhead Forum - The Ultimate Cooking Experience...
Celebrate the start of summer and enjoy those long weekends grilling on a Big Green Egg! How about something new … try the Dos Equis “Most Interesting” Three Cheese and Chorizo Fondue, or a Gourmet Pizza with Prosciutto & Arugula for a different grilling experience! For all you traditionalists, you can’t top Stuffed Burgers cooked on the Big Green Egg! And be sure to catch up with the KCBS Great American BBQ Tour!

Coal and the BGE

LootyLooty Posts: 7
in EggHead Forum
I think I know the answer to the question, but I will toss it out there anyway.
Can you use coal in the BGE?
A friend of mine is getting rid of a giant pile of coal that has lived in her basement for a long time-since the days when coal was the go to choice for heating.

Could you mix it with lump to get a higher temp with less lump?
I am guessing it is safe to cook with for my grandads stove/oven was a coal burner.  And what about coal fired pizza ovens?

If not safe for the BGE what about tossing a couple in a camp fire?

Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like

Comments

  • nolaeggheadnolaegghead Posts: 6,457
    Coal is solidified crude oil.  Burning coal smells like burning crude - lots of organic chemicals coming off the fire.  It's hard to start and it can burn very hot.  I wouldn't recommend it.  You could contaminate the ceramic.

    In a camp fire - sure.  You can cook over it - keep whatever you're cooking in a pot with a lid or wrapped in foil.

    People have been cooking over coal for centuries.  They still make coal fired pizza ovens, but the flue gas doesn't go over the pizza.
    ______________________________________________
    This is my signature line just so you're not confused.

    Large and Medium BGE, two turntables and a microphone
    New Orleans
    BENTE
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree 1Agree Like
  • gdenbygdenby Posts: 3,643
    Everything I've read about coal burning temperature indicates the Egg would melt, or at least have some pretty sever heat warping.

    Burning coal vapors are quite noxious (and usually radioactive), so be sure to have plenty of ventilation. Also a place for the left over "clinkers."
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
  • fishlessmanfishlessman Posts: 14,304
    i toss a shovel full in the lump to light it from time to time, i have a coal fire burning from november til april in the house. i dont taste the coal at all but it is very sooty lighting it up and you would want it all burning red to cook over it, i say that would be a bad thing to fill an egg and get it burning well enough to cook over it, it takes several hours in my coal stove to get it to temps.
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
  • SMITTYtheSMOKERSMITTYtheSMOKER Posts: 1,650

    One has remember we're cooking food here guys, do things to make food taste better is the idea.

    As bad as it would make your food taste, you would eventually get used to it I guess....the guys using Mesquite say they can't tell their food taste bad after a while.

    -Smitty

    Santa Clara, CA

    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
  • SkiddymarkerSkiddymarker Posts: 3,003
    IMHO, I would never use an open coal fire to cook food. Coal works in "Grandpa's Oven" because the fire and fumes never touch the food, There is a heat exchanger in the stove, much like an airtight fireplace insert or wood stove. The exhaust gasses do not directly contact the food. In the egg, the exhaust gasses pass over, around and add smoke flavor to what you are going to eat. If you are happy with burning coal, you might just be happy with using briquettes or scrap lumber, heck even pressure treated will work.(just kidding) 
    There are 10 kinds of people, those that get binary and those that don't. 
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
  • LootyLooty Posts: 7
    I didn't think coal would be good for the old egg, but wanted to put it out there.  May use it in a campfire when we are not cooking anything,

    Thanks for the knowledge
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
  • njlnjl Posts: 568
    SMITTYtheSMOKER said:
    As bad as it would make your food taste, you would eventually get used to it I guess....the guys using Mesquite say they can't tell their food taste bad after a while.
    :)  So...My wife and I aren't the only ones who hate mesquite flavor on our steaks/burgers?  Even mesquite lump is no good.
    twlangan
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree 1Agree Like
  • SmokinDAWG82SmokinDAWG82 Posts: 1,321
    So...My wife and I aren't the only ones who hate mesquite flavor on our steaks/burgers?  Even mesquite lump is no good.
    NO, You are not alone, Mesquite is to strong a taste for me and my house
    LBGE
    Go Dawgs! - Atlanta GA
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
  • nolaeggheadnolaegghead Posts: 6,457
    Some people like liquorice, others don't.  Mesquite is the same way.  The entire population of Texas share that genetic predisposition, apparently.   And it grows there like a weed.
    ______________________________________________
    This is my signature line just so you're not confused.

    Large and Medium BGE, two turntables and a microphone
    New Orleans
    Griffin
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree 1Like
  • Chunky_CharcChunky_Charc Posts: 56
    I like mesquite....I'm from Texas
    Griffin
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree 1Like
  • nolaeggheadnolaegghead Posts: 6,457
    Chunky_Charc said:
    I like mesquite....I'm from Texas
    I rest my case. ;)
    ______________________________________________
    This is my signature line just so you're not confused.

    Large and Medium BGE, two turntables and a microphone
    New Orleans
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
  • fishlessmanfishlessman Posts: 14,304
    maybe because ive cooked over coal i can smoke with mesquite
    :D
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
  • SkiddymarkerSkiddymarker Posts: 3,003
    edited November 2012
    SmokinDAWG82 said:
    So...My wife and I aren't the only ones who hate mesquite flavor on our steaks/burgers?  Even mesquite lump is no good.
    NO, You are not alone, Mesquite is to strong a taste for me and my house
    @nji, I think many folks use too much mesquite then find the result to be too strong. Mesquite is not our favorite, but used in moderation it can add a very distinct and enjoyable taste layer to the cook. Try using mesquite lump in a blend, I find a 20% mesquite/80% RO blend is about as strong as I like, and if using a blend I never add other smoke wood. Try a 10% blend first. Same goes for wood chips/chunks. If your normal smoke wood load is about 1 cup, try 1 or 2 oz of mesquite. In fact 2 oz of mesquite will add as much or more smoke flavour as 8 oz of hickory, IMHO. All that means is that the bag of chips will last 4 times longer. Use it sparingly and you might be surprised. 
    There are 10 kinds of people, those that get binary and those that don't. 
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
  • fishlessmanfishlessman Posts: 14,304
    Skiddymarker said:
    SmokinDAWG82 said:
    So...My wife and I aren't the only ones who hate mesquite flavor on our steaks/burgers?  Even mesquite lump is no good.
    NO, You are not alone, Mesquite is to strong a taste for me and my house
    @nji, I think many folks use too much mesquite then find the result to be too strong. Mesquite is not our favorite, but used in moderation it can add a very distinct and enjoyable taste layer to the cook. Try using mesquite lump in a blend, I find a 20% mesquite/80% RO blend is about as strong as I like, and if using a blend I never add other smoke wood. Try a 10% blend first. Same goes for wood chips/chunks. If your normal smoke wood load is about 1 cup, try 1 or 2 oz of mesquite. In fact 2 oz of mesquite will add as much or more smoke flavour as 8 oz of hickory, IMHO. All that means is that the bag of chips will last 4 times longer. Use it sparingly and you might be surprised. 
    thats how i add it, smaller amounts with 2 parts cherry and 1 part hickory
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
  • GriffinGriffin Posts: 4,004

    I like mesquite, I'm from Texas and damn proud of it!!

    Nothing like burning mesquite down to pure coals and cooking steak over it.

    Large/Mini owner

    Griffin's Grub

    You can also find me on Facebook.

     

    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
  • Chunky_CharcChunky_Charc Posts: 56
    Griffin said:

    I like mesquite, I'm from Texas and damn proud of it!!

    Nothing like burning mesquite down to pure coals and cooking steak over it.


    Amen!
    Flag · Off Topic Disagree Agree Like
Sign In or Register to comment.