How many spots do you light?

Pharmer · June 2010

Regardless of method, how many spots in the lump do you initially light for:

- ribs (~5 hour burn),
- searing (~ 2-3 minute burn),
- pulled pork (~18 hour burn),
- smoking fish,
- others?

Thanks in advance.

Doug in Eggmonton · June 2010

Since I got my great syringe system from a great egger, I light them all the same way in a 10 inch diameter circle all the way around. Before that I lit in three places 12, 8 and 4 o'clock.

Doug

BigGreenDon · June 2010

I used to use the electric starter, but I have since decided that charcoal chimney's rock.

For L&S, I dump half a chimney on the middle of the charcoal bed (where I have reserved a depression to accommodate). For hotter cooks, I dump a whole chimney in and rake it around with the ash tool to distribute.

Don

Gandolf · June 2010

One in the center for everything. Been working great for more than 10 years.

fishlessman · June 2010

one....weedburner

Davekatz · June 2010

For everything low & slow I just light 1 in the middle.

For searing or straight up grilling I light 1 in the middle, then 3 around the sides.

Jersey Doug · June 2010

Regardless of which Egg I'm lighting - Large, Small or Mini - or anything else about the cook, I always cut a starter square into three pieces and position them at 2:00, 6:00 and 10:00. Less to think about that way and it always works fine.

EggerFromIowa · June 2010

I break my starter in 1/2 and light 2 places. 9 and 3.

Grandpas Grub · June 2010

It depends on which egg and what I am using to light the lump with and how hot of a cook.

If I want a hot cook I light the lump about 3/4 to 1 inch under the surface all rest I light at surface level.

Oil/napkin - 2 spots

MAPP - 3 spots

Starter cubes - 2 cubes cut in half - 4 spots

alcohol - on the large & medium, 2 spots, small and mini 1 spot

Flame Thrower (weed burner) it doesn't matter it's done in 30 to 45 seconds and the whole bed is lit.

GG

vidalia1 · June 2010

I use a propane torch and light the BGE in 4 spots...no matter what I am cooking or which BGE I am using...Lg, sm or mini...

HAWKEYEGG · June 2010

I am by no means an expert but I have been using an electric starter and lighting the middle and raking the lump around once it is lit. It seems to work fine is there an advantage to lighting multiple spots from the start?

FearlessGrill · June 2010

Me too.

-John

FearlessGrill · June 2010

I used to just light in the middle, but on some low and slow cooks, I had vertical burns and the fire went out with plenty of lump remaining. Since I started lighting in multiple spots, this hasn't happened. I also find that the Egg heats up faster for high temp cooks if I light in multiple places. This is more apparent on my small than large for some reason.

-John

TheDirtyBurger · June 2010

I light in the middle no matter what or how I am cooking. I build a fire like a boyscout with a piece of a starter cube and layer pieces of lump on it. I will try to build a bigger fire if I am doing a high temp cook, and sometimes I will use multiple pieces of firestarter.

Once the fire is burning in that spot I use the ash tool to stir the coals around. If low and slow, PS or stone on and set my vents. If high temp I close the dome and let her rip!

thechief96 · June 2010

I lite mine at 12,4 and 8. Both for the large and XL

NC-CDN · June 2010

For low and slow and smoking I do 1 in the middle. That's it. For searing steak and other hot ones I do 2. Mine tends to have a spot that don't burn as quick when I start it in the middle so to get a more even fire when I get to 500-600F I light one in that spot and on the other side. Works great.

I don't think there is really a right or wrong way. Whatever works for you and your EGG>