How High Do You Fill

bob.bud

I know this topic has been discussed in the past, but I've been egging since May of this year and recently purchased a KAB.

The tips for new users say to fill your egg with lump to the top of the firebox, I have seen people post to go as high as the top or half-way up the fire ring. I have seen people post asking how can you go higher than the firebox if you have a KAB as you will bury the handles.

How high do you fill? Here is a pic of how high I go with my KAB in place and a towel burning as a I prep the egg to cook some chicken breasts to be used for lunch meat this week.

swordsmn

I'd be higher for a 12 hr butt cook, but that's peachy for your current purposes

lousubcap

Don't own a KAB-so factor that into the following; LBGE and if I know I'm running for a long duration cook I will go well into the fire ring.  As long as you have adequate air-flow and fuel (aka lump) to maintain your desired cook temp then it doesn't matter.  YMMV-

SoCalTim

I echo what @swordsmn says, for a low and slow, I fill that baby up til the lump is almost touching the platesetter. Any other cook, I always fill halfway up the fire ring.

Mattman3969

lousubcap said:

Don't own a KAB-so factor that into the following; LBGE and if I know I'm running for a long duration cook I will go well into the fire ring.  As long as you have adequate air-flow and fuel (aka lump) to maintain your desired cook temp then it doesn't matter.  YMMV-

^^^^+1.   Words of wisdom he does speak 

clifkincaid

Just fill it up.

Jeepster47

My belief is that if you want repeatable results out of your egg, then it's important to reduce as many variables as possible from cook to cook.  Thus, I only fill to two levels: 1) Top of the fire box for short cooks.  2) Bottom of the plate setter for low-n-slow cooks.  Maybe it's an anal approach, but it produces repeatable results.

I use a KAB, but ignore it when filling.  Even for a short cook it disappears under the lump ... only to reappear when the cook is over.

RRP

I always fill to the middle of my fire ring regardless of what my temperature intentions are. I like the consistency of the starting time and knowing I won't be running out of lump. When I'm done I snuff the fire and for the next cook I stir and refill back to the same middle of my fire ring. Works for me!

stemc33

For 1-2hr. cooks I like less than a firebox full. I have less airflow issues if the lump isn't all packed together. Top of fire ring for long low temp cooks. I used to fill it up for all cooks, but have realized that it comes up to temp faster and hotter with less lump. It just doesn't last as long. 

If the KAB works as well as everyone says it does, you can probably fill it up higher due to the improved airflow. 

ksmyrl

I fill to the very top of the ring...like touching the plate setter, on every cook. Seriously. Like @Jeepster47 says, the fewer the variables the better. I've never had an air flow issue or a lack of fuel issue. But there are multiple ways to skin a cat, use what works for you.