How long will unopened bags of decent lump stay "fresh" in garage ??

Abter

I am waiting for RO to come on sale at my local wally world or some other outlet. The only place I can keep bags of lump, even unopened ones, is my garage (no AC, occasionally floor is wet after hard t'storm, so nothing ever sits on the concrete slab). 

I live in Maryland near DC, and summers are hot, steamy and miserable.  Come August, Dylan nailed it: "...everybody with any sense had already left town".

When I was doing a lot of campfire DO with briquets I found that even the Kingsford briquets sucked up humidity pretty quickly.

I know a lot of you live in even worse humidity-infested places than I do.  How long can I reasonably hope that unopened bags of RO will stay good?  Would putting the whole bags inside garbage bags with tight seals help much?

Darby_Crenshaw

Stays good forever

might find some humidity, but it won't ever be unusable over time

DaveRichardson

It'll just take a bit longer to light up when it retains moisture.  Otherwise, like @Darby_Crenshaw said, stays good forever.

fishlessman

ive used stuff that sat in a stall for 20 plus years, still good

RedSkip

It's coal, will stay good for thousands of years.

JohnnyTarheel

It will be good for a long time. Only suggestion would be to store it on a shelf off the cement floor. 

nolaegghead

I find after 100,000 to 200,000 years, it can pick up some unpleasant hydrocarbons and subatomic particles that can increase the time it takes to get good smoke.

bhedges1987

Gets awfully humid and hot here... I've never had a problem.... I typically go through bags pretty fast though, even if it's hot or cold outside.

Brisket_Fanatic

Keep it dry and will last until you want to burn it.

Ozzie_Isaac

6 months tops.  If you won't use it sooner I recommend vacuum bagging.

gerhardk

I try to buy the bulk of my needs in the spring at Costco and it works as well next spring as it does the spring I bought it.

Gerhard

BigWings

It will likely outlast the warranty on your egg

FlashkaBob

Everyone is trying to mislead you. It will only last a couple of weeks. If you can't use your entire supply by then, send it to me and I will dispose of it for you at no charge.  

HeavyG

I noticed on my last few bags of Royal Oak it said:

BEST BY 01/01/2050 

nolaegghead

HeavyG said:

I noticed on my last few bags of Royal Oak it said:

BEST BY 01/01/2050 

BS.  They just want to sell you moar lump. 

Toxarch

I keep mine in an open barn on a shelf. I buy lump twice a year or so and there's some in there that's several years old. Lights up the same as the new stuff.

And RO is on sale right now at Walmart. 

shucker

The lump itself won't go bad like others have stated.  I believe your concern is how long until the burn rate / ability is affected by absorbing moisture.  I live in NC and store my charcoal in my garage (no A/C) and I can tell a noticeable difference between charcoal that is fresh from the store and some that may have been stored for say 6 months.  For that reason I try not to buy anymore than what I need for a 3-4 month period.  I would imagine that @stlcharcoal can give you some scientific data regarding how much moisture the charcoal absorbs and at what rate.  Regardless, old charcoal will still burn just maybe not as hot, fast, or efficiently as fresh stuff.  

THEBuckeye

nolaegghead said:

I find after 100,000 to 200,000 years, it can pick up some unpleasant hydrocarbons and subatomic particles that can increase the time it takes to get good smoke.

Did anyone publish your findings? 

nolaegghead

THEBuckeye said:

nolaegghead said:

I find after 100,000 to 200,000 years, it can pick up some unpleasant hydrocarbons and subatomic particles that can increase the time it takes to get good smoke.

Did anyone publish your findings? 

You did.  Right above this post.  Thank you for that.

JohnInCarolina

RedSkip said:

It's coal, will stay good for thousands of years.

Or longer.  Much, much, longer.  

fishlessman

for what its worth ive had lump on a wet dirt floor with maple tree roots growing in it and it was fine a marketing opportunity for any one thats up to it, lump with maple smoking wood already added

DoubleEgger

JohnInCarolina said:

RedSkip said:

It's coal, will stay good for thousands of years.

Or longer.  Much, much, longer.  

The bags on the bottom of the stack might turn into diamonds 

Darby_Crenshaw

More likely that diamonds turn to charcoal first

Elijah

I've burnt RO after a year of storage in SC no problem. 

Ozzie_Isaac

Darby_Crenshaw said:

More likely that diamonds turn to charcoal first

I beg to differ.  I am not aware of a process in which diamonds convert to charcoal.

I would expect they could both convert to graphite, but not diamond to charcoal.

Mickey

That is the best part of getting real old. Not that much time something has to last........

womaus

Ozzie_Isaac said:

6 months tops.  If you won't use it sooner I recommend vacuum bagging.

Best part of this method is being able to get it up to temp for cooking by sous vide....

JohnInCarolina

Mickey said:

That is the best part of getting real old. Not that much time something has to last........

What's the worst part?  Not being able to sit on wooden benches has got to be near the top.

Ozzie_Isaac

womaus said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

6 months tops.  If you won't use it sooner I recommend vacuum bagging.

Best part of this method is being able to get it up to temp for cooking by sous vide....

Ooh, good idea.  Wonder if you can burn off the voc's or if it just infuses it deeper?

Darby_Crenshaw

Yeah. Graphite

tou know whutta mean 

THEBuckeye

nolaegghead said:

THEBuckeye said:

nolaegghead said:

I find after 100,000 to 200,000 years, it can pick up some unpleasant hydrocarbons and subatomic particles that can increase the time it takes to get good smoke.

Did anyone publish your findings? 

You did.  Right above this post.  Thank you for that.

I meant......like......a serious academic kinda article. Anyone? Not on a BBQ forum?