Charcoal briquettes

onpoint456

Poor planning has forced me to use briquettes for my cook today. I have a bag of Kingsford competition but have never really cooked with briquettes.

Anything different I should plan for?

lousubcap

More ash due to the binders used.  Also briquettes cook quicker and at a lower top end temperature (which may not be an issue for you).  FWIW-

onpoint456

Thanks. So should I plan for more charcoal? I'm cooking beef ribs so the cool should only be 4-5 hours.

lkapigian

Low and slow you should get about an hour per pound of briquettes I have found, I’d also do a Snake or Minion method 

stlcharcoal

They burn "faster" because by weight their BTU/# is so much lower than lump.  They also have limestone in them.......that plus the startch absorb water like crazy.  And since neither of these, nor what's left of the fly ash burn, you're left with a ton of ash.

Look at the volume/size of a 20# bag of lump next to a 20# bag of briquettes.  It's nearly twice the size since carbon weighs so much less than water and limestone.  A 20# bag of good lump will have well under 1# of ash left......briquettes are upwards of 40% (by weight) of junk that doesn't burn.

If it's a long low and slow, keep an eye on the ash so you don't lose the airflow.  You'll be surprised when you go to clean that thing out.

onpoint456

Thanks for the support. Everything turned out superb.

lkapigian

Beautiful!

lousubcap

Yes sir.  Nailed 'em.  Brisket on a stick.