Humidity & charcoal?

schmeetex

Living in Texas, we have some pretty high humidity. I've noticed lately, that my charcoal is not lighting and heating up as quickly as before. I keep my charcoal in a covered, screened-in porch.

Are there any tricks to deadling with the effects of humidity on charcoal?

SchmeeTex

Unknown

pot in a RubberMaid deck storage box.

Joel

By charcoal, do you mean lump or actual charcoal (Kingsford, etc)? I've never had humidity issues with lump but have had issues with charcoal in my pre-Egg days before switching to lump entirely. Either way, a couple of tips:

- Consider moving the charcoal inside
- Place the charcoal into a plastic container - thinking that the paper may be retaining some moisture

Good luck!

-Joel

Spring Chicken

I live near Houston. Humidity is always high with some days slightly less than others, so I know what you're talking about.

By it's very nature, charcoal (lump or briquettes) will tend to absorb moisture from whatever source, including the air. Unless you have an air-tight container you can't keep that from happening. However, it is just a short-lived problem because as soon as you get your fire going the heat will begin to reduce the moisture.

I cooked a brisket flat yesterday and it took a while to get the lump lit and even longer to get it going good, but within 20 minutes (about 5 minutes longer than usual) it was going well.

I keep my lump in one of those plastic storage sheds until I transfer it to a plastic container that holds 10 lbs. Although both are protected from the elements air still gets in.

Small price to pay to have so much fun and so much good food.

Spring "Humidity Humidity Everywhere And Not A Drop To Drink" Chicken
Spring Texas USA

SmokyArkie

Humidity is a problem in Arkansas also. I use a plastic box with a seal that was intended to be used with Kingsford Charcoal and it works great. You might do a search and look up storage. Someone had posted some good pictures of these sealing tubs a week or so ago under that topic.

skihorn

I'm just 20 minutes from the Gulf Coast. I store my lump in the open bag in the garage. The garage is not "climate controlled" although it does connect to the house so perhaps has slightly less humidity. Anyway, never had a problem. Even when a monsoon blew in wind driven rain and got two of my bags wet for the bottom third, I just let it dry out and it worked fine.

Freddie
League City, TX

500

This is what I use.



Got it at Harbor Freight. Sits on the deck. Works as extra seating as well. Watertight seal. Also holds all the Eggcessories and the one open bag of lump. Been through some serious rain and doesn't leak. Never seen condensation inside either.