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Medium is a lump miser on a hot day

I cooked some ribs for six hours on Friday on the medium. Went out to start up the egg last night and was shocked to see the amount of lump left. Here is a pic after I shook out the ash. The lump was barely over the top of the KAB before I started Friday's cook. I guess it doesn't take much lump on a 95 degree day. 

Comments

  • evie1370
    evie1370 Posts: 506
    I did the same cook on Saturday and i had barely any lump left...on a Medium also!

    Medium BGE in Cincinnati OH.

    "

    "I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me. " Duke of Wellington, Battle of Waterloo.
  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 19,206
    @evie1370 are you using the fire grate with the KAB? 
  • evie1370
    evie1370 Posts: 506
    @doublegger I have the replacement grate at the bottom, the one that looks like a grid. I assume you are talking about that? Never a problem before.

    Medium BGE in Cincinnati OH.

    "

    "I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me. " Duke of Wellington, Battle of Waterloo.
  • chadpsualum
    chadpsualum Posts: 409
    @evie1370 , I'm glad you asked that.  I just got a KAB for Father's Day and was waffling on whether I still needed to use the grate or not (I still have the Factory one w/ the holes).  From that I read I don't think it is needed with the KAB.  I would think that using both is like doubling up the Fire Grate and could lead to air flow issues sooner into a cook than desired.  
    North Pittsburgh, PA
    1 LGE
  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 17,261
    My experience with the XL and the MM, has been exceptional when it comes to the amount of lump needed for cooks of several hours. With the XL loaded to the top of the fire box, I have done 4 different 3 to 8 hour cooks, without having to reload. The MM is about the same. Same lump for 4 cooks and still might be able to get one, maybe two more.
    After removing the food from the BGE, I place the ceramic cap on top and close the bottom vent. Minimizes the burn and preserves lump.
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
  • evie1370
    evie1370 Posts: 506
    OK dumb question: what is a KAB? And do you think using the replacement fire grate (instead of that ceramic thing with holes) led me to burn too much lump? I replaced it due to clogging issues and it has been great until this inistance.

    I did have an issue getting the Egg stabalized at 250, it kept wanting to creep up to 300 or a little above. I think I let it get ahead of me when we lit the lump, let it get too hot and coals too far along. Thoughts?

    Medium BGE in Cincinnati OH.

    "

    "I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me. " Duke of Wellington, Battle of Waterloo.
  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 19,206
    @evie1370 , I'm glad you asked that.  I just got a KAB for Father's Day and was waffling on whether I still needed to use the grate or not (I still have the Factory one w/ the holes).  From that I read I don't think it is needed with the KAB.  I would think that using both is like doubling up the Fire Grate and could lead to air flow issues sooner into a cook than desired.  
    I have used it both ways and I like using the KAB with the fire grate better. Without the fire grate, the fire tends to burn straight down and doesn't spread very well. 
  • Grillin_beers
    Grillin_beers Posts: 1,345
    I will say in the summer the egg uses a lot less lump.  
    1 large BGE, Spartanburg SC

    My dog thinks I'm a grilling god. 
  • Toxarch
    Toxarch Posts: 1,900
    evie1370 said:
    OK dumb question: what is a KAB? And do you think using the replacement fire grate (instead of that ceramic thing with holes) led me to burn too much lump? I replaced it due to clogging issues and it has been great until this inistance.

    I did have an issue getting the Egg stabalized at 250, it kept wanting to creep up to 300 or a little above. I think I let it get ahead of me when we lit the lump, let it get too hot and coals too far along. Thoughts?
    KAB = Kick Ash Basket
    It's the metal basket that the lump is sitting in in the original post.
    Aledo, Texas
    Large BGE
    KJ Jr.

    Exodus 12:9 KJV
    Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.

  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    evie1370 said:
    And do you think using the replacement fire grate (instead of that ceramic thing with holes) led me to burn too much lump? I replaced it due to clogging issues and it has been great until this instance.
    No.  Amount of lump burnt is determined by the amount of heat you are using to keep the egg at any given temp. The open fire grates just help to ensure that you do not get unwanted air flow restrictions to the lump.
    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.
     
  • evie1370
    evie1370 Posts: 506
    Thanks guys, appreciate it. I will watch future burns and see if this continues to happen. I did not expect to lose almost 3/4 of the lump for a 5 1/2 hour or so cook.

    Medium BGE in Cincinnati OH.

    "

    "I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me. " Duke of Wellington, Battle of Waterloo.
  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    For any given temp you maintain the egg at, the amount of lump burned will vary depending on:
    1. outside air temp
    2. rain
    3. wind
    4. sun
    5. number of times the top is opened.
    Also the size of the lump may appear to impact the amount burned - amount of air space between the pieces can affect your perception of the amount of lump burned (you should really use weight before and after to get a true reading of amount burned - of course who really does that?)
    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.
     
  • Jeepster47
    Jeepster47 Posts: 3,827
    ... (you should really use weight before and after to get a true reading of amount burned - of course who really does that?)
    http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1179093/lump-burn-rate-in-xl/

    Washington, IL  >  Queen Creek, AZ ... Two large eggs and an adopted Mini Max

  • BYS1981
    BYS1981 Posts: 2,533
    Who really cares about this? Crack a beer, grill, refill lump. No measuring or physics needed bros.