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Is my charcoal foo weak???
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BilZol
Posts: 698
Was asked today how I stacked my charcoal in the firebox. I was confused. I'm a pour it in there kind on guy.
What new thing do I need to learn about this?
What new thing do I need to learn about this?
Bill Denver, CO
XL, 2L's, and MM
XL, 2L's, and MM
Comments
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If I'm using all new, I dump. If I'm mixing old and new, I keep the new on one side and old lump on the other side. I've choked my airflow with all used lump on top of new lump.
Big Lake, Minnesota
2X Large BGE, 1 Mini Max, Stokers, Adjustable Rig
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I agree. Still learning... But if there is lump and ash left over from my last burn, I have to at least mix it around to get most of the small stuff to fall through the grate. The few times I didn't, I couldn't get the egg up to temp very well, presumably from poor air flow.Large BGE -- New Jersey
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Yes. After mixing to get ash to fall, pull all the used lump to one side and fill with new on the other side. That will give you the airflow.
Big Lake, Minnesota
2X Large BGE, 1 Mini Max, Stokers, Adjustable Rig
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After Kamado cooking for a few years I have learned it is all about airflow. Do what works for you!
1) buy a HiQue or KAB and dump&light is all you need.
Or
2) use the stock charcoal grate and stack your lump to maximize airflow. Cover a few holes as possible. -
That is a long standing old joke that has gone down many avenues over the years. Some eggers sort their new lump into 3 or 4 sizes, and some of us just open the bag and dump it in our egg. Before I switched to using a KAB I merely stirred my cold egg to knock the ash off and topped it with new. Now I shake my KAB to knock off the ash and do not stir. Then I top with new lump.Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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Cool. I learned that the hard way, couldn't get my egg up to temp to do pizzas and it took forever that night. Thought it was me having just stirred out the ashes and dumping new lump on top but wasn't sure. Thanks for the confirmation. I was afraid I was going to have to start sorting by size and putting a charcoal Jenga puzzle together in my egg......Bill Denver, CO
XL, 2L's, and MM -
Just use a KAB. Shake it. Add new lump. Problem is solved.
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Charcoal Jenga, that sounds like a fun new game. What lump would work best for that.....Medium BGE , iGrill2
Virginia Beach, VA -
Get an aftermarket fire grate, then just dump it in. When you get to the bottom of the bag, just pour that around the edge to top it off. If the firebox is empty, start with a new bag, them top it off with the rest of the other bag. Been egging for 22 yrs like this, a good portion when I actually had to buy it at the store.
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AVEngineer said:Charcoal Jenga, that sounds like a fun new game. What lump would work best for that.....
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I like to carefully and strategically place every piece of charcoal in the firebox like I'm playing Jenga or Tetris. I'm fairly certain it has been a game changer for me for rep status.
Just kidding. Stir/shake, dump, ash tool, light, and cook.------------------------------
Thomasville, NC
My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
Instagram
Facebook
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stlcharcoal said:Get an aftermarket fire grate, then just dump it in. When you get to the bottom of the bag, just pour that around the edge to top it off. If the firebox is empty, start with a new bag, them top it off with the rest of the other bag. Been egging for 22 yrs like this, a good portion when I actually had to buy it at the store.-----------------------------------------analyze adapt overcome2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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I did a slow and slow over the weekend. I put the big pieces on bottom and smaller on top. Using my XL and cooked for 20 hours and have some leftover.Northern New Jersey
XL - Woo2, AR L (2) - Woo, PS Woo MM (2) - Woo MINI
Check out https://www.grillingwithpapaj.com for some fun and more Grilling with Papa (incase you haven't gotten enough of me)
Also, check out my YouTube Page
https://www.youtube.com/c/grillingwithpapaj
Follow me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/GrillingPapaJ/ -
I have a KAB and shake ash into a bucket, then dump the used lump on the lid, add new lump into the BGE and then pour the used on top. I'd rather have the smaller pieces on top and they tend to light easier.Stillwater, MN
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All the smalls and dust will go into the ash tray of the egg if you stir them, especially with a HighQ grate. Then they ignite and give you heat. Why throw those away? I believe it was @theyolksonyou that said BTUs is BTUs no matter where they come from.-----------------------------------------analyze adapt overcome2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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Mattman3969 said:All the smalls and dust will go into the ash tray of the egg if you stir them, especially with a HighQ grate. Then they ignite and give you heat. Why throw those away? I believe it was @theyolksonyou that said BTUs is BTUs no matter where they come from.------------------------------
Thomasville, NC
My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
Instagram
Facebook
My Photography Site -
Just stir then add new if needed. There may be some merit to placing the big pieces at the bottom if doing a long low and slow 12+hrs. I've never needed to get that technical on my xl though.“There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body.”
Coach Finstock Teen Wolf -
tarheelmatt said:Mattman3969 said:All the smalls and dust will go into the ash tray of the egg if you stir them, especially with a HighQ grate. Then they ignite and give you heat. Why throw those away? I believe it was @theyolksonyou that said BTUs is BTUs no matter where they come from.-----------------------------------------analyze adapt overcome2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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Mattman3969 said:tarheelmatt said:Mattman3969 said:All the smalls and dust will go into the ash tray of the egg if you stir them, especially with a HighQ grate. Then they ignite and give you heat. Why throw those away? I believe it was @theyolksonyou that said BTUs is BTUs no matter where they come from.
My above post I was being playful. I don't strategically place crap. I'm a fly by the seat of my pants guy.
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Thomasville, NC
My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
Instagram
Facebook
My Photography Site -
tarheelmatt said:Mattman3969 said:All the smalls and dust will go into the ash tray of the egg if you stir them, especially with a HighQ grate. Then they ignite and give you heat. Why throw those away? I believe it was @theyolksonyou that said BTUs is BTUs no matter where they come from.
edit: except the ones during the day at work. Those count. -
Just proved my point by one of the best cooks here!!
Dont overthink it. Stir,dump n light.-----------------------------------------analyze adapt overcome2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky. -
For the record I do stir, dump, light (stir is sometimes optional). It's hard to stack that crap up when you're drunk. I can't cook though, so there that.
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theyolksonyou said:tarheelmatt said:Mattman3969 said:All the smalls and dust will go into the ash tray of the egg if you stir them, especially with a HighQ grate. Then they ignite and give you heat. Why throw those away? I believe it was @theyolksonyou that said BTUs is BTUs no matter where they come from.
edit: except the ones during the day at work. Those count.------------------------------
Thomasville, NC
My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
Instagram
Facebook
My Photography Site -
tarheelmatt said:theyolksonyou said:tarheelmatt said:Mattman3969 said:All the smalls and dust will go into the ash tray of the egg if you stir them, especially with a HighQ grate. Then they ignite and give you heat. Why throw those away? I believe it was @theyolksonyou that said BTUs is BTUs no matter where they come from.
edit: except the ones during the day at work. Those count. -
theyolksonyou said:tarheelmatt said:theyolksonyou said:tarheelmatt said:Mattman3969 said:All the smalls and dust will go into the ash tray of the egg if you stir them, especially with a HighQ grate. Then they ignite and give you heat. Why throw those away? I believe it was @theyolksonyou that said BTUs is BTUs no matter where they come from.
edit: except the ones during the day at work. Those count.------------------------------
Thomasville, NC
My YouTube Channel - The Hungry Hussey
Instagram
Facebook
My Photography Site -
It couldn't hurt!! Lol.-----------------------------------------analyze adapt overcome2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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theyolksonyou said:tarheelmatt said:Mattman3969 said:All the smalls and dust will go into the ash tray of the egg if you stir them, especially with a HighQ grate. Then they ignite and give you heat. Why throw those away? I believe it was @theyolksonyou that said BTUs is BTUs no matter where they come from.
edit: except the ones during the day at work. Those count.-----------------------------------------analyze adapt overcome2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky. -
Mattman3969 said:theyolksonyou said:tarheelmatt said:Mattman3969 said:All the smalls and dust will go into the ash tray of the egg if you stir them, especially with a HighQ grate. Then they ignite and give you heat. Why throw those away? I believe it was @theyolksonyou that said BTUs is BTUs no matter where they come from.
edit: except the ones during the day at work. Those count.
i really need a life. -
Shout out to @Jeepster47 - this was his recommendation - since this thread mentions the Kick Ash Basket so often that anyone wanting to keep their deck area clean then a 10 gallon trash can is both small enough and yet large enough to hold months worth of cold dry ash when you shake your KAB.
Re-gasketing America one yard at a time. -
theyolksonyou said:Mattman3969 said:theyolksonyou said:tarheelmatt said:Mattman3969 said:All the smalls and dust will go into the ash tray of the egg if you stir them, especially with a HighQ grate. Then they ignite and give you heat. Why throw those away? I believe it was @theyolksonyou that said BTUs is BTUs no matter where they come from.
edit: except the ones during the day at work. Those count.
i really need a life.-----------------------------------------analyze adapt overcome2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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