Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg to Experience our World of Flavor™ at:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Youtube  |  Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #BigGreenEgg.

Want to see how the EGG is made? Click to Watch

Fogo Lump Quick Burn Time

Bought two bags of Fogo lump based on some feedback I've read on this forum.  Did a few cooks and thought it was great.  I noticed that it seems to use more lump than normal though.  I did a pork butt with Fogo + some hickory last week.  For the first time in my BGE career, I had to add more lump during the smoke.  I went to wrap the pork butt in foil after about 6.5 hours and there was hardly any lump left.  My temp wasn't able to hold steady at 275 and I noticed it slowly dropping.  I've done many pork butts and biscuits and used the same process I always do,.  Filled it to the brim with mostly lump and some wood.  Never had to add lump before.  And this was only after 6.5 hours!

I've noticed more burned lump in everything I've cooked with Fogo.  However, not usually a problem unless I'm doing a low and slow where I need 12 hours of burn.  Love the Fogo for regular grilling and indirect cooks but won't use it again for long cooks.  I'll go back to Rockwood or Wicked.

Anyone else experiencing this?  I haven't broken into my second Fogo back so hoping I just got a unique one.
Large and MiniMax
Mont Vernon, NH

Comments

  • thetrim
    thetrim Posts: 11,387
    I haven't seen that in mine.  I did some beef ribs a couple weeks back. They were on for about 6 hours.  I'll keep an eye out on a longer brisket cook.
    =======================================
    XL 6/06, Mini 6/12, L 10/12, Mini #2 12/14 MiniMax 3/16 Large #2 11/20 Legacy from my FIL - RIP PitBoss Navigator 850G 11/25
    Tampa Bay, FL
    EIB 6 Oct 95
  • Haven't used Fogo in a few years, but I never experienced an issue like you describe.
    Stillwater, MN
  • Lit
    Lit Posts: 9,053
    Did you get the big 35lb bag or the smaller red bags? The 35lb bags are their premium lump it's different it's huge solid pieces that burn forever. Unless you are using wicked good or the KJ I haven't found anything that burns near as long as fogo. I do want to point out burn time doesn't really factor into anything though because the lumps that burn longer are usually the more dense lumps which weigh more so you use the same by weight just not volume. 
  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 17,261
    Never experienced that issue. It has been a while since I last used it. Switched to Rockwood a few years back, no desire to use anything else, since.
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
  • thetrim
    thetrim Posts: 11,387
    I had the 35lb bag of "super premium" FOGO lump
    =======================================
    XL 6/06, Mini 6/12, L 10/12, Mini #2 12/14 MiniMax 3/16 Large #2 11/20 Legacy from my FIL - RIP PitBoss Navigator 850G 11/25
    Tampa Bay, FL
    EIB 6 Oct 95
  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    What size egg are we talking about.  A large "Filled it to the brim" should last for over twenty hours at 275º.  What do you consider "Filled it to the brim"?  Are you sure of your temp?  Were the lump pieces extra large? Very large lump pieces could leave a lot of empty space in the lump pile resulting in a lot less charcoal than you think.
    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.
     
  • Lit
    Lit Posts: 9,053
    thetrim said:
    I had the 35lb bag of "super premium" FOGO lump
    I haven't bought any recently but I know the bags I have gotten in the past it was dense long burning lump with a lot of big pieces and hardly and small garbage. 
  • Yno
    Yno Posts: 529
    I have an XL and have been using Fogo for a year or so. Stuff seems to burn for ever. I only do low and slows, mostly, up to 24 hours. Even then, I shake off the ash and have a lot left. I just add a bit more and am ready for the next cook. Forgo is expensive per pound, but a bag lasts me a long time.
    XL BGE in San Jose, CA. Also a Pit Barrel Cooker, a Cal Flame P4 gasser, and lots of toys including the first ever Flame Boss 300 in the wild. And a new Flame Boss 500.
  • Ragtop99
    Ragtop99 Posts: 1,570
    I use both Fogo and Rockwood.  The Fogo lasts as long as anything I've used.  If I start with a full egg, I can go several cooks without adding lump.  

    I will say my most recent bag of Fogo has sparked a lot more during lighting than previous bags.
    Cooking on an XL and Medium in Bethesda, MD.
  • Thanks for the replies.  I got two of the 17.6 lb bags from the Fogo web site.  This is the first time I've used it so really disappointed so far.  I've had a egg for 3+ years and have used it almost daily and never had lump burn as fast as this stuff is burning.  Sounds like no one has had this issue so perhaps I got a bad bag?  Haven't opened my second bag yet but will very soon at the rate things are going.
    Large and MiniMax
    Mont Vernon, NH
  • What size egg are we talking about.  A large "Filled it to the brim" should last for over twenty hours at 275º.  What do you consider "Filled it to the brim"?  Are you sure of your temp?  Were the lump pieces extra large? Very large lump pieces could leave a lot of empty space in the lump pile resulting in a lot less charcoal than you think.
    I have a Large egg and also a Mini Mac.  For the pork butt, I used my large egg with adjustable rig setup.  Filled with lump and hickory wood to top of fire ring.  Should have been plenty of lump for 12+ hours.  Rockwood would have gone close to 18 hours.  I use a DigiQ set up and it plus my egg thermostat were right at 275 for the cook.  Lump only lasted 6-7 hours and had to throw more in.  Prior to this, I noticed it burning more for everyday grills like hamburger, etc.  I'll burn this bag and try the second one with hopefully better results.  Was just curious if anyone else had seen anything similiar.
    Large and MiniMax
    Mont Vernon, NH
  • Lit
    Lit Posts: 9,053
    Thanks for the replies.  I got two of the 17.6 lb bags from the Fogo web site.  This is the first time I've used it so really disappointed so far.  I've had a egg for 3+ years and have used it almost daily and never had lump burn as fast as this stuff is burning.  Sounds like no one has had this issue so perhaps I got a bad bag?  Haven't opened my second bag yet but will very soon at the rate things are going.
    The 17.6 lb bags are not the same as the 35 lb bags. The 17.6 isn't dense but I still think it's good lump.
  • Wow, I've never heard of this before. I've burned through several pallets of Fogo and have never experienced this issue. Which bag were you use and how did you light the lump?
  • Try reaching out to their support team. sales@fogocharcoal.com
  • Wow, I've never heard of this before. I've burned through several pallets of Fogo and have never experienced this issue. Which bag were you use and how did you light the lump?
    I got the bags online, 17lbs.  I use an air lighter to light which I've used for 2+ years.
    Large and MiniMax
    Mont Vernon, NH
  • Try reaching out to their support team. sales@fogocharcoal.com
    I did and they are sending me a replacement.  Hopefully, I have better luck.
    Large and MiniMax
    Mont Vernon, NH
  • THEBuckeye
    THEBuckeye Posts: 4,232
    Since Firecraft quick delivering Rockwood I bought an overpriced bag of Fogo. 

    One and done.

     Lit w/ one starter. Will get 4 cooks out of it. Filled to brim, 3 were less than an hour, one was about 4 for turbo butt. 
    New Albany, Ohio