How much coal to use?

Unknown · January 2007

I fired up my egg for the FIRST time yesterday afternoon, just to get a feel for the egg (did not even have anything to cook). Here is what I have: [p]I bought a 10lb bag of Royal Oak from Walmart, opened it up reached into it filled my egg up with maybe one inch of coal. Everything I read says fill it up to the air holes, which I did, but that is only really one layer of coal in my opinion. The plan was to get the egg up to around 700 degree's. I used one fire starter, closed the egg, had the bottom and top vents wide open and went in. At first I could not get the egg over 200, then I added some coal and got it up too 500. [p]I have so many questions but don't want to hog for the forum up, and i've already gone and read all the other sites. I feel like the last kid in school to "get the joke." [p]1. How much coal do I use in a large egg, to get it too 700 to sear steaks?
2. Does anyone use the electic fire starters, or is it best to use the fire starters you use?
a. If you do use the fire starters how many do you use?
3.What do you use to load the coal into the egg? (your hands, etc...)
4. When you light the coal do you leave the lib open or close it?[p]So many people have already helped me but I feel bad asking for help all the time, and asking so many questions. [p]Rob[p]

Unknown · January 2007

TexasRob,
I'll tackle a few questions from my own experience.[p]1. I've gotten to 700 with about as much lump as you describe, maybe even a bit less. Is it particularly cold where you are? Maybe vent her wide open until you see the temp really rising swiftly.
2. I use an electric starter exclusively. About 8 minutes and she's good to go. Never failed.
3. I leave the lid up (of course) until I pull out the starter, then vent it wide open until I get a good climb on the temp. Then I close the vents down when I getting close to my cook temp.[p]Hank

Wise One · January 2007

TexasRob,
1. How much coal do I use in a large egg, to get it too 700 to sear steaks? You need to use a lot more than what you did (or what they say in the manual). Fill it up at least to the firering
2. Does anyone use the electic fire starters, or is it best to use the fire starters you use? I initially used a electric starter but found I was going through about two a year. I now use a mapp torch. I have also used the paraffin firestarters with great success.
a. If you do use the fire starters how many do you use? I would break a single square into at least four pieces and use two or three of these pieces to get it started.
3.What do you use to load the coal into the egg? (your hands, etc...) Varies. Sometimes I pour directly from the bag. Other times I use an old set of coal tongs to lift from the Rubbermaid container I store my lump in. Sometimes when my hands are dirty, I just reach and grab what I need.
4. When you light the coal do you leave the lib open or close it? If I'm going to hand around, I'll leave it open a bit. If I need to go back inside, I close the top, open the top and bottom vents and then try to check on it within ten minutes. Once when I left it for 30 minutes, I came back to a 700 degree fire. It took me almost an hour to get it back to my desired 350.

Wardster · January 2007

TexasRob,
Let me take a hack at this....[p]1. How much coal do I use in a large egg, to get it too 700 to sear steaks?
Fill it up to a minimum of the bottom of the fire ring, the last piece of ceramic on top. I go a bit further. That way you can get to nuke temps or keep a long low fire that will not need additional coal added.
2. Does anyone use the electic fire starters, or is it best to use the fire starters you use?
I've used them all. I find the fire starter or MAPP gas the best.
a. If you do use the fire starters how many do you use?
Usually one, unless I want a hot fire fast and I will use two.
3.What do you use to load the coal into the egg? (your hands, etc...)
I think this will be the everlasting questions. Whatever you use, you will get dirty. I have just resorted to opening the bag and pouring it in.
4. When you light the coal do you leave the lib open or close it?[p]I leave the lid open until the fire starters go out then shut it with the daisy wheel off and the vent wide open. When I get within 50* of desired temp, I start to shut her down and slowly bring her up to my temp.[p]Good questions!! Stick around, ask more questions and let us know how it turns out.[p]Welcome aboard!

Wyldwood · January 2007

TexasRob,
Welcome to the club!
I fill mine up to the top of the fire box. I have used an electric starter. They work well, but I start mine with a mapp gas torch or a propane one. I just dump the stuff in from the bag. When I light it, I leave the lid open for a few minutes to make sure the fire is well started, then close it and let it go for a few more with the top and bottom open. When the temp begins to get to my cooking range, I start to shut the dampers to almost closed on the bottom. The daisey wheel I use to adjust the the heat for the cook. How much depends on the desired temp. Takes practice to regulate the temp but it's not rocket science. Good luck. The Egg is the best cooker I've ever used.

Unknown · January 2007

Wardster,[p]What is this MAPP gas I keep hearing about? Ok, i'm going back to the store to return the electric one.

Haggis · January 2007

TexasRob,[p]Interesting set of responses you've received. You'll note one constant however - notably that you need more lump than just to the holes in the firebox. You can easily reach high temps, just not with the minimal amount of lump you have tried. I use more lump but perhaps not always up to the top of the firebox, mostly because that can get the fire closer to the meat than I might want it to be for a particular cook, particularly during the post-sear part of a cook when I might want to add other food items to the Egg. Of course you can always sear at a low grid height and then raise it for the rest of the cook. [p]I usually use a MAPP torch to start it but really dislike the sparking one gets when hitting the new lump and dust with that high temp. One firestarter cube broken into pieces does a good job but you have to be sure you let all the paraffin burn off before you put in your food.[p]I usually close my lid after lighting. I don't know that it makes much difference but it works for me and I don't see any particular logic in leaving the top open.

Unknown · January 2007

Hank,[p]Do you have to replace your electric starter like the other person mentioned above? So do you set the starter in the bottom of the coals and then pull it out once the fire is going? Doesn't the fire burn the electic cord?

Haggis · January 2007

texasrob,[p]A MAPP torch is like a plumbers propane torch but the gas burns at a higher temperature. Bernzomatic sells one at the big box stores for about $40 with the igniter in the head. The canister of gas sells for about $8, a bit more than propane.[p]But when used on new lump you can get a lot of sparking and may well burn your clothing. Some suggest safety glasses as well.

Unknown · January 2007

Haggis,[p]So does the MAPP torch get the fire going faster than the fire starter cubes? Don't you have to sit there and told the torch for a while to get the fire going.

Unknown · January 2007

TexasRob,[p]First of all welcome to the Eggdom.[p]To answer your questions: 1) I fill lump almost to the top of the fire ring no matter what I'm cooking. Usually enough lump left in fire box for second cook if I choose to do another the same day. 2) I've been using Rutland firestarters. I use one square breaking it in half and lighting fire front and rear of egg. 3) I just dump in the lump unless I'm doing low and slow, then I empty fire box and start with larger pieces and fill in to top with medium and smaller pieces. 4) I usually leave the lid up until I have a good flame going. Then close the lid and let fire get up to temp and adjust bottom vent and daisy wheel to desired dome temp. [p]Hope this helps. The more you use the egg the more comfortable you will become using it. Happy Eggin'

Unknown · January 2007

texasrob,[p]I've had my electric starter for about two years now. They eventually need to be replaced, but they hold up well. The cord doesn't burn since the electric coil and the handle give you about a foot and a half of distance from the coals. Just make sure to drape the cord outside the egg![p]Hank

Wardster · January 2007

texasrob,
A cansiter should last the better part of a year. You hold it in a few spots for about 30 seconds. It does spark so you may have to move to another spot that won't so much. I think the starter cubes are the easiest, but you have to pay for them and the MAPP lasts a long time.
The electric is the easist, but they burn out rather quickly, as Wiseone said, you will go through 2-3 in a year.

Haggis · January 2007

texasrob,[p]To be honest, I don't know that it does make things any faster but others may think differently. I usually hold the torch in one spot for about 15 seconds, trying to let the flame get down between some lumps so that a.) the sparks don't leap as high, and b.) to make sure that its where air from the bottom can reach it. For a normal cook I'll light a couple/three places. This is a bit more convenient than the firestarters since you don't need to keep the firestarters around, break them up, light each one, make sure its against the lump but won't go out when a chunk falls over it, etc. But all that's pretty minor and both work well. BTW, you can also buy a small paraffin/sawdust firelog and just use chunks of it instead of the firestarters.

How much coal to use?

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