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What do you do with the small pieces of lump coal at the bottom of the bag?

jsdtxjsdtx Posts: 4
in Forum Feedback
Every so often a bag has small pieces about the size of a quarter or slightly larger.  I have been using those for the brisket low temperature cooks, because those small pieces clog the air vents.  If I need to get the temperature up with some of those pieces, I put them toward the front and put big pieces at the back all the way down.  What do you do with those small pieces.  Sometimes I want to throw them out but they work fine.  So it is a waste of money to toss them.  Thanks 

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Comments

  • GregWGregW Posts: 2,399
    If you have a chimenea, small pieces work well to get a bed of coals started to help light the wood logs. 
    Birmingham, AL
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  • mEGG_My_DaymEGG_My_Day Posts: 1,601
    Sometimes I’ll take the bag with the leftover small lump, roll it up and put it on the firepit - build a log cabin of firewood above and start a fire. 
    Memphis, TN 

    LBGE, 2 SBGE, Hasty-Bake Gourmet
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  • SciAggieSciAggie Posts: 6,311
    Burn them in the Mini Max. Don’t stress over lump size. 
    Coleman, Texas
    Large BGE & Mini Max for the wok. A few old camp Dutch ovens and a wood fired oven. LSG 24” cabinet offset smoker. There are a few paella pans and a Patagonia cross in the barn. A curing chamber for bacterial transformation of meats...
    "Bourbon slushies. Sure you can cook on the BGE without them, but why would you?"
                                                                                                                          YukonRon
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  • Mattman3969Mattman3969 Posts: 10,210
    I love small pieces for my mini. Lately I’ve been breaking up RW so it will fit in the little guy. The small pieces also work great to help spread the fire when you put them on top of the larger pieces. 

    -----------------------------------------


    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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  • cookingdude555cookingdude555 Posts: 2,899
    All of it burns. I dump it in. 

    John - SLC, UT

    Several eggs ..

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  • BotchBotch Posts: 10,969
    When my bag is almost empty I set it aside, load with the new bag, and then sprinkle with the crumbs on top, for two burns.
    Nothing's wasted, nothing's clogged.  I do have to count, which for a retiree can be a struggle.  
    ____________________________________________
    Introvert Engineers - Social Distancing before it was cool.  
    Ogden, Utard.  
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  • nolaeggheadnolaegghead Posts: 35,765
    You can't clog an egg up too much for a low and slow with small lump.
    ______________________________________________
    Large and Medium BGE, Kamado Joe Jr, Akorn Jr, big effin' pellet smoker, gas grill, fire pit, FireDisk, pack of angry cats, two turntables and a microphone, my friend.  Registered republican.
    New Orleans, LA - we know how to eat 
    Stike's troll account



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  • LowcountrygamecockLowcountrygamecock Posts: 313
    mEGG_My_Day said:
    Sometimes I’ll take the bag with the leftover small lump, roll it up and put it on the firepit - build a log cabin of firewood above and start a fire. 
    This!!!!  Really good fire pit starters. I torch the whole bag under some logs and away we go. 
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  • rekameohsrekameohs Posts: 188
    cookingdude555 said:
    All of it burns. I dump it in. 

    When I scrape out the ash, I use a cat litter scoop to catch the smaller pieces, while the ash falls through.  I just dump the pieces back on the pile.  Nothing gets wasted, and they burn just fine.
    Raleigh, NC
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  • alaskanassasinalaskanassasin Posts: 3,857
    Smokem
    South of Columbus, Ohio.
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  • BotchBotch Posts: 10,969
    rekameohs said:
    When I scrape out the ash, I use a cat litter scoop to catch the smaller pieces, while the ash falls through.  I just dump the pieces back on the pile.  Nothing gets wasted, and they burn just fine.
    Stolen!   :) 
    ____________________________________________
    Introvert Engineers - Social Distancing before it was cool.  
    Ogden, Utard.  
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  • TEXASBGE2018TEXASBGE2018 Posts: 3,033
    I plant mine in the ground and try to grow charcoal trees. So far im not having much luck


    Rockwall, Tx    LBGE, Minimax, 22" Blackstone, Pizza Party Bollore. Cast Iron Hoarder.

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  • Mark_B_GoodMark_B_Good Posts: 582
    mEGG_My_Day said:
    Sometimes I’ll take the bag with the leftover small lump, roll it up and put it on the firepit - build a log cabin of firewood above and start a fire. 
    This is exactly what I do ... roll the bag up and chuck the entire thing into the fire pit. Makes for a good starter.
    Napoleon Prestige Pro 665, XL BGE, Lots of time for BBQ!
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  • builderdawgbuilderdawg Posts: 94
    SciAggie said:
    Don’t stress over lump size. 
    That's what she said.
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  • WoodersonWooderson Posts: 197
    I always dump them in.  Hell, i even shake the bag empty
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  • stlcharcoalstlcharcoal Posts: 4,343
    Dump it all in.  It had the same BTU/# regardless of the size....even the dust.  Small pieces do not burn at a rate faster than the large ones.

    If getting to the bottom of the bag and need to fill the entire egg, then I start a new bag and use the rest of the old bag to top dress.  The dust and fines will sprinkle down into the firebox and will actually help maintain a low & slow by providing a "fire bridge".  Big chunks leave big gaps.  Big gaps = cold air.....not good on starting and low & slows.....charcoal needs 670F to burn.
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  • theyolksonyoutheyolksonyou Posts: 18,077
    BTUs is BTUs.  Or so I’ve heard
    Jason NW GA- home of carpet and Mexican restaurants
    LBGE, MM, BS (Blackstone and the other kind)
    One sorry Labrador

    My chili did not suck. My wings either. 
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