Lump Sorting??

Slotmercenary · May 2008

I guess the egg gods are smiling on me. Knock on ceramic. I see all of the posts about sorting and stacking lump with big then med then small and i scratch my head. I have been very fortunate I guess, because in the past 5 years I have done over 100 lo-n-slow cooks some in excess of 20 + hours and never did it. I just recently started seeing the posts about it.

i just clean out my eggs and dump the lump from the bag into the firebox, layering with whatever smoking woods and light it in the center of the pile.

Now watch, i bet my next cook goes out in the middle of the night just to teach me a lesson.................

RRP · May 2008

me too and you know what? The stacking, sorting and building goes back to Elder Ward years ago and his long set of highly regarded pork butt instructions. I recall he openly admitted on this board that sorting, stacking and building was meant as tongue in cheek, but it took on a life and legend of it's own.

The main thing is to make sure the grate holes are not obstructed.

Slotmercenary · May 2008

Hey man thanks for the feedback, i was afraid that by outing myself i was gonna get the boot from the club before i got to learn the handshake...........

Darnoc · May 2008

I totally agree.When I bought my first Egg five years ago I followed Elders method for low and slow.After the second year of cooking you know when you are going to do a butt and if after numerous cooks you feel there is a lot of small stuff near the bottom of the fire grate after stirring it up then it is time to dump it out.Half dollar size pieces on up I have never had a problem right out of the bag.Unless the bag is almost down to the last two inches of stuff then that will be to small to use usually.That will go in the chimney starter but I am a weed burner fanatic so I trash it.

stike · May 2008

i followed elder ward's method religiously the first time. i'm the kind of guy that follows THE recipe or method the first tiem or three until i understand what and why. then i sorta fly by the seat of my pants and just follow the general concept.

except that for each overnight, i DID sorta sort each time. not in a nutty way, but i just steered the big stuff to the bottom, and so forth.

fast-forward to one horribly crappy rainy/sleet/snowy night when i was bound and determined to still make pulled pork. i dumped cheap-arse Cowboy lump straight from the bag. rain pouring down. lit it, set vents, and (after putting the meat on a few minutes later), went to bed. i thought "eff it. if it goes out, i'll do ribs".

i wake up, and the old egg is 250, chugging merrily. since then, i dump from the bag, but silently still give props to elder ward.

WessB · May 2008

Never sorted myself..personally consider it a waste of time and a whole lot of dirty hands...lo n slo's will burn all night as they have for years..and a guru or other controller is absolutely NOT needed....nice to have but not required...

stike · May 2008

glad to hear a forum elder who has not gone over to the "wired" side! bravo!

i was shocked to learn that mad max plugs in his friggin egg for an overnight. i knew that the Whiz did, but he's a gadget-guy (and i mean that with all due respect!).

still. i have never heard anyone complain about their guru. but, like you, i just don't think it's necessary. i originally bought my egg because of it's already well-earned rep for not needing tending on an overnight.

Chef in the Making · May 2008

I agree dump and light besides it gives you more time to enjoy the glass of wine.

Lump Sorting??

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