Charcoal Storage Question

Texhead · January 2010

Every time I do a low and slow, I open a new bag of charcoal to find those good big pieces. Needless to say, I now have "several" opened bags of lump littering my garage.

Anyone have any ingenious methods of charcoal storage? I suppose I could consolidate into one bag but for the fact that I usually tear bags completely open for easier big lump hunting.

Thanks
Texhead

gdenby · January 2010

I've got 2 big plastic tubs, I think they're 20 gallons ea. One for big pieces, on for all the rest. Between the 2, they hold about 30 pounds.

AlwaysGolf · January 2010

Try a large plastic rubbermaid trash can or a galvanized aluminum/steel one.

TheDirtyBurger · January 2010

I use small sterilite tote containers
I have 1 small one for my wood chunks and 1 small one for my "gooduns", aka large pieces of charcoal I use at the bottom of a lump pile

I also have 1 huge sterilite container for my charcoal. It holds about 1.5 20lb bags, so I empty it, open a new bag and fill the egg, then put the rest and another bag in the container. I let them sit on my deck all year long, no moisture, no problems. Just look for cracks from the plastic getting brittle and hit when you move them around.
tim

Bacchus · January 2010

On a side note, I have done lo/slo with not one piece of lump bigger than a golf ball and most about the size of a marble. The last I did 2 cooks, for a total more than 24hrs on the same load of lump. :P

fishlessman · January 2010

just so you know, some of us just open the bag and drop the lump into the egg

i made a lump grate that has more holes for better airflow, others lifted the grate a quarter inch increasing the airflow, you really dont need to search out bigger chunks of lump imho

fishlessman · January 2010

yep

fiddlesticks · January 2010

Interesting. Do you have a suggestion for how to raise the grate 1/4 inch? I have a medium.

FS

fishlessman · January 2010

someone probably has a pick, i believe the easiest way was to use a bolt and nut with a washer big enough to over hang the circumfrance in three places. the grate was now sitting higher on the washers

fiddlesticks · January 2010

Thanks - I'll give that a try.

Angela · January 2010

we have 3 5 gallon buckets we use for large, medium and small

Woody69 · January 2010

Me too. I have never stacked,sorted, or even thought about arranging a perfect pile of lump. Dump and light is all I do. I have done several overnight cooks with no failures. I have used a wiggle rod a time or two when the temp seemed to drop a little, but that's it.

Dave in So Cal · January 2010

I am from the dump the lump from the bag into the egg school. Therefore, I store my unused lump in the bag. Right now I have a 3/4 bag full stuffed in the cabinet on my gasser.

My complaint with plastic storage bins is that they get brittle and crack after a few years of being outside. If you can find a galvanized steel can with a cover, you might have a nice solution.

SteveinTN · January 2010

i just dump and go also....
but i do like these storage units. i find they are easier to deal with and dump the lump ongoing. i use three inside the cabinet.

Texhead · January 2010

Thanks for all the good ideas. I will be trying some this weekend.

BTW, I am ignoring all you people who just dump charcoal. I have to do something to make it look like that good food coming off the egg took some skill on my part.

Texhead

ckcgnfshn · January 2010

I use the dog food containers called "Vittles Vault"

http://www.petco.com/product/9799/Gamma-Vittles-Vault-Stackables.aspx

They are great. I can put a whole bag of Lump Coal in one and it is completely water and bug proof. I also use them for my wood chunks. I also have one for soaking my wood before smoking.

They come if a variety of sizes and shapes.

Charcoal Storage Question

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