[Closed] Which charcoal??

I had one last week where it took far more fluid and gel to get it going than can possibly be sensible. I wonder if old bags of it left over from last years sales have been sitting getting damp somewhere over the winter.

I was even completely sober. Shouldn't have taken me that long to get it going! 🙂

I don't know about brand, but I get much more success from a big pile of proper charcoal briquettes than the lumpwood pish. The latter just never gets watm enough.

For proper charcoal, also find (tip from Argentinian neighbour, the BBQ master!) that using a hairdryer to get everything nice and evenly hot helps no end.

Missus is obviously thrilled her turbo master 6000 diffuser thingy smells of BBQ dust and 4 week old burgers 😀

HTH!

Kev

[url= http://www.johnlewis.com/230523060/Product.aspx?source=63258 ]Weber Briquetts[/url] Weber every time, light easy and burn stable for a good few hours

Mmm it was last yrs charcoal and some **** did throw a stone through the shed window whilst trying to hit a pigeon so it may have been damp...

Weber +1.

Of all the charcoal I have used/tried in my years on this planet, it produces the most consistant heat for the longest time.

Generic lumpwood is fine, but it's very hot and dies down too quickly. Weber briquettes take a bit of lighting (I use a charcoal chimney thing), but when they get going, they work a treat.

[url= https://secure.calor.co.uk/OrderCalorCylinders/default.asp?PageType=patio ]This One[/url]on a Weber - not trying to fan the flames here but it's the way to go - now living in Oz

Lumpwood. Briquettes can be made from anything they find on the floor, particularly mud.
Kindling fire for starting lumpwood or gas torch for the lazy.

And dry stuff always burns better.

Thanks for some of the tips - I also use Weber Charcoal Briquettes, which seem to work a treat, and aren't too expensive. If you're looking to save a few bucks, you can make your own of course.
[url= http://www.artgraphica.net/charcoal/how-to-make-your-own-charcoal.html ]How to make your own charcoal[/url]

If you can find some Charka ( South African shops stock them ) then you will be BBQing with the XTR of charcoal. No jokes, the stuff is SA's no1 choice by far, and we braai 😉 a lot.

If the problems getting started, try a chimney starter, around £12 from BandQ - charcoal in top part, scrunced up news paper on bottom part, put in grill (safest place for it), light paper. 20-30 mins later, pour charcoal onto grill. Worked well with old briquettes and lumpwood. You can also start another lot whilst the barbie is in full swing - although you'll need somewhere to put it whilst it's doing it's stuff
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+1 for chimney starter

I use Big K, but only use Lumpwood, blistering hot for 30 mins or so, I suppose if I was cooking for a long time, for a party or something I'd use briquettes.

also, why are people using lighter fluid and gel? newspaper and kindling FTW

Find local coal supplier in yellow pages, phone and ask if they do restaurant grade lumpwood charcoal in a blue bag. If they say yes, go and buy some, cos it's good stuff and cheaper than the 'decent stuff' from the likes of B&Q.

(you actually get pieces of tree turned in to charcoal in the bags, rather than black dust).

Starter chimneys are great bits of kit and save a lot of faffing around with sticks/fire lighters etc.

Hi - depending where you are in the UK try and find a local charcoal producer - IMHO the uk hardwood charcoal is the best stuff - lights easily - just a wrap a piece in newspaper and away you go - it takes a bit longer to get upto cooking temperature but I think it then burns hotter.

Whatever type you buy look for the FSC or PEFC on the bag - that way you can be sure that you are not burning rainforest or mangrove - if you buy the UK stuff you can feel doubly smug by a helping traditional industry and supporting good woodland management.

+1 for Weber. Not the cheapest, but when you pick a bag up and feel how heavy/dense the stuff is, then burn it for 2-4 times longer than the cheaper stuff, it realy is a lot better value in the long run. The old 'buy cheap buy twice' adage, even applies to charcoal. Its the XTR of charcoal 😉

andybach +1

I actually made charcoal for a couple of years and our English Hardwood charcoal lit very easily and got up to heat very quickly. Unfortunately it's a messy, time-consuming job and even on a "hobby" basis we couldn't make it pay.

I've still got a few bags of it left but these days I'm more likely to power a forge with it than a barbeque - although I can always grill a sausage when the metal bashing is over 🙂