Egg cookers and coal amounts for butts

GreenDrake · Feb 28, 2011

Hi guys, just getting up the courage to do some long cooks on the Kamado Joe and since it is pretty much identical to the BGE, I thought I would ask you fellas about lump coal amounts.

I want to do a butt this weekend and want to trust the Kamado without being present, I have a sausage party to go to at Grampa's farm, doing 1800 lbs of sausages this year.

Can I trust that this baby will hold and take care of my shoulder without being present to check on it? No different than an all nighter I guess. I want to be able to get it on the grill in the early morning and let it ride. I know how to maintain the temp, just not sure if I stuff the coals in there and really fill it. I generally don't put a whole lot in it when doing ribs or other six hour smokes so I am not sure if I pile it up to the ring or just over the vent holes.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

Midnight Smoke · Feb 28, 2011

I have found more than enough is better than to little. I fill my Egg to the top of the Fire-ring for a 14+ hour cook. I use larger chunks on bottom and add medium and smaller on top. Wood chunks mixed in. I am not comfortable with the set and forget. I have had a few cooks that go this way, others seem to need some sort of attention during the cook.

Groundhog66 · Feb 28, 2011

I agree, fill it up because you can always extinguish what is not needed.

OakPit · Feb 28, 2011

Groundhog66 said:
I agree, fill it up because you can always extinguish what is not needed.

My opinion as well. I don't know about the KJ, but on a BGE I have to make a single air adjustment at the 8 hour mark. In order to make a long cook successful, make sure that the initial temperature setting has stabilized for a bit longer than normal. Make that first temp setting count. When you put a butt on, expect the temp. to drop but then rebound to where you set it. Without a Stoker or Guru, I'd be around in 8-9 hours to tweak the air a bit. Fuel will not be a problem. As always, my .02

Bacon_99 · Feb 28, 2011

I fill to the top of the fire-box as well - and at 275 F I can usually get 18 hours easy... I find the temp stays once I get everything set - shocking how well the BGE keeps temp...

Bacon_99 · Feb 28, 2011

PS - I use BGE lump or Royal Oak

BigDaddyJT · Mar 1, 2011

I agree w/ all the above. These cookers are very efficient by design.

JT

smknhotmama · Mar 1, 2011

Thanks for asking....now I don't have to later :-D
Good info as always guys thanks so much!

1_T_Scot · Mar 1, 2011

Yup always fill it for long cooks. I have even mounded mine slightly ove the fire ring. I can also tell I'm due for a new gasket. Check my thread. http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101082 I'm out of town on buisness right now but when I get back Im going to put the new gasket on.

aquablue22 · Mar 1, 2011

Yep, I also fill it up full and layer wood chunks as i fill it up, once you get the temp set as far as air flows goes you should be able to turn your back. That's one of the things I like about the egg, you can set it up and let it run all night long, get up in the morning and it's still cruising right along.

GreenDrake · Mar 1, 2011

I may just give it a go, not that big a deal if it fails, just the cost of a butt I guess. I usually have my door open a little over an inch and the daisy wheel barely open and I can get it cruising right along steady for hours. then again, the fun of bbq is trial and error. I will give her a shot this saturday and post results when I get home.

Egg cookers and coal amounts for butts

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