Reusing charcoal question

Charcoal is pressed sawdust in most cases lump coal burned wood, I use lump coal and even then when I reuse the remainder it is to pour the fresh lump fired in my chimney over it.

I would suggest you use the leftover as a base in the grill and not as the fresh in the chimney.

Mark Warren said:

Charcoal is pressed sawdust in most cases lump coal burned wood, I use lump coal and even then when I reuse the remainder it is to pour the fresh lump fired in my chimney over it.

I would suggest you use the leftover as a base in the grill and not as the fresh in the chimney.

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I completely agree. When I try to relight used charcoal in the chimney it doesn't seem to want to light. I think it is because the pieces are smaller and they fit more compactly in the chimney, making it obstruct airflow.

I always light new charcoal in the chimney and pour the lit charcoal on top of the remaining used charcoal in the grill. I then let the grill preheat as the used charcoal lights. You don't need to light as much new charcoal either as the used charcoal will light.

I tend to mix used and new. But, light with new in the chimney. If you feel the used charcoal, it is less dense, I figure that means it is already largely spent.

because it doesn't burn as hot or long as fresh, i use it in the chimney and dump onto fresh for the longer, more important portion of the cook.

My weedburner lights used lump just fine. Doesn't burn quite as hot as fresh lump but not a problem unless I were doing a 700° sear... Which I don't. Often reuse charcoal 3 times as the Egg is very thrifty with fuel. Only add fresh if the level of the lump is more than 4" below the top of the firebox... Unless I'm planning an overnight cook.