How Long Will One Bag of KBB Burn in a Top Notch Insulated Smoker?

AKMIMNAK · 10-05-2020, 10:56 AM

I just completed the longest BBQ experiment - not only that I've ever tried myself - but that I've ever seen done on YouTube or anywhere else. It was INSANE.

I started with one simple question: "How long will she burn?"

The conditions:

-1 bag of Kingsford Charcoal (blue bag, 20 lb value size)
-Lone Star Grillz "Mini" insulated vertical cabinet smoker
-50 degree temps with light drizzle and wind
-no temp control device
-target temp 225
-the goal was to tinker as little as possible - just set and forget
-this was my very first time EVER running an IVC

I want to see your guesses before I tell you what happened :-)

Killa J · 10-05-2020, 11:15 AM

My guess is 30 hours if there was no food in the smoker. 1.5 hours per pound.

Stlsportster · 10-05-2020, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killa J

My guess is 30 hours if there was no food in the smoker. 1.5 hours per pound.

That would be a waste. 30 hours is a brisket, a butt, rack of spares, a spatchcock chicken, a fatty, and some poppers end to end.

Killa J · 10-05-2020, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stlsportster

That would be a waste. 30 hours is a brisket, a butt, rack of spares, a spatchcock chicken, a fatty, and some poppers end to end.

Just taking a guess on the longest it would go. I know I did an 18 hour brisket in a kamado and had close to half the charcoal still in there.

Mike in Roseville · 10-05-2020, 11:38 AM

At 225 the whole time? I'm going to say that 30-36 hours seems about right. If its longer than 40 hours I'd be surprised.

AKMIMNAK · 10-05-2020, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike in Roseville

At 225 the whole time? I'm going to say that 30-36 hours seems about right. If its longer than 40 hours I'd be surprised.

Prepare to be surprised :-) I certainly was......shocked. And honestly was wishing it had died sooner by the end of the experiment

AKMIMNAK · 10-05-2020, 07:19 PM

The answer is live!! Prepare to be shocked

https://youtu.be/skRdMdyBKCg

Stlsportster · 10-05-2020, 07:37 PM

Wrong answer. I heard it was 42. The answer. To life, the universe, and well, everything.

Mike in Roseville · 10-05-2020, 07:59 PM

Wow! 43 hours! That’s impressive!

Killa J · 10-05-2020, 09:10 PM

That’s pretty impressive. My Good One Marshall burns that in about 8 hours. Maybe I can work the numbers to explain to my wife that a new IVC would virtually pay for itself in charcoal consumption.

AKMIMNAK · 10-05-2020, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike in Roseville

Wow! 43 hours! That’s impressive!

I had no conception when I started this experiment what it was going to do to me LOL!!

AKMIMNAK · 10-05-2020, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killa J

That’s pretty impressive. My Good One Marshall burns that in about 8 hours. Maybe I can work the numbers to explain to my wife that a new IVC would virtually pay for itself in charcoal consumption.

You've got the scientific proof publicly available on the internet now! You're welcome ;-) Let me know how that goes. . .

Happy Hapgood · 10-05-2020, 11:43 PM

I did the same on my 18" WSM and used 240*F as target temp with 16# of KBB and got 20 hours. Could have gone longer @ 225* but did not count that. Full disclosure, Summer in Louisiana had to have helped along with little wind.

onemanlan · 10-06-2020, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killa J

My guess is 30 hours if there was no food in the smoker. 1.5 hours per pound.

Killa J nailed it plus or minus a few hours. Good call!

Now toss some meat on and see the difference! Glad your happy with your shiny new IVC smoker. A 30 min video about just burning charcoal says you're excited lol.

BTW it's not scientific proof. Its anecdotal evidence. It's good anecdotal evidence, but just that.

10-05-2020, 10:56 AM	#1
AKMIMNAK is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-02-17 Location: Alaska Name/Nickname : Jonathan	How Long Will One Bag of KBB Burn in a Top Notch Insulated Smoker? I just completed the longest BBQ experiment - not only that I've ever tried myself - but that I've ever seen done on YouTube or anywhere else. It was INSANE. I started with one simple question: "How long will she burn?" The conditions: -1 bag of Kingsford Charcoal (blue bag, 20 lb value size) -Lone Star Grillz "Mini" insulated vertical cabinet smoker -50 degree temps with light drizzle and wind -no temp control device -target temp 225 -the goal was to tinker as little as possible - just set and forget -this was my very first time EVER running an IVC I want to see your guesses before I tell you what happened :-) __________________ Born and raised Alaskan and BBQ lover

10-05-2020, 07:19 PM	#7
AKMIMNAK is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-02-17 Location: Alaska Name/Nickname : Jonathan	The answer is live!! Prepare to be shocked https://youtu.be/skRdMdyBKCg __________________ Born and raised Alaskan and BBQ lover

10-05-2020, 11:43 PM	#13
Happy Hapgood somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 03-17-12 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana Name/Nickname : Mike	I did the same on my 18" WSM and used 240F as target temp with 16# of KBB and got 20 hours. Could have gone longer @ 225 but did not count that. Full disclosure, Summer in Louisiana had to have helped along with little wind. __________________ Cooking Equipment: Weber WSM, Weber GA, Weber Spirit E-310, Weber 22" OTG Charbroil Oilless Turkey Fryer Wife LuzziAnn 1956 model. Ink Bird IBBQ 4T Wi-Fi Temp Monitor, Superfast LSU Purple Thermapen & ThermaPop, Party Q Ink Bird Sous Vide, HF Flame Thower My Motto these days is "Low Stress, Low Drag". The Artist Formally Known as Toast

10-05-2020, 11:15 AM	#2
Killa J Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-26-20 Location: Prairieville, LA Name/Nickname : Josh	My guess is 30 hours if there was no food in the smoker. 1.5 hours per pound.

10-05-2020, 11:38 AM	#5
Mike in Roseville Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-31-18 Location: Location, Location. Name/Nickname : Mike	At 225 the whole time? I'm going to say that 30-36 hours seems about right. If its longer than 40 hours I'd be surprised.

10-05-2020, 07:37 PM	#8
Stlsportster Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-09-16 Location: Random Point In Time and Space Name/Nickname : Parental Assigned Label	Wrong answer. I heard it was 42. The answer. To life, the universe, and well, everything.

10-05-2020, 07:59 PM	#9
Mike in Roseville Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-31-18 Location: Location, Location. Name/Nickname : Mike	Wow! 43 hours! That’s impressive!

10-05-2020, 09:10 PM	#10
Killa J Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-26-20 Location: Prairieville, LA Name/Nickname : Josh	That’s pretty impressive. My Good One Marshall burns that in about 8 hours. Maybe I can work the numbers to explain to my wife that a new IVC would virtually pay for itself in charcoal consumption.