If your only choices were..

CoveLife · 05-20-2011, 12:07 PM

Hello all

I'm the town i live in, charcoal choices are limited. Pretty much without a long drive i have kingsford and cowboy lump avaliable to me.

Now the general concensus i have read is lump is better for low and slow smoking, but also the concensus seems to be cowboy is not a great choice. So, if this were your decision, which way would you go, thanks!

bigabyte · 05-20-2011, 12:11 PM

I would choose Kingsford before Cowboy lump, and I am a lump user. Are there any other brands of briquettes available?

Groundhog66 · 05-20-2011, 12:14 PM

Since you are basically limited to two choices, I would say get a bag of each and see which one YOU prefer.

Bamabuzzard · 05-20-2011, 12:14 PM

Go with the Kingsford. Cowboy lump isn't worth your time or money.

Stoke&Smoke · 05-20-2011, 12:25 PM

I would agree as well...go with the Kingsford. Or ask your nearest Wal-Mart to carry Royal Oak lump

Mister Bob · 05-20-2011, 12:34 PM

The biggest problem I have with Cowboy lump is the occasional rock or other foreign object included in the bag. I would do the necessary culling and go with the lump. I've done it in a pinch with good results.

I'm just not a big fan of briquettes for BBQ. Maybe it's the enclosed environment, or the duration of the exposure to the smoke, but I can definitely tell the difference in flavor. I also don't like the buildup of ash on a long cook, that interferes with air flow in the firebox.

On the other hand, once I pick through a bag of Cowboy and remove the foreign matter, I can't tell the difference in flavor between that and Royal Oak lump for instance.

Just one man's opinion...

Soybomb · 05-20-2011, 12:36 PM

I know a lot of people use lump in their smokers and kingsford in their grills but I prefer it the other way around. Kingsford has a nice consistent burn, I think its easier to dial a smoker in and not have to fiddle with kingsford than with lump. On the grill I like the hotter burn and more rapid response to vent changers I get from lump.

jrstout · 05-20-2011, 02:02 PM

Home depot and a small Kmart is all I have available without a 45 mile drive so I often use cowboy and have never had a problem with a 6 hour or less cook. It has no off flavors and my 22.5 WSM will stay rock steady for at least 6 hours and with a full load ash has never been a problem. Now I have just tried Frontier and I do think it burns longer but I'm going to try a couple of more bags to see if it performs consistently.
I personally don't like the flavor of briquettes so I use only lump. I really don't know why Cowboy gets such a bad rap. I'm sure other lumps are probably better but for a rib cook or anything 6 hours or less I say Cowboy over K all the way.

Myrdhyn · 05-20-2011, 02:25 PM

Either of those would work just fine. If you twisted my arm, I'd go with Kingsford over Cowboy Lump for one reason: Over half the bags I've gotten of cowboy have been mostly pieces smaller than K briquettes. If you hvae a walmart and can get Royal Oak lump, I'd pick that over Kingsford most of the time.

rgking03 · 05-20-2011, 02:29 PM

I would take the cowboy and double check it. I have problems of crap in the bag with the lump. but it is better then nothing.It would be nice to see a lump by kingsford.

Lake Dogs · 05-20-2011, 02:32 PM

The different lumps have had troubles, and some keep trying with mixed results. For consistency, I'd just stay with Kingsford. We have, and we do (use it, consistently).
It's not perfect, but it's not bad either.

JMSetzler · 05-20-2011, 03:03 PM

I just finished a 13.25 hour smoke on a WSM 18.5 using Kingsford with no problems whatsoever. No airflow issues and did not have to add any charcoal during the process. There was probably enough time left on my charcoal to go for up to two more hours if it had been needed. I cooked at a steady 225 degrees for that duration.

I experimented with Cowboy lump with my other smoker and came to a few conclusions from that test. 1 - There is less ash. 2 - It burns a bit hotter. 3 - It did not burn as long as the Kingsford.

Im' sure there are experiences to contradict mine, but those are my experiences.

willkat98 · 05-20-2011, 03:12 PM

You try Ace?

Ace Hardware
115 N Orange Ave, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
(904) 284-3806

They carry Royal Oak briquettes and lump up here.

Have you checked your Home Centers?

I see some of them are indeed a hike.

Good luck!

GammaRei · 05-20-2011, 03:29 PM

Kingsford.

- G

1FUNVET · 05-20-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamabuzzard

Go with the Kingsford. Cowboy lump isn't worth your time or money.

Amen

05-20-2011, 12:07 PM	#1
CoveLife Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 05-05-11 Location: Green Cove Springs FL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If your only choices were.. Hello all I'm the town i live in, charcoal choices are limited. Pretty much without a long drive i have kingsford and cowboy lump avaliable to me. Now the general concensus i have read is lump is better for low and slow smoking, but also the concensus seems to be cowboy is not a great choice. So, if this were your decision, which way would you go, thanks! __________________ Home built offset drum smoker http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106563

05-20-2011, 12:11 PM	#2
bigabyte somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-10-06 Location: Overland Fark, KS Downloads: 1 Uploads: 1	I would choose Kingsford before Cowboy lump, and I am a lump user. Are there any other brands of briquettes available? __________________ Chris Baker For great food and and an even better time join the BBQ Brethren Throwdowns *First ever recipient of the Silverfinger Award!* Yes, I own a whole bunch of BBQ crap also. *Certified MOINK Baller & IMBAS Certified MOINK Ball Judge #0003 - Get your MOINK Certification today!* The Secret Squirrel Society doesn't exist - Zero Club member

05-20-2011, 12:14 PM	#3
Groundhog66 Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-20-10 Location: Livermore, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Since you are basically limited to two choices, I would say get a bag of each and see which one YOU prefer. __________________ Tim -

05-20-2011, 12:14 PM	#4
Bamabuzzard is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-09-07 Location: Shreveport, LA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Go with the Kingsford. Cowboy lump isn't worth your time or money. __________________ Checkout our Original BBQ Sauce & Cajun Pickles www.doubledsbbq.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Double...12864168786570 Stumps Baby Gravity Feed Smoker Backwoods Patio Unit Char Griller Offset for grilling

05-20-2011, 12:25 PM	#5
Stoke&Smoke Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-18-07 Location: Western burbs of Chicago, IL Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I would agree as well...go with the Kingsford. Or ask your nearest Wal-Mart to carry Royal Oak lump __________________ 2 Skinny Cooks Competition Team http://2SkinnyCooks.blogspot.com KCBS CJ/TC #17139 Member ILBBQS Too many cookers to list

05-20-2011, 12:34 PM	#6
Mister Bob is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-15-09 Location: New Windsor, NY Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The biggest problem I have with Cowboy lump is the occasional rock or other foreign object included in the bag. I would do the necessary culling and go with the lump. I've done it in a pinch with good results. I'm just not a big fan of briquettes for BBQ. Maybe it's the enclosed environment, or the duration of the exposure to the smoke, but I can definitely tell the difference in flavor. I also don't like the buildup of ash on a long cook, that interferes with air flow in the firebox. On the other hand, once I pick through a bag of Cowboy and remove the foreign matter, I can't tell the difference in flavor between that and Royal Oak lump for instance. Just one man's opinion... __________________ Mister Bob, Pitmaster - Bob's Hogs KCBS CBJ #31759 - IMBAS Certified MOINK Baller The Hog Blog BBQ Tips, Tricks and Recipes Custom 84" offset trailer Black Betty (ram-a-lam), red Stumps Baby, large BGE (they don't come in red), Smoke-EZ 26.75" Weber OTG, UDS, Mini UDS, Weber gasser, red and black Aussie Walkabout red BBQ Guru CyberQ II, Super fast and super accurate red Thermapen

05-20-2011, 12:36 PM	#7
Soybomb Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-19-11 Location: USA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I know a lot of people use lump in their smokers and kingsford in their grills but I prefer it the other way around. Kingsford has a nice consistent burn, I think its easier to dial a smoker in and not have to fiddle with kingsford than with lump. On the grill I like the hotter burn and more rapid response to vent changers I get from lump.

05-20-2011, 02:02 PM	#8
jrstout Got Wood. Join Date: 03-19-11 Location: Tehachapi, Ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Home depot and a small Kmart is all I have available without a 45 mile drive so I often use cowboy and have never had a problem with a 6 hour or less cook. It has no off flavors and my 22.5 WSM will stay rock steady for at least 6 hours and with a full load ash has never been a problem. Now I have just tried Frontier and I do think it burns longer but I'm going to try a couple of more bags to see if it performs consistently. I personally don't like the flavor of briquettes so I use only lump. I really don't know why Cowboy gets such a bad rap. I'm sure other lumps are probably better but for a rib cook or anything 6 hours or less I say Cowboy over K all the way.

05-20-2011, 02:25 PM	#9
Myrdhyn Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-22-10 Location: Huntsville, AL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Either of those would work just fine. If you twisted my arm, I'd go with Kingsford over Cowboy Lump for one reason: Over half the bags I've gotten of cowboy have been mostly pieces smaller than K briquettes. If you hvae a walmart and can get Royal Oak lump, I'd pick that over Kingsford most of the time. __________________ CharBroil Red Infrared; Stok Tower; 22.5 WSM; 22.5 OTS

05-20-2011, 02:29 PM	#10
rgking03 Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 08-22-10 Location: Egg Harbor Twp, NJ Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I would take the cowboy and double check it. I have problems of crap in the bag with the lump. but it is better then nothing.It would be nice to see a lump by kingsford. __________________ Brinkman Vertical Brinkman Offset UDS 275 Custom Trailer ( In Production )

05-20-2011, 02:32 PM	#11
Lake Dogs Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-14-09 Location: Lake Sinclair, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The different lumps have had troubles, and some keep trying with mixed results. For consistency, I'd just stay with Kingsford. We have, and we do (use it, consistently). It's not perfect, but it's not bad either. __________________ Hance - Lake Dogs Cooking Team - MiM/MBN/GBA CBJ and comp cook Lake Sinclair, GA (strategically about an hour from everywhere)

05-20-2011, 03:03 PM	#12
JMSetzler Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-25-11 Location: Valdese, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I just finished a 13.25 hour smoke on a WSM 18.5 using Kingsford with no problems whatsoever. No airflow issues and did not have to add any charcoal during the process. There was probably enough time left on my charcoal to go for up to two more hours if it had been needed. I cooked at a steady 225 degrees for that duration. I experimented with Cowboy lump with my other smoker and came to a few conclusions from that test. 1 - There is less ash. 2 - It burns a bit hotter. 3 - It did not burn as long as the Kingsford. Im' sure there are experiences to contradict mine, but those are my experiences. __________________ Visit Man Cave Meals on Facebook and YouTube! Kamado Joe Classic * Kamado Joe Big Joe Ugly Drum Smoker * Weber Performer * Weber Go-Anywhere * Mini WSM Man Cave Meals Video Index

05-20-2011, 03:12 PM	#13
willkat98 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Chicago Western Burbs, but always south of Madison Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You try Ace? Ace Hardware 115 N Orange Ave, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 (904) 284-3806 They carry Royal Oak briquettes and lump up here. Have you checked your Home Centers? I see some of them are indeed a hike. Good luck! __________________ . Bill-Chicago "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." - Jack Reacher Bandera, M-BGE, WSM, Gold Kettle, Kenmore Gasser, 36Qt Turkey Fryer, ECB, Dutch Oven

05-20-2011, 03:29 PM	#14
GammaRei Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 02-28-10 Location: Alameda County, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Kingsford. - G

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