Tannhauser42
Full Fledged Farker
Let's talk charcoal. What do you use? What will you never use? What do you wish you could use?
My own history with bbq isn't very extensive. Growing up we had some kettle-type of grill that we occasionally used for burgers. Whatever charcoal went into it was likely whatever was cheapest at the grocery store, would then be doused in lighter fluid, and then lit. This was the 80s and early 90s, no glorious Internet upon which to gain knowledge from the wise BBQ Masters.
Fast forward to me getting married some six years ago, and roughly the same time the Big Green Egg was in the news as a success story, and I said "I want one." So, I got one. Used the BGE brand lump at first, switched to Royal Oak when I read that Royal Oak made the BGE charcoal, anyway. Royal Oak was much more convenient for me to get, as I could get it at my local Home Depot for cheaper then driving all the way to the BBQ store to buy the BGE lump. Royal Oak lump is what I've been using for about five years now.
But, this past month, I bought a Pit Barrel Cooker, so I needed briquettes. Being the contrary person I am, I say to myself "everybody seems to use Kingsford, so I have to use something different". Found a bag of Royal Oak all natural briquettes at Walmart. I finished the bag last weekend, and, at the same time, picked up two 40lb pounds of Royal Oak Chef's Select that I had read about when researching "best charcoal" online.
So, what do I use? Royal Oak lump. I've never had any real problems with it. I've found the occasional small rock when cleaning out the ashes in the BGE, but that's it. I've always liked the slightly smokey flavor and appearance it gives the food I cook on it. Using Royal Oak briqs in the PBC at the moment, and will see how the Chef's Select version turns out this weekend. Haven't tried any briqs in the BGE, yet.
What will I not use? Cowboy lump from all the horror stories I've read online. Kingsford just because I can be a crotchety contrarian at times since "everyone uses Kingsford". Anything with lighter fluid already in it I won't touch.
What do I wish I could use? Doing some reading online, I'd like to give Jealous Devil and Rockwood lump a try. Rockwood is available at my local Ace Hardware, so easy enough to get. Have to wait until I use up what's left of my current Royal Oak lump supply, first. Better get grilling, huh?
My own history with bbq isn't very extensive. Growing up we had some kettle-type of grill that we occasionally used for burgers. Whatever charcoal went into it was likely whatever was cheapest at the grocery store, would then be doused in lighter fluid, and then lit. This was the 80s and early 90s, no glorious Internet upon which to gain knowledge from the wise BBQ Masters.
Fast forward to me getting married some six years ago, and roughly the same time the Big Green Egg was in the news as a success story, and I said "I want one." So, I got one. Used the BGE brand lump at first, switched to Royal Oak when I read that Royal Oak made the BGE charcoal, anyway. Royal Oak was much more convenient for me to get, as I could get it at my local Home Depot for cheaper then driving all the way to the BBQ store to buy the BGE lump. Royal Oak lump is what I've been using for about five years now.
But, this past month, I bought a Pit Barrel Cooker, so I needed briquettes. Being the contrary person I am, I say to myself "everybody seems to use Kingsford, so I have to use something different". Found a bag of Royal Oak all natural briquettes at Walmart. I finished the bag last weekend, and, at the same time, picked up two 40lb pounds of Royal Oak Chef's Select that I had read about when researching "best charcoal" online.
So, what do I use? Royal Oak lump. I've never had any real problems with it. I've found the occasional small rock when cleaning out the ashes in the BGE, but that's it. I've always liked the slightly smokey flavor and appearance it gives the food I cook on it. Using Royal Oak briqs in the PBC at the moment, and will see how the Chef's Select version turns out this weekend. Haven't tried any briqs in the BGE, yet.
What will I not use? Cowboy lump from all the horror stories I've read online. Kingsford just because I can be a crotchety contrarian at times since "everyone uses Kingsford". Anything with lighter fluid already in it I won't touch.
What do I wish I could use? Doing some reading online, I'd like to give Jealous Devil and Rockwood lump a try. Rockwood is available at my local Ace Hardware, so easy enough to get. Have to wait until I use up what's left of my current Royal Oak lump supply, first. Better get grilling, huh?