Uds charcoal basket question

[tmehlhorn]

Question for you guys with plenty of UDS experience I have a 14 in Smokey Joe grate. found some expanded metal if I made the basket 14 by 8 in tall what kind of burn times you think I might get out of that?

[el luchador]

I would say a full basket would get you at least 12 hours.

[ebijack]

What temp.

[tmehlhorn]

Guess it depends, most of the time I like to smoke around 250

[el luchador]

at least 12 hours with a full basket

[mchar69]

But it's a 14" grate, not the 18" like usual.
AND only 8" high is not very high.
I'd say less time, but still 6-8 hours.

[el luchador]

But it's a 14" grate, not the 18" like usual.
AND only 8" high is not very high.
I'd say less time, but still 6-8 hours.

I have a 17x12 which full will go 30 hours

his 14x8 is about half the volume of mine, hence why I say at least 12 hours full

[DRMSMKER]

side question... when using new expanded metal, can you cook right off the bat with the new basket or does it need to be run without food first. Not sure if they are coated with anything that needs to be burned off.
sorry for the hijack op but figured it be useful to you also.

edit: mines 14in diameter and 7in tall and i get about 12 hours

[HumboldtSmokeBBQ]

my box was 12x12x12. I would get 12 hours at 250.

[ebijack]

Like others, I'd guess 8 -10 hrs at 250* it depends on what brand charcoal you use. A bit less cook time in the winter time.

[ebijack]

side question... when using new expanded metal, can you cook right off the bat with the new basket or does it need to be run without food first. Not sure if they are coated with anything that needs to be burned off.
sorry for the hijack op but figured it be useful to you also.

edit: mines 14in diameter and 7in tall and i get about 12 hours
Build it, and use it. No galvanizing on standard expanded metal.

[SmokerKing]

New metal can have an oily coating on it to prevent rusting.
For non-food environments, I use Acetone to remove the film.
For the fire basket, if there is some oil on the steel, use a liquid dish soap, green or orange degreaser.

[Nuco59]

My expando had a bit of mfg oil on it -I just wiped it down and let my drum seasoning fire burn off the rest. Giving it a good degreasing would not be a bad idea tho'

Burn time on a basket can be affected by the temp you are cruising at and whether you use a diffuser, deflector or water pan. I have cheat marks on my intake- 2 sets: Holey pizza pan and without.

[DRMSMKER]

If people are only getting max 12 hours out of their basket, what do you do about bigger cuts hunks of meat that take more time like a 14lb but or a big brisket?

[Nuco59]

Only getting max 12 hours out of their basket?
Maybe too small a basket? /shrug
Maybe make a bigger one?

If you can't bust out a 14# brisket in less than 12 hours you might be cooking it at too low a temp. OTOH if you are cooking at a lower temp, you coals will last longer.

My square basket 12x12x6 tall will run 300* for about 9 hours (depending on ambient temp and wind) In Dead A$$ Texas summer - I can get about 12... cause the first 100* are "free" :grin:
I don't cook anything that takes more than about 8.

[thirdeye]

Question for you guys with plenty of UDS experience I have a 14 in Smokey Joe grate. found some expanded metal if I made the basket 14 by 8 in tall what kind of burn times you think I might get out of that?

My original basket was 14 X 6 and I could get a good 10 hours at 250° - 275°, provided I mixed some briquettes in with the lump. About 3 months ago I built a new basket and made this one 14 X 10 and I really like it. My longest cook to date was 15 hours and I was still about 2" shy of being full. Here is a tip, roll your expanded metal the short way (diamond direction), it's easier to roll than the long way.

https://i.imgur.com/8gu9p1x.jpg