Marc R in SC
New member
Just bought a new 14.5 WSM. What is the longest time to expect sufficient heat using Kingsford Blue? Plan to smoke a brisket, want to know if I have to dump the ashes halfway through and start a new fire.
Cooking butts this summer I've not stopped to empty the ash as yet, although maybe I should have. Gone up to 19 hours on 225 degree cooks. The last cook early this week I did at 250 from the get go, done in 18 hours. The ash was up to and inside the charcoal ring so any longer and I would have needed to do something.
Wind and ambient temp will effect the amount of charcoal you use.
I have had to add more coals on all the cooks, can go something like 7-9 hours before needing more. The last 2 cooks I needed to start some in the starter when I couldn't get the heat to come back up where I wanted at roughly 14 hours in. FWIW, much of what I added to the fire were partially used, haven't done it with all new coals, other then the initial load.
Something I didn't think of mentioning. I do not use the heat deflector, need the space for ash.