I always fill my charcoal ring up to the top. I use any leftover charcoal in the next cook.
Bob
This is what I do also.I always fill my charcoal ring up to the top. I use any leftover charcoal in the next cook.
Bob
I always just fill it, too. re: best coals. If you're using briquettes I'd go for something that says "natural" - something with minimal additives. But I seem to have an unusually good sense of smell and the regular Kingsford Blue just doesn't seem like a food smell to me. But Kingsford Competiton's OK, or there's a bunch of other brands that are basically just charcoal + a binder.
That being said I prefer lump. Go here: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumprankpoll.htm and just try to get something ranked decently high you can get locally. Worst case you can go to the Ace Hardware website and get Wicked Good shipped for free to your closest Ace Hardware but I'd think in NC you should be able to find some decent charcoal without a lot of effort. It's a little harder in areas that aren't traditionally BBQ areas.
Thanks Doug. I found the wicked good right up the road from me, I'm gonna try it.
17 hours is awesome. I'm gonna do a chicken or turkey this weekend then a Boston Butt on the 21st. Thanks again for the help.Perfect. It's pretty neutral, maybe adds a little sweetness. It's a perfect base to add any kind of smoke wood you want to. It's dense so you can cook a long time on a charcoal ring (I've done 17 hours on my 22" WSM).
Let us know how your cook goes!
I always just fill it, too. re: best coals. If you're using briquettes I'd go for something that says "natural" - something with minimal additives. But I seem to have an unusually good sense of smell and the regular Kingsford Blue just doesn't seem like a food smell to me. But Kingsford Competiton's OK, or there's a bunch of other brands that are basically just charcoal + a binder.
That being said I prefer lump. Go here: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumprankpoll.htm and just try to get something ranked decently high you can get locally. Worst case you can go to the Ace Hardware website and get Wicked Good shipped for free to your closest Ace Hardware but I'd think in NC you should be able to find some decent charcoal without a lot of effort. It's a little harder in areas that aren't traditionally BBQ areas.
I use lump in the WSM, mini wsm, and kettle (I am on a borax, lime, and anthracite coal restricted diet). I've not had any issues with it, experience a very clean burning fire, and I like the results.