Busting up lump?

[MattP]

I'm testing out lump for the first time. If you happen to find a really big piece, one that's larger than a softball for example, do you bust it up into smaller pieces?

 

[George Curtis]

i do. but if you are cooking in a large grill or whatever then i would not.

 

[Gary S]

I get some of those from time to time but I also get lots of small pieces so I have two grates, one at 90 degrees to the other and I pack in the smaller pieces around the bigger ones. I use lump almost exclusively and I don't mind getting my hands dirty in the set up. I think lump is that much better.

 

[John Solak]

I bust it up and I also use two charcoal grates like Gary mentioned too.

 

[Steve Cole]

If I'm smoking or grilling indirect, I leave them as is. If I'm high temp grilling, I set big pieces aside for lower temp smokes.

 

[MattP]

I like that idea of a second charcoal grate. If I wind up doing lump more often I think I'll invest in one.

 

[Tony R]

I leave it alone but I never received a giant piece that didn't fit in the grill or smoker.