Ceramic briquettes in WSM?


 
Frank H

Frank H

TVWBB Gold Member
I was looking at ceramic briquettes the other day and got to wondering....would it make sense to mix some of these in with your charcoal load to stretch out your heat from the fire....or would the ceramics just rob heat from the charcoal? Would be fine in a propane smoker , but would they help or hurt a charcoal fire? Just thinking out loud so to speak.....
i wonder if they'd be good in the water pan as a thermal mass.....:confused:
 
I've read a few posts here that some members use them as a heat sink in the pan, like a clay saucer or sand, seems like a good alternative if you go that route. ( I just use an empty foiled pan w/a airspace )
As far as mixing them in the fire, that might work if you are looking for HH, but I would think for L&S they would be counter-productive.
Just a guess on my part, try some and let us know what you think.:wsm:

Tim
 
I could see them used as a heat sink below the 2nd cooking rack but I doubt there would be any benefit to adding them to the fire.
 
Yeah. The more I thought about it , the dumber it sounded.:p.....I just had that thought as I was looking at the package at the store. If I had any laying around I would def give them a try as a heat sink , but like you guys said...prob'ly in the fire they'd be a waste. Oh well , just a thought.
 
you know i thought about that too after reading this:
http://www.amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/weber_smokey_mountain_setup.html

"For the 22.5" WSM I recommend the fuse or snake method. Remove the charcoal ring and put a large rock in the center of the charcoal grate, about 8" in diameter. A pair of bricks topped by two more bricks will work almost as well. Pour unlit coals around the outside of the rock in a C shape leaving a gap between the ends of about 8". Fill a Weber chimney about 1/2 way and get the coals fully engaged. Pour the lit coals over one end of the C. Space about three chunks of wood in a line near the hot coals and another on top of the hot coals. The lit coals will provide you with heat and smoke and slowly ignite the rest of the coals producing a surprisingly even heat for a long time. The rock absorbs and emits heat helping hold temps steady."

but i have never seen any other reference to doing anything like that so have never tried it...
 
Once upon a time, we were freezing our assets off in Turkey. We had a small stove/heater (Yukon stove) that we decided would be more efficient if we put a rock in it. Everything was humming along fine when several hours later the rock EXPLODED. As in BOOM. Scared the bageezies out of all of us. After that, I don't put rocks in fire.

Having said that, I like the idea of the ceramics in the water pan idea.
 
Yes. I don't think I'd go out to a store and buy them , but if I ever came across some at a yard sale or at the dump.....:wsm:
 
I use lava rocks with no problems, just cover it with foil. If they too funky just throw them out and get more, only a couple bucks per bag at HD.
 
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