Half load verses full load charcoal

[Brian Trommater]

The last few times I have smoked I have used about half a charcoal ring instead of full. I though I would just finish in oven when charcoal ran out. To my surprize in never ran out. I have the 18.5" wsm. Last smoke was a brisket. Heat just started to fade at 10 hours when I pulled brisket. I just covered bottom grate with charcoal and about 3\4 full chimney going for 12 minutes that still had some black charcoal on top. Put brisket in as soon as assembled smoker.

 

[Len Dennis]

Half a load lasting 10 hr? I am surprised. I've never got more than 5 hr on a half load. Keep that WSM. You got a GOOD one, thats for sure.

OTOH, you say you "covered" the grate with charcoal. Did you use the ring on the grate or just the grate? Also, you used 3/4 chimney. That is a LOT of briquets to use as a starter. My maximum is 15. Yours would have been about 75-80.

Maybe more than a half ring when all is said and done?

 

[J Hasselberger]

I think the basic rule of thumb is that the total number of briquettes determines the length of the cook and the total number of lit briquettes you start with determines the temperature. So if you start with just a few lit briquettes, you will cook at a lower temp for a longer time. Again just a rule of thumb, but a good guide for planning a cook.

For my last brisket cook, I used an almost-full chamber with about 22 lit briquettes and had to add 10 or 12 to finish a 13-hour cook.