When I do the minion method I always put the lit coals on top of the unlit ones. Does it make any difference if the lit ones go on top or under the unlit ones. Also, when I adjust the boottom vents I always do all three which end up being open only 25 or 30% give or take. Would it work if I fully closed two vents and used only one for adjustment?
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Just curious
- Thread starter Dave L.
- Start date
Dave/G
TVWBB Emerald Member
Keep placing the lit coals on top. Some open a space by placing a coffee or other type can in the center of the charcoal grate and lay the unlit around the can. They then place their lit coals in the can and using tongs, for example, lift out the can. The unlit coals catch from the center out. Make sure both ends of the can are open
You can adjust the vents any way you wish to get to where you are in control of temps. There is no rule that says you have to adjust all 3 or anything like that.
You can adjust the vents any way you wish to get to where you are in control of temps. There is no rule that says you have to adjust all 3 or anything like that.
Lee Morris
TVWBB Fan
Dave, I've got an opinion on your vent adjustment question.
On one of my first really long cooks (14-15 hours), I did almost all of the temp adjusting by opening just one vent. During the late hours of the cook, it got harder to maintain my temps and I went to stir the coals/add charcoal and noticed that I had a crescent moon shaped ring of charcoal left. The fire had clearly burned hotter near the open vent and moved across the charcoal pile. It got harder to keep temps up the farther the fire got from the vent I was using.
I ended up having to do a lot more work with charcoal stirring, etc than I have done in my long cooks since that time as I have tried to adjust each vent evenly since then. The fire seems to burn more evenly and is more efficient in using all of the available charcoal without having to add more.
On one of my first really long cooks (14-15 hours), I did almost all of the temp adjusting by opening just one vent. During the late hours of the cook, it got harder to maintain my temps and I went to stir the coals/add charcoal and noticed that I had a crescent moon shaped ring of charcoal left. The fire had clearly burned hotter near the open vent and moved across the charcoal pile. It got harder to keep temps up the farther the fire got from the vent I was using.
I ended up having to do a lot more work with charcoal stirring, etc than I have done in my long cooks since that time as I have tried to adjust each vent evenly since then. The fire seems to burn more evenly and is more efficient in using all of the available charcoal without having to add more.
Doug D
TVWBB Hall of Fame
The MM works because the lit coals on top are working against natural upward convection to ignite the unlit bed under them.
Single-vent fire control can be useful in windy situations. By using a lone downwind bottom vent, you can lessen the heat loss and premature fuel exhaustion.
Single-vent fire control can be useful in windy situations. By using a lone downwind bottom vent, you can lessen the heat loss and premature fuel exhaustion.