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Kingsford Charcoal really smoky


 
M

Mike Leiter

TVWBB Pro
I did a cook yesterday with some new KBB I got from HD in the 2x20lb bags. I started it as usual and it smoked way more than it normally does. I had to let the smoker come up to temp for at least 30 min before the smoke backed off. Even in the chimney it did the same thing before getting hot/red and burning whatever it was off.
Anyone have this issue lately or did I just get some off bags this time? Never had it smoke as much as this before and was just curious.
 
I've been use kbb for over 30+ years never a problem till the last bag i bought smoke real bad & smelt like a field fire.
 
I haven't used the K since before 06 cause I couldn't stand the smoke/smell when they switched over... and now it's worse?
Yikes
Tim
 
Yes I have experienced the same issue on my last two cooks. I guess I will either wait longer to put meat on or just use the KBB for grilling for a while. I bought some Stubb's at Lowes the other day I wanted to try on the WSM.
 
Danny B (Albany said:
Yes I have experienced the same issue on my last two cooks. I guess I will either wait longer to put meat on or just use the KBB for grilling for a while. I bought some Stubb's at Lowes the other day I wanted to try on the WSM.
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Let us know how that Stubbs is. Was looking at it today in lowes. Thanks.
 
I used some Kingsford Competition tonight for the first time, from a new bag that I got free last year. It does NOT have this problem. Gets up to temp REALLY fast too.

I'm basically a 90% lump guy, and have 6 bags of Kingsford blue bag that somebody can HAVE it they want it.
 
If you're using the minon method, 30min is very fast for the igniter smoke to go away...usually will take an hour for me.
 
Alan F said:
If you're using the minon method, 30min is very fast for the igniter smoke to go away...usually will take an hour for me.
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I started it the minion method and never had a issue before either in chimney or the smoker with this excess smoke after at least 30-40 minutes. It was probably longer as I started it in chimney, poured it in center, and let it burn some to ignite others and then put smoker together and let it burn at least 30 min as I mentioned to get heat up. I usually throw it together and go shortly after igniting with no issues after this burn in time in my kettles over the yrs or in my smoker now. I usually have some smoke when its starting in the chimney and first dump in smoker but this was the neighbor 5 houses down getting the smoke cloud kind of smoke. It is much more smoke than I have had with the same kind of charcoal before and it really is noticeable. I bought a whole bunch of bags at beginning of yr last yr and it started fine but was too lazy to go to my storage place and pick a few bags of them up this time. I grabbed a few NEW bags at HD when I left Costco with the ribs so this was a new batch of KBB for sure.
It was thick blueish grey smoke so it really would have fouled the food quickly if somebody cooked right away..
 
Same here. I have been real disappointed with the last few bags I have tried to use due to it being real smoky at start up. Too bad too I liked using Kingsford because it burns even and I have consistent temps with it.
 
Hmmmm. The bags I have are from last summer's July Fourth (or Memorial day) sale, where they had the twin 13.9 lbers for $6.88. Does anyone recall these producing the same foul smokiness as those Mike's using??
 
Reported the same issue back at the end of November.
Cooked 3 nice tri-tips and a hoard of chicken this weekend. Used the same twin pak. Smoked like the dickens.
Both bag of that twin 20# do the same. The Run number on both bags is M41323 1N 1052

Bob

PS. I have been, and continue to be, an ardent supporter / user of Kingsford for going on 3 decades. The issues
noted is the first time I've encountered them. (added 01-22-2013)
 
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W Tyler said:
Hmmmm. The bags I have are from last summer's July Fourth (or Memorial day) sale, where they had the twin 13.9 lbers for $6.88. Does anyone recall these producing the same foul smokiness as those Mike's using??
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The 10 packs ( 20 bags ) I bought last April or May do not have this issue either and the reason I was asking. These in question are 2 new bags that came off a half full pallet HD had on the floor in the grill section and are newer stock then what I had before without the smoke issue...
I was just wondering if I got bad bags this buy or ?????
 
Wow. I seriously have recently realized the same thing (especially with the minion method). That is, that the blue bag Kingsford (I get this from Lowes usually) just imparts too much a charcoal taste to my liking and produces a gross smelling/tasting overpowering smoke. I though it was just me. My girlfriend even said: "Why do you keep buying Kingsford, you always complain about it."

When I grill and get the coals white-hot, I don't have any problem, but on my WSM, I don't plan on using the blue bag, or charcoal, again anytime soon.

I just switched to Roal Oak lump (not a preference, just what was available close by) and made a very tasty mess of ribs. No charcoal taste, no terrible smelling smoke--just good, clean tasting meat. But I will admit that since I was tired of the off-taste imparted by charcoal, I did let the lump get white-hot before closing up my smoker, having given up on the minion method after my bad experience with minion and Kingsford.
 
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Just since I have been on here for a few months, several questions have come up with KBB on here. I havent noticed a diference but maybe I dont pay that much attention.

Should one of us try to contact Kingsford (maybe Chris) and find up whats up and let them know a large forum board is complaining about it?
 
I stop using KBB and use Stubb's it burns clean no problems with heavy white smoke you can also get Stubbs's charcoal at Stater Bros.
 
Bob Bass said:
Reported the same issue back at the end of November.
Cooked 3 nice tri-tips and a hoard of chicken this weekend. Used the same twin pak. Smoked like the dickens.
Both bag of that twin 20# do the same. The Run number on both bags is M41323 1N 1052

Bob
Click to expand...

Different run here on these bags....M2 2 163 4A1228 On these bags
 
When I found out how long Kbb could smoke before burning clean, that's when I started using it only for the "lit" part of a minion burn, or for grilling and such.
 
Hi Bob,
They have the 15 and 9 pound bags and all the marinades and bbq sauce, Stubbs's spices.
 
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