Minion Methods ???


 
J

John Furdyn

TVWBB Pro
Can someone tell me the pros & cons, of starting the minion mehod, with 1.some hot coals on top of the unlit charcoal, or 2. using a coffee can in the center and filling it with hot coals, surrounded by the unlit charcoal. Are there diferences, etc. pleasse advise. thanks john
 
I've never done the coffee can, but I can't imagine there would be any significant difference. You might get the fire to spread a little more evenly if you use the coffee can, but that's about all I can think of.
 
John,
I can only speak about the coffee can method, and it works well for me. It seems to spread from the inside to the outside. The last two cooks that I have done I have had charcoal left over. The first was only a 7 hour cook, but the last one was 15 hours. They both had leftover unused coals.
 
I've done both and noticed very little difference. I primarily use the coffee can as I think it looks cool.
 
Larry, I use a coffee can for much the dame reason - just looks right!
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The coffee can method is cool to do for a little showmanship. (I still have my can) Other than that they're basically the same.
 
Never did the coffee can thang. The past few years I just light 3-4 spots with my trigger ignition hand held propane torch (takes about a minute to do) and rarely light charcoal and dump ontop of the unlit anymore. I'm into easy these days.
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Thanks for all your replies. I have only used the lit coals on top of the unlit coals method for 4-5 hr rib cooks, etc. i think I'll give the coffee can method a try for a long cook when the weather is suitable. Happy smoking. John
 
It might just be psychological, but when I use the coffee can version MM, I get a bit longer burn times on long cooks and have more unburnt fuel at the end of shorter ones. I'm also one of the people who almost always adjust their bottom vents the same amount as I think it promotes more even burning. I'm sure wind, outside temp, the moon's phase, and the tides also have an effect
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If the coffee can method is used, does it matter if the can came from decaf or regular coffee?
 
decaf or regular coffee?
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LOL, high octane all the way baby! Actually I use a tomato juice can as a coffee can is too large for my MM starts; I only start my MM cooks with 8 lit. I fill the can 1/2 way with unlit then dump my 8 lit on top.
 
Originally posted by Brady:
It might just be psychological, but when I use the coffee can version MM, I get a bit longer burn times on long cooks and have more unburnt fuel at the end of shorter ones. I'm also one of the people who almost always adjust their bottom vents the same amount as I think it promotes more even burning. I'm sure wind, outside temp, the moon's phase, and the tides also have an effect
icon_biggrin.gif
Click to expand...

Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
--Larry The Cable Guy

Brady,
Love that quote from Larry, never heard it before!

Steve
 
I've never had a problem using 10-15 coals spread around on top of the pile. Do you fill the enire coffee can with lit charcoal and then remove it? Doesn't the center section burn faster than the outside sections?
 
I've never had a problem using 10-15 coals spread around on top of the pile. Do you fill the enire coffee can with lit charcoal and then remove it? Doesn't the center section burn faster than the outside sections?
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Yes, I too would like to know if the can is first filled with hot charcoal and then removed or do you fill it with unlit and lite it in the can? Complete instructions please!
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Here's how I do it:
1) I put my can in the center of my ring.
2) Put down a layer of coals.
3) Lay down some wood
4) Another layer of coals to desired fill level
5) Add more wood (if you need more) to top of last layer
6) Handful of coals in bottom of my can
7) Dump 8 - 12 lit in can (I use clay saucer which requires far less lit than water)
8) Remove can with tongs or channel locks (can gets hot very quickly)
9) Position two pieces of wood 1/2 way over my lit coals
10) Assemble WSM and open a cold beer

Here are a couple of pictures from different cooks.

PICTURE 1
PICTURE 2
PICTURE 3
 
Larry
Thanks for the info and pictures. I wouldn't have thought to put some unlit charcoal in the bottom of the can, I would have only dumped the lit in the can. I'l be using water in the pan so I'll need more lit coals than you. Thanks again John
 
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