Opinions please on lighting charcoal

[John Neuser]

I've been Qing for about 10 years and most always use the minion method of lighting the charcoal in my 22". Depending on what I'm smoking sometimes I really fill the ring and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I put a metal can in the middle of the unlit for the hots and sometimes I just dump them on the middle of the unlit. Any thoughts on which method might be better? Both seem to work but I'm looking for the optimal starting formula. I only smoke 5 - 6 times a year but would still like to improve my game. Thank you.

 

[ChadVKealey]

I've been Qing for about 10 years and most always use the minion method of lighting the charcoal in my 22". Depending on what I'm smoking sometimes I really fill the ring and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I put a metal can in the middle of the unlit for the hots and sometimes I just dump them on the middle of the unlit. Any thoughts on which method might be better? Both seem to work but I'm looking for the optimal starting formula. I only smoke 5 - 6 times a year but would still like to improve my game. Thank you.

When I got my first WSM, I exclusively used the "tin can minion method" for the first year or so. Never had any issues with getting the cooker up to temp. Then I was getting set up for an overnight butt cook and couldn't find my trusty tin can, so I just spread the lit coals over the top of the heap and, you know what? I had zero issues getting it up to temp.

In fact, the only difference I've ever noticed is that with the tin can method, I'd sometimes have to shift the coals around as they burned down. With the standard method, it seems like I get a more even and consistent burn. Of course, that could just be coincidence. I have not documented evidence to support this; I've long since given up keeping a "smoke log"...too much work for something that should be enjoyable.

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

I have used the “sidewinder” method, shown to me by Tony UK (attributing the method to Enrico Brandizzi) basically you set the can at the edge and allow the fire to “creep” across. I have had to modify that by simply firing up the propane torch and lighting one side, right at the access hatch. The mod was due to being in a hurry to get thing started, it worked better than I’d expected, came to temp fairly quickly, held overnight just fine. Easier than finding the can!

 

[Cliff Bartlett]

Depending on which WSM I'm using, I'll place anywhere from 4 to 7 or 8 lit briquettes on top of the ring of unlit charcoal. The key here is to be on top of your smoker temp and catch it in time to throttle back the vents and let the temp settle in at your target temp. This method has always worked well for me.

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

Once again Cliff is putting the right light on this, it’s not so much how you light but, how you manage the temperature. Catching it on the way up is the most important thing.

 

[JayHeyl]

I vary my method based on what I'm trying to accomplish. I did a brisket cook once in which I wanted to do VERY low (~175F) temp for the first few hours and then jack it up to ~275F. I filled the ring and placed just 3 or 4 lit coals together on top at the edge of the ring. The idea was for the fire to slowly spread out from that starting point. It worked almost perfectly. Toward the end of the low temp period I was having trouble keeping it at the desired temp, but that was okay. Then I opened the vents a bit more and it fairly quickly came up to 275F and I was able to keep it there. Putting the lit coals in the center would have resulted in more coals lighting more quickly and would have made it much harder to maintain that very low initial temp.

If you put the lit coals in a can in the center you're going to expose all of the charcoal surrounding that cylinder to heat and it will all start to burn working out from there. If, instead, you place the lit coals on top in the center, the fire will spread a bit slower because it has to burn both down and out. Spreading the lit coals across the entire top of the ring results in them mostly burning down uniformly through all the fuel.

I've used all of these methods at various times, along with several variations of a snake, depending on the pattern of heat I was striving for. So my answer would be that there's no single best method. The temperature is going to be a function of how much fuel is burning and how fast it's burning. Think about what you're trying to accomplish and how best to achieve that. You can often hit the same temp by burning lots of fuel in a low oxygen environment or burning a lot less fuel in a higher oxygen environment. And then you can put water in the pan as another approach to temperature control, allowing you to burn fuel in a higher oxygen environment with the water absorbing a lot of the excess heat.

Of late I've had some concerns about using primarily the availability of oxygen to control the burn rate/temp. My totally unscientific impression is that a very low oxygen burn produces a less clean taste in the food. I'm still experimenting with this.

 

[timothy]

I've been Qing for about 10 years and most always use the minion method of lighting the charcoal in my 22". Depending on what I'm smoking sometimes I really fill the ring and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I put a metal can in the middle of the unlit for the hots and sometimes I just dump them on the middle of the unlit. Any thoughts on which method might be better? Both seem to work but I'm looking for the optimal starting formula. I only smoke 5 - 6 times a year but would still like to improve my game. Thank you.

I think it's all about learning how your WSM runs in your backyard. Every WSM runs different albeit to user preference or the way it handles.
I never used a can. I like spreading my lit over my unlit. Did the torch method for a few years ( hit the top and then goose the vents in 3 points )
I use lump and that's easy, but natural briqs don't take that long to start either.

Personally I say find your own way

Tim

 

[John Neuser]

Thank you to all who read and responded. I learned d a lot. Particular thanks to Jay re: the oxygen comment. Makes lots of sense. My conclusion: Want a hotter temp quicker, use the can. Lower, slower with more control, fewer lit ones scattered on the top of the unlit.

Thank again.

 

[Joe in MI]

I use a Weber charcoal chimney with the bottom grate removed. Sit it in the center of my charcoal ring and surround it with unlit coals. When my second chimney is hot and ready I dump the coals into the first chimney and remove it. This method works ok for me but sometimes I have trouble getting my cooker up to 250-275. 22.5" WSM BTW.

 

[Bob A]

I use 18.5 WSM. I fill the charcoal chamber almost full with lump charcoal and wedge in 4 or so wood chunks depending on size equally spaced around the chamber. I fire up about a half full Weber Chimney and spread the lit around the top. I have never had any issues with reaching my temperatures and holding them. I almost always have some left at the end of the cook. I do not smoke pounds and pounds of meat, but I have smoked an 8 lb. butt and a 7 lb. brisket at the same time without issue.

 

[Brad Baker]

I have an 18.5 WSM and have always lit off using #10 can in the middle. I use lump and an ATC. I fill the chimney maybe 5 inches with smallish coal pieces. I dump into the can when the chimney is roaring. The only time I have had a problem was when the chimney had too much coal. It ignited all the unlit and the temperature went crazy high. I dumped it, quenched it, and started over.

 

[Tim K]

Late to the party, but here goes anyway..
I also learned by lightning 10-12 coals in a weber chimney and pouring them over my unlit coals. However, several years ago I realized that as it was stated earlier, it's more a matter of knowing your capabilities and learning your smoker. Now I light 3/4 of a chimney and pour it over my unlit coals. I can reach 265*-275* in 15-20 minutes. I think that's the beauty of this adventure we call Q-ing; there are so many different methods and ideas. Once you've achieved the basic skills and some confidence in your abilities, try different things, tweet methods or recipes. You may find your idea was a flop, or it may just save you time or make better Q. You just never know 'til you give it a try.
Good luck,
Tim

 

[BFletcher]

I agree with this:

I think that's the beauty of this adventure we call Q-ing; there are so many different methods and ideas.

Early-on in my now two year adventure I settled-in on lighting a minimal amount of coals; for me that's approximately 8-12. But I admit I am waiting a considerable amount of time on the pit to come up to temp. This thread has me pondering the notion of starting with a larger amount of lit but I avoided doing so because I held the impression it would light the unlit at a more rapid pace, I would need to choke-down the intakes more, and would be left with the fuel being consumed at a more rapid pace. Is this thinking inaccurate? Thx