Pre-Sorting Lump Charcoal by Chunk Size?

[Jerome D.]

I'm just curious to hear people's thoughts and opinions on this. Today I opened up my 35 lb. bag of Fogo natural lump charcoal. As is generally known with lump charcoal, there can be a wide range of chunk sizes in the bag, from the size of a softball all the way to the size of a pebble. So anyway, I took it upon myself to sort the contents of the bag into large, medium, and small chunks. So depending on what I'm cooking, I can choose the appropriate size of lump -- e.g. the small chunks would easily fall through the charcoal grates if using the Minion method for long cooks, but are perfectly suited for charcoal baskets when doing some high heat searing. Just wondering if any other TVWBB members like to "cherry pick" specific sizes of lump charcoal depending on what they're cooking.

 

[Bob Correll]

I've thought about doing this, if there was an easy way.
Always wondered how the Naked Whiz does it for their tests.
Different size screens maybe?

I'm afraid my wife would have me committed if she ever caught me hand sorting through a bag of charcoal.

 

[Jerome D.]

I'm afraid my wife would have me committed if she ever caught me hand sorting through a bag of charcoal.

Yeah, Bob, my wife saw me hand sorting just like you described, and I did receive quite a bit of ridicule. That being said, having pre-sorted supply of lump did come in handy during my cook today when I was able to just grab a handful of same-size small chunks to top off my lit coals and extend the cook a little longer.

 

[Robert McGee]

I pre-sort my charcoal too - I use almost nothing but Kingsford Original briquettes.

Seriously, just BECAUSE of the inconsistency in lump charcoal, I pretty much use nothing else but KO. I still have a couple of bags of lump that I will eventually use up just to get rid of it.

I can tell no difference in taste and the consistency of KO satisfies me while what I have found in bags of lump (everything but the body of Jimmy Hoffa) just leads to frustration.

YMMV
Keep on smokin',
Dale53

 

[James Mundy]

Can't be bothered getting messy sorting through lump, I've put a circle of mesh underneath the charcoal ring which stops the smaller pieces falling through.

 

[Paulie O]

I'm afraid my wife would have me committed if she ever caught me hand sorting through a bag of charcoal.[/QUOTE]

Lmao !! Wife caught me polishing wsm lid and gave me the "oh really look" lol

 

[Ted from Bristow]

Not to be a wiseguy, but if lump really needs to be pre-sorted.......I'll count that is a REALLY good reason to continue using briquettes.

 

[Bob Correll]

Please don't lump us all together in doing this.
I've only thought about it, so far.

Even though I use Kbb, about 75% of the time, the smell of lump burning trips nostalgia in me of the many campfires I've sat around.
I don't mind the smell of fresh lit Kbb, and can't taste a difference, but do enjoy the challenge of using different charcoal types, methods, and cookers.

 

[Dave Russell]

Lump can drive you nuts. I've got a bucket for the really big chunks and logs of B&B and Wicked Good lump that'll barely fit in my 18's ring. When the bucket gets full I get out my hatchet and make a mess of them. Lol.

I'll admit it, though. When it comes to the wsm's, lately I've just been pouring in some Stubbs.