Question for performer owners!

[Dom R]

Do you use the char baskets or a chimney to light your coals? Or both for different reasons?

I'm new to the performer world so your comments would be very appreciated.

 

[Jack Bordeaux]

If I'm going on a full load (~25 briqs per basket), I'll use the chimney. If I'm going less, maybe 10-12 briqs per basket for a short cook, I'll just light them in the basket with the gas assist.

I should add that when I use the chimney, I use light it off the Performer, with a couple paper towels that have vegetable oil on them.

 

[Stefan B]

If i'm using baskets i'm lighting in the chimney with Weber starter cubes and dumping into the baskets.

 

[Dave O]

I fill chimney about half way, light it on the performer then dump on the grate or in the baskets, depending on what I am cooking.

 

[Mike Freel]

I seldom use my chimney on my performer I either simply pile the charcoal above the gass assist or fill the baskets and set the above the gass assist. Most of all I suggest you experiment and try various methods to see when to use each.

Mike

 

[Rolf Jacobsen]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mike Freel:
I seldom use my chimney on my performer I either simply pile the charcoal above the gass assist or fill the baskets and set the above the gass assist. Most of all I suggest you experiment and try various methods to see when to use each.

Mike </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mike I do it the same way. Even if I'm using a three zone indirect, I pile them up over the gas assist and move them to the side when they're ready.

 

[Joe V]

I always use the baskets. I like having the option of positioning the hot coals whereever I want after they're lit.

 

[Brian O'Neal]

I usually light them in the baskets, but if I am lighting more than one grill, I put the baskets down and fill them, then I stack a chimney on the baskets, and fill that then I can get two of my grills going at one time using just the one lighter in the performer.

Brian

 

[Eric Backlund]

Neither, I just pile the coals over the gas assist and light. Once lite I push the coals where I want them.

--eric

 

[Dom R]

I would think that not using the baskets and instead moving the hot coals to one side of the bowl would burn it out.

Do you folks think the basket would sort of protect the bowl over time?

 

[Wolgast]

Going against the stream. Never use the baskets. Did @ first. But i always bank my coals to one side. !
1/3 third of the coal grate. No Need to move the coals around @ all. Rotate the grate if you wanna have an blazing hot grate under your protein. And you are left with an direct/indirect/hot grate(if you wanna) setup. Baskets are decent if you are going for a lump setup and dont have the coal-grate mod.

Never seen a problem with this setup. If it hurts the bowl in the long run? Humm...Cant answer that but it shouldent. The only Problem as i can se it since im doing this 99% of my cooking is that once you are going for the other 1% cook,you will likley have a greas fire on the indirect side. But then again let it burn for 10 min and your grill just cleaned itself.

 

[r benash]

I've hardly ever used them. I just pile to wherever I want and use a charcoal rake or tongs for finer moves or finessing location.

They are nice for lighting, but frankly they just seem to be unnecessary.

EXCEPT - I do like them when using the rotisserie. I use them 50% of the time else just pile coals on either side without the baskets.

If they were stolen tomorrow I would probably never miss them though.

Hey, I just thought of another use though....

 

[TroyRedington]

i use mine quite a bit.

probably 50% of the time.