Twist on the Minion method.

[r benash]

Originally posted by Dave Russell:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Steve Whiting:
Like Dave I use my weed burner primarily to start my BDS which can be tricky if using a chimney. Not a Minion Method and not using a WSM but just saying...

Steve, call it the Minion Method "improved" if you want, but I think what makes the Minion Method efficient is simply lighting a small amount of charcoal on top, regardless how it's lit. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Have to put my ditto in. I've tried all the different "minion styles" if you will". I actually was a fan of the coffee can and center indent styles then found that the "x amount of lit" scattered on top was the best, simplest, easiest and quite consistent.

Now I just kind of know based on what I am doing how much lit a want on top. It's a matter of how fast and how high you want to come up to optimum temp over time and the max temp for duration that you are reaching for.

 

[Dave Russell]

Originally posted by Stuart S:
The consumption of coals is based on airflow more than how many you start with. The idea with the MM is that you start with far fewer lit and the fire spreads slowly. If you open all the vents 100% you'll get a roaring fire going in no time regardless of how many lit you start with.

Obviously, Stuart uses an ATC, and he stated so. The only time I'd describe my fire like that is when I used to bury wood in the coals so deep that it would catch fire come time to check my chicken or ribs, and I probably was cooking HH with the door propped open.

HOWEVER, I can really appreciate his assessment regarding the number of lit coals you start with and it got me thinking. Some of ya'll might consider using a torch to be adding a variable to the mix vs. starting with say 15 ashed over coals everytime, but I'd encourage you to reconsider in light of Stuart's assessment of AIR as being the far more important factor.

Regardless, as to how to keep "torch technique" consistant, an easy method is to simply hold the torch still and light three spots for about 45 seconds each. Tweak from there depending on your timeframe and amount of meat.

 

[Gary H. NJ]

To each his own. I get a slow, even burn with my "indentation approach". I get 16 hrs. on a full ring of coals and rarely have to adjust my vents.

Same here. I use the coffee can with both ends cut out. Put the lit coals in and quickly pull the can out using leather gloves. Call it what you will, it works like a charm. I generally hit ideal temp within the hour. Stabilizes quickly.

 

[Paul H]

One of my friends takes a propane burner from one of those turkey fryers and puts his chimney full of charcoal on top of that. Lights it in no time

 

[r benash]

Originally posted by Gary H. NJ:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">To each his own. I get a slow, even burn with my "indentation approach". I get 16 hrs. on a full ring of coals and rarely have to adjust my vents.

Same here. I use the coffee can with both ends cut out. Put the lit coals in and quickly pull the can out using leather gloves. Call it what you will, it works like a charm. I generally hit ideal temp within the hour. Stabilizes quickly. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

When I was using the "can" method" this is what I did and liked it for the same reason. Easy to set up and very reliable.

I noticed though over time that it didn't translate as well when I only needed smaller amounts of lit. I.E., when my max temps desired were lower it was much simpler to just place lit on top and I found overall that lit spread on top worked just as well. Either with or without an ATC so I stopped using it from a purely simplistic sense.

I would have to say that the can method was my favorite up to that point of realization.

It is about airflow/draft as mentioned up thread, so YMMV.

I was always using lump so given that there typically is (perhaps) a looser "pack" even when hand stacking lump my experience can be different from someone using K or other standard briquettes for fuel.

It's actually one of the things I've grown to like about lump - the air flow through the fuel is something I like and have noticed as an advantage for me at least from a temp/fire control standpoint. The airflow through the fuel remains more consistent so it seems due to the minimal ash build up over time with lump vs. briquette. HW briquettes are actually better than K style IMHO in this sense.

In my experience a given pile of lump (hand stacked or just dumped into the ring) provides more air flow through the fuel for the duration and less ash whic means it doesn't clog or block up over time like briquette does (either hardwood or standard B's like K).

Lump actually lights quicker so maybe the can method for those using briquette style fuels might be better, simply based on the characteristics of the style of fuel and ash it creates over time.

I've pretty much used lump exclusively for the last 8 years or so. I do keep a bag of HW briquettes around to light my minion though. Just because the "b" makes it easier to count out the amount of lit.

Finally, and consistent with this theme. When I am looking for high temps from the start/throughout the cook, say when making the Roadside Chicken recipe popularized by Bryan Stephens (sp?) I start with a hand stacked ring of lump and dump a whole lit chimney of lump on top. The temps remain high throughout the cook.