Using coconut shell charcoal


 

DaveR

New member
Hi folks. I've seen coconut shell charcoal emerge onto the market here (Spain) and was wondering if anybody's had experience using it for smoking or grilling. It's purported to burn longer and hotter, but that may just be marketing hype. If it were so, the longer might be nice but the hotter might be a problem when trying to control temps when smoking.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave
 
no experiance with the charcoal. i used to live in the pacific islands and they used the husk to cook fish and such. maybe try some and let us know.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DaveR:
Hi folks. I've seen coconut shell charcoal emerge onto the market here (Spain) and was wondering if anybody's had experience using it for smoking or grilling. It's purported to burn longer and hotter, but that may just be marketing hype. If it were so, the longer might be nice but the hotter might be a problem when trying to control temps when smoking.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
If it's anything like the Kamado brand coconut charcoal..., you lucky dog you.
icon_wink.gif
 
When I used to hear coconut and charcoal, I used to think Kamado, the best. Never could get a batch delivered though. They changed formula's and it's not quite as popular.

2007 Kamado review
 
Brian - a lucky dog? Why? Does this charcoal provide superior performance and flavor over lump charcoal to justify its price? The 10kg box that's being sold here is a little more than twice the price of the lump that I use.

Russell - thanks for the link to the review. While the brand being sold here isn't Kamado, the visual comparison between the 2003 briquettes (excellent review) and the 2007 ones (very poor review) is very useful. Before buying them I'll ask the store to let me open a box to have a look at them.

This brings up two more questions:

1. I read in the review that Russell provided that it's difficult to light, and I read on the box in the store that one needs to wait until all the charcoal is completely lit before cooking with it. So would this charcoal be suitable using the Minion Method?

2. One of the things I like about lump charcoal with no binder is that I can just dump the ash into my compost pile. If there's binder in coconut shell charcoal would I be able to dispose of it this way?

Dave
 
I have the old kamado and use it sparingly (just on my long cooks.) It's an extruded product but there is also lump that is pieces of the shell. I'm sure you will be happy with it in terms of taste - very light almost no taste. The extruded stuff also burns a looooong time.

I don't find it hard to light and I find it perfect for the minion method. I just get a few briquettes going in my chimney and put that on top of the charcoal and no problems getting my fire going.

As for dumping ash on the compost pile, I can't say because I don't know what, if any, type of filler they're using in the product you're looking at.

No matter what, I would try it to see if you like it. The kamado was twice as expensive as the local lump too, but it was well worth it.

Good luck.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DaveR:
Brian - a lucky dog? Why? Does this charcoal provide superior performance and flavor over lump charcoal to justify its price? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
As Jerry notes not flavor but the very looong burn time you get from it. I remember people ranting and raving when the Kamado Charcoal came out. I was never able to get my hands on any, but the reviews put the coconut lump in a league of it's own. I'm hoping you try a box, curious as to how you like it compared to your regular lump.
 

 

Back
Top