useless thread but......

[roofman]

Because of the recent warm dry weather i tried to buy some charcoal today to cook my dinner..WRONG!! everywhere had sold out so i went to Costco on the off chance they had some.Now here is were everyday is a learning day of some sort because today i found out in all my 55 years on this earth and bits of them years spent on most corners of the world i had stumbled on the best barby charcoal i have ever used...16 queens heads buys you a big bag of individual bagged parcels of coals wrapped in wax paper which you just light one corner and 15 mins later you have an even white hot bed of coals without toxic smells or the back of the house filled with acrid blue smoke...Go and buy a bag for the coming months as you cant go wrong believe me

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I used to buy charcoal from the garage or supermarket but then I bought some locally produced non imported charcoal and it's a revelation to use. It's costs the same as the imported stuff yet it's really easy to light, gives a clean heat and leaves little or no ash.
It weighs less than the imported stuff but seems to give out more heat.
I'm not anal about buying British but I definitely do when buying charcoal.
I'm even tempted to have ago making some myself using the retort method using an empty oil drum or 47KG propane cylinder.

 

[TechnicAl]

We have a local charcoal maker. He uses anything so its mostly softwood. Its brilliant, you can light it with a match if you keep it dry, and its ready in a few minutes. I mix it with some of them blocks full of sand that burn slowly so between them its a good fire.

and its a quid a bag....normal sack size

 

[Parm]

Because of the recent warm dry weather i tried to buy some charcoal today to cook my dinner..WRONG!! everywhere had sold out so i went to Costco on the off chance they had some.Now here is were everyday is a learning day of some sort because today i found out in all my 55 years on this earth and bits of them years spent on most corners of the world i had stumbled on the best barby charcoal i have ever used...16 queens heads buys you a big bag of individual bagged parcels of coals wrapped in wax paper which you just light one corner and 15 mins later you have an even white hot bed of coals without toxic smells or the back of the house filled with acrid blue smoke...Go and buy a bag for the coming months as you cant go wrong believe me

It lights very quick but goes out just as quick, I normally use wood but for emergencies I've got some pro restaurant charcoal.

Admittedly it does take some lighting but once on it lasts much much longer than the normal stuff. I buy mine from a place near Oxford in 25 kg bags

 

[wookie]

What do you all do when you have finished cooking ?

I was taught by my dad to tip out the coals and douse with water to put them out, then when you next have a barby stick the used coals on top of the new charcoal and it will light easily.... or is that an old wives tale ?

 

[bigbadbugga]

mine runs on gas.

its easy to light.

 

[the snooper]

mine runs on gas.

its easy to light.

snap

 

[TechnicAl]

What do you all do when you have finished cooking ?

I was taught by my dad to tip out the coals and douse with water to put them out, then when you next have a barby stick the used coals on top of the new charcoal and it will light easily.... or is that an old wives tale ?

allow it to cool and then bin it

so no idea really

 

[zx9]

Because of the recent warm dry weather i tried to buy some charcoal today to cook my dinner..WRONG!! everywhere had sold out so i went to Costco on the off chance they had some.Now here is were everyday is a learning day of some sort because today i found out in all my 55 years on this earth and bits of them years spent on most corners of the world i had stumbled on the best barby charcoal i have ever used...16 queens heads buys you a big bag of individual bagged parcels of coals wrapped in wax paper which you just light one corner and 15 mins later you have an even white hot bed of coals without toxic smells or the back of the house filled with acrid blue smoke...Go and buy a bag for the coming months as you cant go wrong believe me

Huf, it has been cold and windy all day down here, still I suppose I saved £16

 

[Parm]

Only put enough on so you don't waste too much

 

[Shox Dr]

What do you all do when you have finished cooking ?

I was taught by my dad to tip out the coals and douse with water to put them out, then when you next have a barby stick the used coals on top of the new charcoal and it will light easily.... or is that an old wives tale ?

A wise old wife mybe, just how it start the stove at home.

Self-lighting bbq coals are ace

This was last yr on the West coast of Scotland, we'll be back there nextweek

 

[bigegg]

Does nobody else use a chimney to start the bbq then?
8in diameter metal tube about 18" long.
Put it in the bbq on a couple of coals so that air can get in.
Fill with charcoal.
Light at the bottom with the weed gun.
Within five minutes all the coal is alight.
Lift out the tube so the coals drop out.
Done

 

[Shox Dr]

I usually start a BBQ with beer

 

[TechnicAl]

Does nobody else use a chimney to start the bbq then?
8in diameter metal tube about 18" long.
Put it in the bbq on a couple of coals so that air can get in.
Fill with charcoal.
Light at the bottom with the weed gun.
Within five minutes all the coal is alight.
Lift out the tube so the coals drop out.
Done

used to when we went camping

 

[MCKDAVID]

start with beer, sound advice....


we use the fibre block fire starters, one in the middle, light the block, then pile the charcoal into pyramid. leave it 10 to 15 minutes, drinking more beer, then when it's going nice and hot, I flatten the pyramid out to fill barbecue base, job done, meat on, more beer, cook as necessary, more beer....

don't know about old wives tale, but we get high winds here, so it's not the first time I've put the barbecue out by dousing in water when the wind has picked up, and I always use the left overs as the base for the new barbecue, works fine.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I made the chimney type starter years ago after seeing one for sale, Made from 16swg stainless, Tapers slightly towards the top. Had a raised bottom with big air holes around the sides, Fill with charcoal, put a loosely crumpled newspaper under the bottom and light with a match, Couple of minutes and charcoal is roaring away ready to be tipped out.

 

[tomsutton529]

Those that use gas..... its wrong.. I thought this being quite a manly place Gas BBQ would be censored out like the swear words are.

The wax coated bags have been around for a good few years now and do save a lot of hassle.

 

[bigegg]

Those that use gas..... its wrong.. I thought this being quite a manly place Gas BBQ would be censored out like the swear words are.

The wax coated bags have been around for a good few years now and do save a lot of hassle.

I considered adding a gas line to light the coals at one point, but would never consider using one to cook. I've got a gas stove in the kitchen for that.

 

[tomsutton529]

I considered adding a gas line to light the coals at one point, but would never consider using one to cook. I've got a gas stove in the kitchen for that.

This is the only place anyone would consider adding a gas line to light the coals. a cracking project but totally useless.

 

[Shox Dr]

Sorry dont agree. I was an ardent carcoal man, until I bought a gas bbq about 20yrs ago. Never looked back. We (I) do almost all our meat cooking on it in the warmer months, keeps the house free of smells and air born grease.

In fact I suggested we plumb it up to the main gas, and fit an awning, so I can cook all yr round on it

Still use it for camping though, as it keeps us warm afterwards