substandard charcoal

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timberjet

Master of the Pit
Original poster
Jan 29, 2010
3,549
165
Waitsburg Washington
I bet this has been covered many many times but I am up in arms. I ran out of KBB which I swear by and had my dad pick me up some Charcoal today. Well, he brought me Western family briquettes. Man oh man I am just about to pull the damned chicken out of the smoker and head for the oven. This stuff started off super hot and I had to shut the bottom vent nearly all the way to get the temp down to cooking level. Then it just died. I mean died. In the Weber Kettle of all things. So, being one that is not easily dissuaded by adverse smoking conditions, I reloaded the chimney and started over with the minion method just like I always have and now I can't get the temp above 200 no matter what I do. Oh wait, I just checked again and now it's at 330. Wow, looks like the neighbors get some free charcoal when I can get to town to get some quality stuff. Geez! I just thought he knew after the last time we tried to use his Weber with crap coal. Hahahaha..... Hot and fast it is. Thank goodness it is chicken. 
 
Hey tj, I love Western Family brand for almost everything.... But not charcoal, I only use KBB... Some things I learned the hard way I just can't buy store brand ! Soup, pasta, milk, etc. ok ! But not charcoal !
 
Hey tj, I love Western Family brand for almost everything.... But not charcoal, I only use KBB... Some things I learned the hard way I just can't buy store brand ! Soup, pasta, milk, etc. ok ! But not charcoal !
beercheer.gif
 Cheers to that!
 
OMG, I just looked at the bag a little closer and oh yes not only is it crap charcoal it is MESQUITE flavor. Uggggg...... I hope it is even edible. Maybe the apple and cherry will override the pine tar taste. One can only hope. 
wife.gif
 
How's your cook going tj ?
I just checked and the breast is at 150 and the Kettle is now running 215  with the vent half open. There is no wind tonight at all either. That stuff has a mind of it's own. I normally have it so dialed in that I don't even check more than one or two times. This is ridiculous. Hahaha.... time for another beer. I use those weber charcoal baskets and one is completely out and full of charcoal still. Half my ash pan is full of ash after being empty too. They should make that crap illegal.
 
How's your cook going tj ?
I just checked and the breast is at 150 and the Kettle is now running 215  with the vent half open. There is no wind tonight at all either. That stuff has a mind of it's own. I normally have it so dialed in that I don't even check more than one or two times. This is ridiculous. Hahaha.... time for another beer. I use those weber charcoal baskets and one is completely out and full of charcoal still. Half my ash pan is full of ash after being empty too. They should make that crap illegal.

Sorry for what your dealing with, sounds like another brew is deserved !

:beercheer:
 
3,5 hour hot and fast teriaki chicken. lol After thinking about the flavor for a while I have concluded no mesquite flavor was apparent. Another fail for western family charcoal but a win for me.
 
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I usually do too but they did not have the big sale this year here. Last year I bought half a pallet and it lasted me nearly the whole winter. lol

Chicken looks like it turned out great even if the mesquite got to it. Not a mesquite fan and especially not on chicken.

I used to stock up of the KB when it'd come on sale until I built my mini-WSM's. Now I just buy the two 20 pound bags as I need. My last stockpile took me 2 years to get through! And that was smoking 3-4 times a week. Dang Mini's are just to darn efficient!
 
Chicken looks like it turned out great even if the mesquite got to it. Not a mesquite fan and especially not on chicken.

I used to stock up of the KB when it'd come on sale until I built my mini-WSM's. Now I just buy the two 20 pound bags as I need. My last stockpile took me 2 years to get through! And that was smoking 3-4 times a week. Dang Mini's are just to darn efficient!
Case, the way I have my Kettle setup is very very miserly fuel wise. I am using maybe 25 percent of what I used to use. I just couldn't get a feel for this charcoal. One thing though. It was pea soup fog last night. I mean the stuff you can cut with a knife. That could have contributed to my difficulties. I mean it was so wet the stuff was just hanging there in the air and water was running off the powerlines above my BBQ area. Had to have been 100 percent humidity at least. If that is even possible. Now I have smoked with KBB in every weather condition I can recall and it always just chugged along. I just had a heck of a time with getting a happy temp. you know. It either wanted to go like gangbusters or just slowly die. No inbetween. I have been all over town this morning looking for the good stuff. Guess I will have to head over to the next town and see what they have.
 
 
The yard bird looks good. I only use KB and Ozark Oak lump. If it works don't fix it. Years ago I got a bag of Cowboy Country lump. It had pieces the size of my head and as small as a marble.

Happy smoken.

David
Yes I have had that a few times. Isn't it fun though? You get a fireworks show every time you open the smoker! Safety goggles and nomex hat are a good idea. Might lose some arm hair too.
 
Sounds like you got through it ok, but that is frustrating. Cheap charcoal is ok for grilling burgers at the beach, but that's about it. Every time I go to my in-laws' place there is a bag of either match light or store brand insta light charcoal in the garage. I bought them a chimney years ago but they keep on buying the crappy stuff. I usually toss a bag of either Kingsford or Stubbs in the trunk when we go visit now.
 
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