Charcoal in Utah

rbrinton2373

Fire Starter

Original poster

Nov 17, 2007

73

10

Ogden

• Nov 20, 2007

• #1

Like I said in roll call, I am extremely new at this and completely unprepared for my first shot. I want to try to smoke a small turkey for Thanksgiving but the charcoal I can find is briquettes. Does anyone from the Northern Utah region know where I can find any lump charcoal? I have tried Lowes, Home Depot, Shopko, Cal-Ranch, and Smith and Edwards with no luck. Any hints would be great. I was also thinking about using an all wood fire but don't know where to get any decent hardwoods either. I do have some apple trees that I might have some logs left from this springs trim. Could I use those?

Thanks
Ryan,
Ogden, Ut

 

deejaydebi

Legendary Pitmaster

Nov 18, 2006

7,996

25

Connecticut

• Nov 20, 2007

• #2

Hi Ryan -

briquettes work. I use them alot. Sometimes that's all I can get and I smoke everything!

Apple is great for smoking! Hickory and apple are a good combination as is cherry and pecan and many others.

Here's a chart you can download and use for selecting woods for smoking. It's fairly comprehensive but I'm sure there's some I haven't gotten yet!

http://www.deejayssmokepit.net/Downl...lavorChart.pdf

 

smokeys my pet

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Sep 25, 2007

1,080

11

Havre de Grace,MD

• Nov 20, 2007

• #3

Our Lowes had Cowboy lump and a friend Gramason used it but did not like it. It was ashy and not able to hold a stable temp as briuqetts.

 

redbrinkman1955

Smoking Fanatic

Aug 17, 2007

330

10

mishawaka In.

• Nov 20, 2007

• #4

I didnt like the Cowboy brand it looked like pieces of lumber that had been charred. I get Frontier Brand at our local Miejers and i love the way it burns also it looks like pieces of real wood.burns hot.
Good luck and Good Smmoking
Redbrinkman1955

Here's a good link http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpdatabase/lumpbag60.htm

 

walking dude

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

SMF Premier Member

Aug 5, 2007

6,480

18

Des Moines, IOWA

• Nov 20, 2007

• #5

to me.........for a newbie.........start out with briquettes.........lump to me has a learning curve..........briquettes will be the same day in and day out.....lump sparks alot.......runs hotter than briquette, and in MY experience, burns faster........now that what i have experienced

your mileage may vary.............

d88de

 

zapper

Smoking Fanatic

OTBS Member

Apr 23, 2007

585

11

Just south of Hotlanta

• Nov 20, 2007

• #6

Let your fingers do the walking and save some shoe leather and gas! Call around. The one really annoying thing about lump charcoal can be finding a good reliable source of a perferred brand. Home depot, Lowes and the big home DIY centers are where I would start too and then work down to the Wally World type places, grocerie stores, outdoor type stores (Bass pro or a local) and then as a last resort maybe a outdoor grill or patio store (Big Green Egg seller)

I kind of have to go with walking dude about the briquets too. Just stay away from the fast light type stuff and things should work out fine

 

walking dude

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

SMF Premier Member

Aug 5, 2007

6,480

18

Des Moines, IOWA

• Nov 20, 2007

• #7

what zapper said............NO match-lite

royal oak makes a heck of a briquette.......burns longer TO ME......than kingsford, bout half the price.........it rocks here


hth...

d88de

 

rbrinton2373

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Nov 17, 2007

73

10

Ogden

• Nov 20, 2007

• #8

Thanks for all the help. Briquettes it is.

Ryan

 

chris_harper

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Nov 21, 2006

1,546

11

Waco, TX

• Nov 20, 2007

• #9

i use kingsford briquettes. i get mine at wal-mart, because my local one has two 15-lb bags for $8.97. they are wrapped in plastic together. some kind of 2-for1 deal they have with kingsford on it. you have to go to their garden center for it. in the store on the aisle where they have some stuff (here it is where paper plates are at) they only have the small bags.