Do you use the Minion Method of burning charcoal?

[richoso1]

Many folks use the Minion Method of burning charcoal, but some don't know how our own SMF's Jim Minion got the fire started. A little background along with his described method can be found on this link http://www.seattlepi.com/food/135677_minion20.html
and a little more on Jim and his method can be found at http://www.rbjb.com/fpq/minion.htm

Enjoy this article on one of our great members.

 

[indyadmin1974]

Great article. It's such a simple thing to do too.

Thanks for posting this!

 

[flbobecu]

I do! I found out about it when I joined, and I have tried Minion (hot over cold) and also cold over hot.


I use it almost every time I cook.

 

[richoso1]

Good idea to try the hot and cold versions.

 

[ak1]

I use it almost always.

 

[pandemonium]

i learned that from coming here too, heres a easier to read article about it with pictures.

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/fireup2.html

 

[5lakes]

I learned the Minion method here, as well, when I first started coming to this site. Maybe, just maybe, if I had known of it when I bought my first smoker, it wouldn't have ended up sitting in the shed for more than 10 years...

I use it all the time.

 

[bayouchilehead]

I use it all the time!!

 

[pgsmoker64]

I have used this, though I didn't know it had a name! I had a similar problem with a different type of smoker and wound up doing something very similar to what is known as the Minion method. It is really cool that Jim spread the word through SMF.

 

[dick foster]

I use it every time I smoke.

I have an offset smoker. I put briquettes directly in the firebox on the grate for preheating the pit but use lump and chunk in a homemade basket for the smoking. 

I lite both off with a hardware store propane torch. I actually light the top of the basket when it's still outside the fire box then drop it into the firebox to start cooking.