Need some help

[shotgunn25]

I just bought an Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn smoker last weekend. I decided to do a test burn to get rid of the residue and to learn about it. I bought lump charcoal to use. My questions are:

1. How much charcoal do you use?
2. Do you add charcoal through the cooking process, or start off with enough to last 4+ hours?
3. Does using lump charcoal vs. briquette really matter?
4. Which type of charcoal will burn longer?

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[hardcookin]

If your using charcoal it would probably help to have a charcoal basket. And keep the basket 3-4" off the bottom. You could probably go through a lot of charcoal depending on the cook.
Myself in offsets I have always burned wood splits adding 1-2 splits every 30 mins to maintain a coal bed. I feel wood splits gives better flavor than charcoal.

 

[bbqwillie]

I just bought an Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn smoker last weekend. I decided to do a test burn to get rid of the residue and to learn about it. I bought lump charcoal to use. My questions are:

1. How much charcoal do you use?
2. Do you add charcoal through the cooking process, or start off with enough to last 4+ hours?
3. Does using lump charcoal vs. briquette really matter?
4. Which type of charcoal will burn longer?

Thanks for the help guys.

1 - As much as you need to maintain temp for the cook. (not trying to be a wisea** here. The amount will vary on temp and duration).

2 - On any long cook you'll need to add because your charcoal box just ain't big enough (see number 1)

3 - Generally, Lump burns hotter and faster, briquettes burn cooler and slower (There are exceptions)

4 - http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm will give you a lot of information about lump charcoal. I know of no site that reviews briquettes (but I'm sure there is one)

Personally, on a Joe I would start with a coal bed and then feed it splits after that.