Charcoal in your fuel box?

jimf

Meat Mopper

Original poster

Jun 22, 2011

239

11

Olney, MD

• Mar 12, 2012

• #1

I've read one place that to get a charcoal taste, it's okay to put a piece of charcoal in the fuel box along with a chunk of wood. Is this correct? I've only seen one person say that.

 

daveomak

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Nov 12, 2010

27,123

4,979

Omak,Washington,U.S.A.

• Mar 12, 2012

• #2

JimF, evening.....  You still got the cookshack ????....  Nice looking smoker.....   Yes, on the charcoal briquette or lump charcoal added to the "fire box".... 

If you want to cold smoke, light one briquette and get it going in the "fire box",  periodically add some wood chips, to smolder, on top of the briquette...  You won't need to turn on the heating element......  On the amount of chips to add, I would start out with maybe 1/4 cup and see what you get.... that should produce the TBS we look for...  Just for my sanity, don't use self lighting briquettes...

Dave

 

jimf

Meat Mopper

Original poster

Thread starter

Jun 22, 2011

239

11

Olney, MD

• Mar 13, 2012

• #3

Never thought to use it as a cold smoker.  Thanks!!

 

mdboatbum

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Apr 22, 2011

4,094

431

Washington, DC

• Mar 13, 2012

• #4

I've read (many times on here I think) that putting charcoal in the wood box of a watt burner will also give a smoke ring. I believe the method was to crumble a briquette or a piece of lump and put it in with the chips.

 

smokinhusker

Legendary Pitmaster

Oct 20, 2010

8,179

77

Mountains west of Colorado Springs, CO

• Mar 13, 2012

• #5

I tried a briquette in the MES 40 and it kept going out...not enough air. So I crumbled one with better results and I've used small pieces of wood lump charcoal after getting them smoking hot. Definitely get a hint of charcoal flavor. Sorry I didn't pay any attention to the smoke ring in the meat.

 

eman

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

Feb 3, 2009

5,316

139

• Mar 13, 2012

• #6

just a heads up ,masterbuilt does not recomend you put anything in the chip box but wood chips. i made the charcoal suggestion on their site and they stated that it would void the warrenty

 

smokinhusker

Legendary Pitmaster

Oct 20, 2010

8,179

77

Mountains west of Colorado Springs, CO

• Mar 13, 2012

• #7

eman said:

just a heads up ,masterbuilt does not recomend you put anything in the chip box but wood chips. i made the charcoal suggestion on their site and they stated that it would void the warrenty

Click to expand...

my warranty is already up!

 

daveomak

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Nov 12, 2010

27,123

4,979

Omak,Washington,U.S.A.

• Mar 13, 2012

• #8

Alesia, evening.....  Pull the chip drawer out a bit for more air..... maybe 3 briquettes nested.... something will work if you live long enough....   Dave
 

SmokinHusker said:

I tried a briquette in the MES 40 and it kept going out...not enough air. So I crumbled one with better results and I've used small pieces of wood lump charcoal after getting them smoking hot. Definitely get a hint of charcoal flavor. Sorry I didn't pay any attention to the smoke ring in the meat.

Click to expand...