refresher on charcoal grilling

[stubborn]

This is embarrassing...  It's been years and years since I've done any grilling other than propane.  I've gotten functional smoking on SFBs and drums.  

Using lump and a chimney, just how much lump do I need for a mess of burgers?  I figured one chimney would be enough,  but quite a bit of the little stuff drops below the charcoal grates, leaving me with not enough to maintain heat.  

Anyone care to offer some friendly advice?

 

[richoso1]

If you're doing just burgers and grilling, I would use regular charcoal briquettes. How much would depend on the size of your grill and how many burgers you intend to grill. As an example, Gloria grilled 10 lb. of carne asada, and I used 1 chimney of unlit spreadout as a base, and 1 chimney of hot charcoals poured into the middle area. Now this was using a Weber 22.5 in. grill, and I didn't have to add any more charcoal. It's all good my friend.

 

[stubborn]

Sorry--guess i forgot to say it's a 22 inch Weber.  Same as I had years ago.  I just  don't remember how much I used, or if  I even paid any attention to it.  I remember that I quickly changed from lighter fluid it an electric starter.  Finding a charcoal other than KF helped the flavor also.  Other than that... 

 

[deltadude]

On my Weber Kettle 22.5",  I am usually grilling for 3 of us ( used to be 5 but the boys finally moved out).  I use a 2 zone setup, so 1/2 the grill has the coals the other side (no briquettes) is to warm or let finish cooking.  I use about 1 1/2 starter can of briquettes.  Using extra briquettes is better than not having enough.  I did just two hamburgers on Friday and used about 3/4 starter can.  I have a metal divider that I made out of a baking tray that inserts into the charcoal grate, so when I cooked two hamburgers with less briquettes I only used about 1/3 of the grate instead of half.  The metal divider allows me to keep all the briquettes where they are suppose to be, plus stack evenly.

PS my starter can is an older one which is not as tall as the newer ones.

 

[tn_bbq]

Whatever you decide(d), be sure to capture the little stuff that falls through your chimney.