minion method ?

[saltbranch]

I have a side fire box pit and normally use wood. I have read about the minion charcoal method while looking at info on UDS. I tried it today in my side fire box, without much luck. Charcoal(8#s) did not last more than 6-7 hours, had a hard time getting temps to hold over 200.
I took 24 briquets got them burning and then spread over top of rest of charcoal. Ideas on what I did wrong?
Anyways I am finishing my ribs off in the oven

thanks

 

[grampyskids]

Use the search function and type in minion methos. Check out The Dude Abides sticky.

 

[saltbranch]

Some how I missed that 'sticky" when reading up on the Minion method. That shows using lump, wont briquets do fine too? I have a brisket to do tomorrow and will try this method again since I am out of wood.Maybe I need to go and get some lump?

 

[grizandizz]

Salt,
It sounds like you got it right. How many "cold" briquettes do you have down before you had the ashed over coals.

When I use this method I make sure I have a good amount coals and wood chunks down before I add the fired coals.
Also, if you can get Kingsford Competition briquettes they will burn hotter and longer.
Good luck tomorrow!

 

[saltbranch]

I am not that familiar with charcoal, but here is what I did.
Put 8lbs of HEB mesquite charcoal into fire box, pulled out the 24 briquets and put them into 1 of those firestarters that uses newspaper in the bottom to light. Got those going good and spread over the 8lbs. The charcoal burned pretty fast, but I had a real hard time getting the temps right and holding. I am thinking I will go buy some wood for the brisket and after I get my UDS built, learn the minion method. I hate to mess up a good brisket.
BTW for those close to HEB grocery stores, they have packers on sale for .99 a LB. Atleast in S. TX they do.

 

[olewarthog]

Here's my version of the Minion method I use in CG w/SFB

Fill the basket with briquettes with 4-5 chunks mixed in. I leave the front corner opposite th
e side vent open for the lit briquettes. This forces the fire to burn back against the air flow & slows the rate of burn

I have a no name chimney that is much smaller that the Weber brand. I fill it about 3/4 full & start it with the side burner on my gas grill

When the charcoal in the chimney is burning good (I don't wait for them all to ash over) I dump them in the open space in the basket

I open the side vent wide open. When the grate temps hits about 210, I close it down to about 1/4 open & the temp will slowly rise & settle around 225-230.

 

[saltbranch]

Maybe my biggest problem is that I do not have basket then?

olewarthog, how many hrs do you average on that setup? Thankyou for the pics, that helps alot.

 

[bignick]

Hey, olewarthog, thanks for sharing that. Is your basket the "shaker basket?" I saw one of those at Lowe's and wondered if that would fit into my SnP as a coal basket. How long does a basket of your fuel last using this above method?

 

[jak757]

Great pics showing the Minion method in your CG. That really helps me -- love the visuals.

How long can you hold temps like that? (I realize external temp, wind etc are factors)

Great post!

 

[olewarthog]

Yes that is a Charbroil shaker basket. Depending upon conditions, I get 2-3 hours at 235 - 240. I could let it go longer, but I will go ahead & shake down the ash, rake the burning coals over to the MC side & reload the basket with more charcoal as soon at the temps drop below 235 to keep the temps as stable as possible.

 

[ga.rick]

in my side fire box smoker i use this method. it works pretty good, i use a charcoal basket so it can breath good. from what i've read and experienced 6 hours is not a bad burn time, you just keep adding a little charcoal or wood at a time when temps start to go down. the basket realy helped my smoker a lot. i usually use 90% unlit to 10% lit ratio.

 

[harper072554]

I am gonna go to Lowes tomorrow and get me a basket for my CG...

 

[jirodriguez]

Yup... basket is a must for offsets. I also use a 50-50 mix of lump and briquets. The briquets (usually roal oak) give long steady heat, and the lump kicks the temp up to 250'ish even with a big main chamber.