studville

I was wondering if any of you guys could taste the difference between name brand or "flavored" charcoal (mesquite etc etc) vs generic charcoal.

PS. My charcoal grill has a vent below the coals. What is the benefit of venting below the coal?

Thanks

hornyleprechaun

I've never tried mesquite coals so I can't answer question #1. I would assume the vent is below the coal to allow oxygen to reach them more efficiently.

DiveforTL-s

-Venting the coals helps it burn better = hotter
-if you want flavor, use real wood chips (smoking chips), soak them in water for ~1-2 hours, then put on the coals right before you put on your meat and close the lid with the vent open a little. This is kinda like smoking, without water.
-generic charcoal burns ok, but starts slower usually. I just use kingsford and call it good.

Crazy88

For some odd reason, Ive always had better experiences with Kingsford.

I remember trying to light generic and it didnt catch. Then I tried some Kingsford and lit up pretty fast.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

I only use Matchlight. Never had a problem.

pmptx

Or go to the dark side and grill on gas.

TLBaller

no.. you need the coals to be hot in order for the heat to last long enough for you to cook your food.

what you do is soak the water in 1-2 hrs, as you mentioned. buy the coal that is "easy light" which means it lights as soon as you fire it up. make a pile in the center of your grill with the coal so that there are no coals around the outter side of your grill. then put on the wet mesquite wood chips. light it up and leave that vent on the bottom of the coal area open so oxygen can help with the heating. the open area around the outter side of the grill is used as a place to put your meat over indirected heat.

DiveforTL-s

The problem with putting the wood chips on as soon as you light the coals is that the wood will be burned up before the coals are ready. The wood will catch very soon after you put it on the coals, and then smoke. If you get the coals ready, put on the wood, then put on the meat, teh meat will get smoked as it cooks. I have done it like this many times and had great results. It is better to smoke the meat in a smoker then cook it (richer flavor) but takes much longer.

quad150db

iTrader: (1)

Buy only lump and get a Chimney starter.. end of story...

bz268

I don't taste any different. But I do see that Kingsford burns much better than the no-name brand.

johnniewalker

i dont taste the difference, but ive almost always sticked with the kingsford, burns more evenly, but i definitely stay away from the coals presoaked in ligher fluid, im a chimney guy

fsttyms1

I buy nothing but Natural charcoal. To me it makes a big difference, its alot better and more even heat too. It looks like chunks of coal

JetJock

DO NOT use fluid to light charcoal....it puts a horrible taste in the food. If you can find it, get natural lump charcoal, then use a chimney starter with some old newspapers to get the charcoal going. That stuff burns hotter and has a much better flavor. If you guys knew what Kingsford puts in their charcoal....you would never use it. It's mostly corn starch and chemicals to make it burn evenly...not exactly what I want in my steaks.