Charcoal smoke with minion method

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Charcoal smoke with minion method

Postby alanb1976 » 17 Apr 2018, 21:00

Hi all
Just a quick question.... I've seen the minion and snake methods for slow cooking but doesn't that result in a lot of smoke from the charcoal when it catches. I've never tried it but when I have put some fresh coals on the fire, the resulting smoke made the meat taste terrible. Am I using the wrong coal or is there something special about the method that prevents the smoke?
Thanks
Alan
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Re: Charcoal smoke with minion method

Postby derekmiller » 19 Apr 2018, 11:02

Hi Alan.
Most people use briquettes when using this method, Heat Beads or Weber Briquettes are my choice.
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Re: Charcoal smoke with minion method

Postby alanb1976 » 19 Apr 2018, 19:16

Thanks for the reply.
I've tried with briquettes but still get smoke. Maybe just my cheap briquettes or the fact that I put on a lit fire and not a minion/snake method (slower catch maybe).
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Re: Charcoal smoke with minion method

Postby derekmiller » 23 Apr 2018, 09:56

Yeah for Low and Slow, don't use cheap stuff, get the Heatbeads, they are worth it.
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Re: Charcoal smoke with minion method

Postby Jediboy » 04 May 2018, 18:41

Heatbeads + 1
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Re: Charcoal smoke with minion method

Postby alanb1976 » 04 May 2018, 20:02

Where are some places to get them from? I've given them a quick Google but didn't see any shops I recognise. I could order online but don't want to waste too much on postage for a bulky heavy item.
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Re: Charcoal smoke with minion method

Postby Jediboy » 06 May 2018, 20:04

I have a local camping shop that sells them, but have also bulk ordered from amazon. Postage I think was a fiver. Still worked out good value.
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Re: Charcoal smoke with minion method

Postby derekmiller » 16 May 2018, 07:20

The Range sell them, but I tend to order mine online, generally get 12 bags at a time, helps to offset the postage.
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Re: Charcoal smoke with minion method

Postby cryo » 23 May 2018, 09:07

I use Big K charcoal and get minimum/no smoke so I suspect its the charcoal you are using and make sure your charcoal is dry as moisture in charcoal produces a lot of white smoke till it drys out. I find I get more smoke from briquettes than from charcoal and lots more ash.

Ken.



alanb1976 wrote:Hi all
Just a quick question.... I've seen the minion and snake methods for slow cooking but doesn't that result in a lot of smoke from the charcoal when it catches. I've never tried it but when I have put some fresh coals on the fire, the resulting smoke made the meat taste terrible. Am I using the wrong coal or is there something special about the method that prevents the smoke?
Thanks
Alan
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Re: Charcoal smoke with minion method

Postby Jediboy » 23 May 2018, 20:27

Just a thought, putting briquettes on burning coals can create smoke. Try getting the briquettes going in a chimney starter then adding them.
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