Which Briquettes?

[Dodge]

Hi

Just curious which ones you guys think are best for low n slow., as I'm sure some of you have had some experience with these. I know big K lump wood is popular, but i think briquettes would be better for me at the moment.

Weber long lasting - these are the smallest briquettes i have seen, great heat and long lasting, such a shame about the yellow ash which does get over the food, i have been using these this week and prefer not in the future.

Dial (currently £3 for 7kg) at B an Q - super deal, but whats quality like
http://search.diy.com/search#w=briquettes&asug=

Supergrill (£4.99 for 5kg at Wickes) i have used these before for normal grilling and when i added some, i got smoke.
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Supagrill-Charc ... g/p/119449

Big K (£9.98 for 10kg + delivery) says they are made from sawdust and include vegetable starch
http://www.bigk.co.uk/Catalog-Briquettes_140.aspx

Much appreciated
Chris

[YetiDave]

The last briquettes I got from B&Q were absolutely terrible, and if you got smoke off the Supergrill stuff then I'd stick to Big K

[Dodge]

Big K has so much to choose from

Restaurant grade charcoal briquettes - 10kg box - £11.42 (100% natural, not actually briquettes shape, hard to light, last for ages - maybe these would be no good for like minion method or if used in Smokenator?
http://www.bigk.co.uk/Catalog-Briquettes_140.aspx

Charcoal briquettes - 10kg bag - £9.98 - normal & FSC Recycled?
http://www.bigk.co.uk/Catalog-Briquettes_140.aspx

What do you think?

I may consider the lump wood, but using a Weber one touch, the charcoal grate is quite big and if the bags has small pieces
chances are they just fall through and be unusable, this is why i think briquettes. Also i like the idea of less heat and longer burn from briquettes.

Cheers
Chris

[Scantily]

Big K has so much to choose from

Restaurant grade charcoal briquettes - 10kg box - £11.42 (100% natural, not actually briquettes shape, hard to light, last for ages - maybe these would be no good for like minion method or if used in Smokenator?
http://www.bigk.co.uk/Catalog-Briquettes_140.aspx

Charcoal briquettes - 10kg bag - £9.98 - normal & FSC Recycled?
http://www.bigk.co.uk/Catalog-Briquettes_140.aspx

What do you think?

I may consider the lump wood, but using a Weber one touch, the charcoal grate is quite big and if the bags has small pieces
chances are they just fall through and be unusable, this is why i think briquettes. Also i like the idea of less heat and longer burn from briquettes.

Cheers
Chris

I'm beginning to think that for low n slow cooks any brand of briquettes are fine, undoubtedly there are better brands. But any will suffice really, just at the sacrifice of burn time, heat and ash quantity. They all smell a bit chemically upon start up. Heat beads and weber are probably the best, but are considerably more expensive.

I will quite often use lump for everything, and it's definitely better for grilling, I have cut out round sheets of mesh which I put over the grates on the kettle and wsm to stop the smaller pieces falling through.

[MyLeakyBucket]

I started using Big K briquettes and lumpwood recently after finding them for a decent price locally, and have been pleased with the results. Having better luck maintaining a low and slow temperature and without any noticeable chemical smell. Will try the restaurant grade at some point, but the standard type seem decent enough.

[aris]

The briquettes and standard lump is being sold at Morrissons for 5 pounds for 5 kg.

[Dodge]

Thanks for the info. Will shoot over to Morrisons and grab some.

Those restaurant grade Big K briquettes state difficult to light, do you think they will work minion method?

Be great if they it did work as they also say higher heat and longest burning out of all their products which would mean using much less fuel long I think.

Had anyone tried them?

Cheers
Chris