Once you are comfortable with the above information try grilling something like boneless skinless chicken thighs. BENEFIT: Burns long and holds a steady temperature. The charcoal amounts and vent settings on this page are what I use when using the heat control method shown in this video; Watch on YouTube. The hardwood charcoal briquettes are so densely packed that they burn longer and more evenly than lump charcoal. Most drum smokers will have a charcoal basket. I usually hold my hand about 1 inch over the grates to do this little test. For hot and fast cooks in the 300F range, all you need to do is pre-light charcoal in a chimney starter and dump the hot coals into the baskets. Youll want your medium high area be hot enough to be able to hold your hand for just 2-3 seconds. But on their website, they mention that they use cornstarch, borax, limestone, and coal. Briquettes burn more evenly and consistently than lump charcoal. It is hard to cook a very long session of 10 to 12 hours with the snake of minion method and you will have to add charcoal at a certain point of the cooking process. The logs eventually break down into black lumps of carbonized hardwood that light faster than wood logs and maintain a relatively even range of temperatures. Step 1 - Make Your Charcoal Pile Step 2 - Light A Few Starter Coals Step 3 - Dump The Hot Coals Step 4 - Reassemble Your WSM Bonus - WSM's Vents System & Water Pan For The Minion Method Pros & Cons The Fuel Lump Vs Briquettes Wood Instead Of Charcoal? Results will vary because some grills or more air tight than others. Rockwood, Fogo and Royal Oak are also solid choices. However, you could take an axe and chop lump charcoal into smaller chunks so you can set up a Minion or Snake. Check Price at Amazon. Fortunately, lump charcoal lights and heats so quickly that you can get a burst of heat within 510 minutes of adding additional unlit coals. The Kamado Joe Jr. ranges in price from $349 to $399, whereas the classic 22-inch Weber Kettle grill can usually be found for as low as $99 to as much as $189, depending on sales and accessory bundles. Final Verdict. Mastering the Art of Smoking Chicken. The guy there told me not to use lump charcoal in my kettle because the steel is too thin and it can't take the temperatures. 3 Steps To Using The Snake Method. Create a crater in the middle of the charcoal pile. Last Updated On: September 16, 2022. But keep your hand going on top of the grate to make sure its not too hot. Smoke Wings How Long? Step 2 Trim the fat cap. What a coincidence this all started happening after the covid vax rollout Are you aware that embalmers all around the globe are finding synthetic parasitic clots in the veins and arteries of the covid vaccinated dead. At this stage I will dump the coal in one pile in the grill. To learn how we use your information, see our privacy policy. Clearly there is some variation here, especially with how each person perceives pain. So lets hear what the experts had to say about the pros of using either lump charcoal or briquettes. Using the right amount of charcoal will give you the perfect flame and control every time. Pure hardwood charcoal, better known as lump charcoal, is made entirely from hardwood logs that have been heated at high temperatures, with very little exposure to oxygen. And what better way to whittle away the hours waiting for your brisket to finish than reading about barbecue!. An article that provides relevant information on the great charcoal debate: Briquettes or Lumps? The amount of charcoal you use will depend on the type of smoker you are using, the wind, the vent adjustments, etc. Add smokewood chunks for extra smoky flavor. Although briquettes burn longer, they do not burn as hot as lump charcoal. But in all honesty, these are the tools I recommend to my family and friends who are just starting out. A wax fire starter works well for this, but you can also use a few lit briquettes. If you are lighting your coal with lighter fluid, you may use a different amount of coal than using a charcoal chimney. Once you get a taste of what the people at Frankspeech.com provide, CNN, MSNBC, CBS, Fox, all of them, will become even more obsolete than they are now. They keep the coals in neat piles on the sides of the grill, leaving plenty of room for a drip pan in the middle of the grill. If you open the vents all the way, more oxygen will flow through the fire and burn the charcoal much faster. When it comes to fuel consumption the biggest factor is wind (not cold, wind). The unlit coal will slowly ignite and provide a low heat (225F-250F) over many hours. I will be grilling for the first time tomorrow, and using a cheap charcoal grill that I do not believe even has a chimney. Its also important for us to be on the same page with methodology. As much as charcoal or briquettes can be awesome for grilling various foods, they also come with their drawbacks. Kingsford Briquets ($0.54 per pound) and Big Green Egg hardwood charcoal ($1.25 per pound) were each tested in two types of grillsa traditional Weber Kettle and a Big Green Egg Kamado-style . You can go ahead and leave a comment to add any important information you think I may have left out. Place the lit coals into the middle of the crater of unlit briquettes. Matt Duckor,Why Im Over Using Lump Hardwood Charcoal. When using the Weber Performer (which has the small propane ignition feature to light charcoal) I fill my chimney either , , or totally full depending on the application. It just depends on the exact time you begin cooking over your coals. I did some research to find out exactly how much charcoal is needed in different charcoal smokers, different cooking temperatures and different cooking times.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'meatsmokinghq_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meatsmokinghq_com-medrectangle-4-0'); On average, a charcoal smoker will use approximately 80-100 briquettes when using the Snake Method, 3/4 of a 7.7 lbs bag of briquettes if using the Minion Method, and a full 15.4 lbs bag of briquettes in a large Weber Smokey Mountain. Preheat the grill to 225 to 250 F - use the charcoal snake method. Learn more. The large size of Weber Briquettes ensure consistent heat, longer grilling times, and are cost effective due to lower fuel consumption. For example; if the temp has been constant at 300 degrees for 30 or more minutes then the coals are burning constant so the temp is not in the process of climbing or dropping. Preventing Lump Charcoal From Falling Through The Grate. Lump charcoal burns faster and hotter than briquettes so you do need to be careful with your temperature control. If youre researching to decide if you want to try cooking with charcoal, we have a guide to the best charcoal smokers and best charcoal grills available. A simple temp gauge mounted on top of the cover will give u a pretty accurate gauge for heat inside. However, the general person can hold their hand over a high heat for about 2 seconds. Lump charcoal is superior amongst its users because of its purity it contains no lighter fluids like instant-light briquettes or additives like regular ones. In this no coal area (if its windy or cool out) you could always put about 5-10 lit coals spaced out just for some light heat. thanks for you help, I would recommend stacking your coals to one half and searing over high heat for 2-3 minutes per side then move to indirect heat until you reach your desired internal temperature. The other problem with cheaper smokers is they arent sealed very well, so more air will flow through the fire and burn excess coal. I also use the bottom vent towards the end of a cook if the heat starts dying. While Matt makes some good points, we think you can still control the heat with care and practice. 5. Jealous Devil All Natural Premium Hardwood XL Lump Charcoal - 35 Lbs. Most people place the wood on top of the coals but others believe the wood smolders better when its at the bottom. Step 1 - Building The Snake. Meat has always been a huge part of my life. See this vid for the setup. Tips/tricks? IMHO that mean's it is going to rust and flake a lot more than a regular cast iron piece. Create a cool zone for the turkey. Though you can use the Kamado Joe Jr. as a slow and low smoker, which is something that the Weber Kettle struggles to do. Yep, pure "let me say whatever I can think of at the time to make you want to buy my product instead of that one" sales talk. Packed with our most popular recipes includingbrisket, pulled pork, ribsand more! Write how much charcoal you used, the vent adjustments and the temperatures. Dial thermometers are mechanical so they do not respond to changes in temp instantly like digital thermometers. Cheaper smokers with thin metal and poor insulation may require more charcoal due to their inability to retain heat. a 7 foot long grill could easily have a 2 foot area of hot heat, a 2 foot area of medium hot heat, 2 feet worth of medium low and a foot of no coal for emergency or chicken warming. If you do the twitter thing let me know how it turns out (@grilling24x7) or post back here. To expand on this, here is my general rule of thumb for cooking various items at various heats using Kingsford charcoal: Now clearly there are a lot of factors going on here. Use the chimney to light the charcoal and, once the coals are ashed over, dump them into a pile in the center of charcoal grate. Other than that when I need to sear something, I prefer to use lump charcoal. Adding Smoking Wood Type Of Wood Where To Add? And i read about the indirect heat but like i said, its a small cheap grill. I will be hosting a family reunion of approximately 100 people. How many bags of charcoal do I need? 4. The ThermoPro TP20 is an Amazon Best Seller because its the easiest thermometer to operate, is durable, highly accurate, and comes with pre-programmed meat settings. The Virtual Weber Bulletin Board is an unofficial Weber product fan site and is not affiliated with Weber-Stephen Products LLC. Hello, I bought the smaller weber chimney thinking I could use it to get high heat in a 14 grill, but I think it holds too little charcoal since I can only manage to hit medium high temps, which then drop to medium very quickly (and stay there). You can imagine that filling the chimney 25% full will yield less heat than a chimney that is filled up 100%. If you are smoking some meat fast (over 300F), the way you set your coals will be different to what you would if you were cooking low-and-slow in the 220F 250F range. So for my purposes, I mostly always use the following two zone grilling set up. Nothing worse than burning food at a cookout! reflects the variety of wood used to make it. *. Its intense heat can sear food in seconds, browning the surface and scenting it with pure wood smoke aromas. 3 hours in smoke. The Snake takes the form of a letter C around the outer layer of the smoker. Time Until the Kettle Stabilizes: 20 - 30 minutes. You need to consider the weather, the type of smoker, the insulation, the vent adjustments and the cooking temperature when trying to determine the amount of coal needed. During this time, the oxygen-starved fire burns off water, sap and other volatile substances in the wood. Starter sticks can also be used in conjunction with Charcoal Chimneys. Instead, they are viewer supported by people like you who are tired of being lied to. A drum smoker and a kamado can maintain a 250F to 275F range if the coal basket 3/4 full of lump charcoal. Wood is the primary fuel source for offset smokers, but use charcoal to get the fire going before adding wood. Here are the steps: A Weber Smokey Mountain is extremely fuel efficient and can run at 250F for 18-20 hours with lump charcoal. Inset your thermometer and close the lid. If I need to open the bottom vent fully it's a sure sign the heat is dyingand if the cook is not about done it's time to add more coals. Instead of placing lump, you will build a 2 x 2 or 2 x 2 x 1 for the second half and a 2 x 1 for the first half. In order to make my ribs nice and tender, I'm using the 3-2-1 method. If you want to know more about the Weber Smokey Mountain, Ive written a full review of this amazing smoker here: Weber Smokey Mountain Review The Complete WSM Buying Guide. Less oxygen means lower overall temperature therefore prolonged burn time. Brisket is a huge cut of meat though, and once my family (and dog) have eaten our full, theres usually still a few pounds of meat leftover. Steve, I have a Performer that has been in my family since the 90's, and lump charcoal has been used on it the vast majority of the time. The Pro 34, Traeger's original large Pro Series grill, has long been the best-selling pellet grill worldwide. 6. The best approach with these smokers is to fill the charcoal bowl and similar to a Minion method or Soos Donut. Today, the process of making lump charcoal typically begins by stacking wood logs in underground pits and covering them with sheet metal and dirt. Place the lit coal into middle of the donut hole. Can I pile unlit briquettes on one side and place hot briquettes on top of them and a) maintain a fairly constant temp and b) maintain that fo 2 1/2 hours? Add smoking wood by either placing wood chunks underneath or on top of the charcoal. I hope you learned a few things. One of the challenges of using lump charcoal in the Weber Bullet is that the smallest pieces tend to fall through the charcoal grate into the bottom of the cooker. However, you cant just use any old paper, it has to be unwaxed, food grade paper. A drum smoker and a kamado can maintain a 250F to 275F range if the coal basket 3/4 full of lump charcoal. Below are images of the clots. Sign up to receive new product news, exclusive offers, grilling tips & recipes, and more from Weber and its affiliates / subsidiaries! As a general rule, you should use about 50 briquettes for a small 14- inch grill , 75-100 for a medium 18-inch grill, and 150-200 for a large 22-inch grill. A good rule is to add 5 to 6 briquettes every hour to maintain a constant temperature. Even temperature cooking is a vital part of grilling. One of the most common questions that gets debated over and over again is whether to use lump charcoal or briquettes. Then place the newspaper under the chimney and light it. As the smoker is approaching your target temperature, close the vents to 1/4. Every time I used it I ended up frustrated and confused, feeling all alone in this brave, overheated new grilling world.. It also takes a bit more effort to cook with the, But that shouldnt discourage you from using briquettes so long as you stock up on a reputable brand like Kingsford. When Im not smoking meat, Im here writing about my passion on Meat Smoking HQ. The amount of charcoal needed can vary based on the type of smoker, the cooking temperature and time, the weather, and the ventilation adjustments. Are you covid vaccinated? Everything with an asterisk by it. Instead of using lit paper with the charcoal chimney, use a starter stick. It weighs just 9 and a half pounds, so it's a breeze to carry and backpack with. Learn More. Airprobe 3 is the best of this technology. But that shouldnt discourage you from using briquettes so long as you stock up on a reputable brand like Kingsford (make sure you dont get the easy lighting one). Once you hit the target temperature, adjust the top vent and close off the bottom intake vent until its open 1/4. I have a smoky Joe but see no reason to use more charcoal than necessary. The Beginners Guide To Meat Thermometers, The Best Meat Thermometers Under $50 (We List the Top 8 Choices), Best Wi-Fi Meat Thermometers (We Review the 5 Top Models), Best Instant-Read Thermometers for Smoking (Top 6 Picks), What Are Automatic Barbeque Temperature Controllers? It takes about 80 briquettes to build a snake or fuse three-quarters around a large 22 inch Weber Kettle. Light the bigger pieces or light quarter of a chimney and place it on top. That final portion of the bag can be spread on top of the already lit coals if you start to loose heat during your cook (maybe 40 min in?). The Minion Method is a clever technique of setting up and lighting a fire for the long-burn cooking and smoking of barbecue meats. The Snake Method involves building a C shaped arrangement of briquettes around the outer layer of the smoker and lighting one end, allowing the lit coals to slowly burn through and provide consistent heat. 1) Weber 8834 searing grate meant to fit inside their 2 piece 22" grate. Most people use charcoal briquettes for the heat, and chunks of dry wood for the smoke. 2) An exhaust damper (a.k.a. Hot Coal: 5-6 Fuel Supply: 130 Time Until the Kettle Stabilizes: 20-30 minutes. 1. For instance, Kingsford, the largest producer of charcoal in the U.S., rarely talk about what their briquettes include. The cooking temperatures are assessed once the coals are spread out and have mostly ashed over. Grilling 24x7 is your home for everything BBQ, Grilling and more. A small 12 inch however wont have the same benefit and may not have nearly as much indirect room from the coals. Charcoal briquettes work best for the Snake method because briquettes nestle into one another and burn evenly. Enrico Brandizzi TVWBB Honor Circle Jun 10, 2016 #9 No problem imo. Take about 15 coals and light them in a charcoal starter. Weber Q1400 Electric Grill, Gray. If you use lump charcoal made from pine, then it would burn fast and hot and it is awesome for searing a steak, says Allen. This is ideal for low and slow cooks between 6 - 18 hours. Charcoal How many briquettes can I put in my Chimney Starter? For a brisket slow smoked in a Weber Smokey Mountain, Harry fills the fire basket to the top of the fire ring. Depending on the weather and the amount of food being cooked, it may be necessary to add fuel after 12 hours of cooking. Weber 70th Anniversary Edition 22'' Kettle, Diner Green. Check Price at Amazon. When it comes to charcoal for Weber grills, you want to use a natural, lump charcoal. A full 15.4 pound bag of briquettes should give a 12-15 hour burn in a 22 inch WSM by using a Minion Method or Soos Donut. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'meatsmokinghq_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meatsmokinghq_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); The Snake is probably the most popular charcoal method for low-and-slow cooking on a kettle grill, but it can also work with a bullet smoker or a WSM. Pour a full 7.7 pound bag of briquettes into the kettle grill. - After watching the video if you are interested in more covid and vax info, go here for info the mainstream media is hiding from you. Some people prefer briquettes, while others go for lump charcoal. However, if you understand your heat and direct vs. indirect grilling, it will become quite easy. An article that provides relevant information on the great charcoal debate: Briquettes or Lumps? Keep the bottom and top air vents completely open. Its intense heat can sear food in seconds, browning the surface and scenting it with pure wood smoke aromas. These tools play an important role in the latter stages of the cook when the meat needs regular checking in multiple areas. Place the coffee can in the middle and pour the unlit coal around the can. Expert Tips for Smoking Perfect Chicken Wings on a Traeger Grill, Why Are My Chicken Wings Soft? That brings us to the end of this article regarding lump charcoal vs. briquettes. This method is a great starting point to make tender, perfectly cooked ribs. The bottom vent I use if I am unable to get enough of a temp change from the top vent. The Complete Buyers Guide. SmokedBBQSource is supported by its readers. It also contains no fillers or additives which makes it one of the cleanest ways to barbecue. Thanks for this useful & informative article. So if you want to maintain a certain temperature range for cooking, the fire needs replenishing. I noticed you put them under medium heat though so, would you recommend increasing the cooking times to perhaps 20 mins? It also contains no fillers or additives which makes it one of the cleanest ways to barbecue. Here's those links homeboy. Search Brinkman Mods on forums, Reddit and YouTube and you will find dozens of ideas. More time in the foil is required to make . More oxygen = higher heat. If you are using one of these smokers, consider making some modifications. Well run through the differences between each fuel source. The purpose of the chimney is to light the charcoals and to provide a means of keeping the coals in proximity while being lit. Using the charcoal baskets, or just pouring . The plus is that it gives me maximum surface are at 12" (that an additional 2 inches versus option 2. Then place the water pan in the middle of the semicircle of your snake and close the lid. Yes he is full of "it". Light a small amount of coals in a charcoal chimney and then pour them into the coffee can. If you dump a 50% full medium heat charcoal chimney in one spot and dont spread it out. Today I, Theres no way around it. Required fields are marked *. Any lump charcoal is irregular in size and shape,. It has a cooking area of 726 square inches and a temperature range of 100 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once you burn off some of the unpleasant additives, briquettes are definitely the easier way to go due to the . TemperatureLit CoalCharcoalbriquettesCookingTimeTopVentBottomVent225-250F6-7906 hours1/8 to 1/4 open1/8 to 1/4 open225-250F6-712012 hours1/8 to 1/4 open1/8 to 1/4 open275F35702-3 hours1/2 open1/2 open325F45702-3 hours1/2 open1/2 open350F65952-3 hours1/2 open1/2-3/4 open400F751152 hours1/2 to 3/4 openCompletelyopen. So youve got your new smoker, youve chosen your wood, and youve seasoned your meat. Lump charcoal also responds accordingly to oxygen, hence you can easily control the level of heat if your grill features adjustable air vents. The puffy, bubbly crust and slightly charred leopard-spotted base that are the signs of a well-cooked Neapolitan style pizza result from a very specific cooking environment. What is best fuel for Weber Smokey Mountain? You must log in or register to reply here. To figure out how much charcoal to use inyour grill it is best to start out understanding a few basic principles. Hi Carol, Meathead goes on to point out that claims of chemicals affecting the taste of your food are overblown. Place the briquettes directly on hot coals, spacing them evenly over the existing fire area. I have 2 Weber Grills. When I'm cooking with my rotisserie, or cooking with indirect heat, the baskets are very useful. Second, there is not a direct correlation between the amount of lump charcoal you use and how many charcoal briquettes you use in a recipe. The Snake Method is also a great opportunity to use charcoal starter sticks. You can use a bag of charcoal for 2-3 weeks if you have a 20lb tank. So if you have a 10-inch (25 cm) grill grate, you will need about 5 pounds (2.3 kg) of charcoal. A trick I learned from Malcolm Reed is to build a teepee with the bigger pieces of lump and put them at the top of the coal. Get BBQ guides, recipes, and our free digital cookbook sent straight to your inbox. One tip I can offer up is that I like to use lump charcoal when grilling less than 1 hour, since most of the foods I will be grilling call for a medium to high direct heat. I'm using a brand new 22" Weber kettle setup indirect with water pan in the center of the coal grate. You will have one isolated area of high heat right over where you dumped the coals. Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22-Inch Charcoal Grill 9.7/10 our score Buy Now Stay true to the modern version of the kettle that started it allthe Original Kettle, invented by Weber's founder, and loved around the world. I've used Wicked Good lump coal and Kingsford blue. You can use charcoal as much as you want. It is literally a clip on gas pedal for lighting charcoal. You'll find unique grilling recipes as well as a collection of bbq sides and sauces to make your next backyard cookout or tailgate a success. In many cases the smokiness emanates from one kind of wood only, such as mesquite or oak. Grillers are often asking me whether lump charcoal is a better fuel source than briquettes or whether briquettes are more efficient at maintaining even temperatures. I found the key to using the vents to change the temp is first making sure the temp in the kettle is stabilized. flue, vent, or chimney) that exhausts gases and pulls in oxygen through the intake dampers. Briquettes are made from sawdust and leftover woods that are burnt down the same way as lump charcoal. Just a thought!!! I've seen my share of cracked BGE's though. Weber Kettle Club: http://weberkettleclub.comBig Poppa Smokers: http://weberkettleclub.com/recommends/big-poppa-home/Slow N Sear @ Amazon: http://weberkettle. Lesson 8: Lump vs. Briquette Charcoal An episode by Fred Thompson that deep dives into the debate. The secret is the lid. Instant Read Thermometer: Arguably, the second most important tool you need is a fast and accurate instant-read thermometer. You can find it on Amazonhere. Brinkman charcoal smokers and similar bullet-shaped smokers usually have a charcoal bowl. A Weber Kettle should have two char-baskets that sit either side of the grill. The Minnion method is perfect for brisket, ribs, pork butts or any low-and-slow cooks. A great choice for cooking steak caveman style directly over the coals. The intake damper is near the charcoal or wood and its job is to provide them with oxygen. If you spread this 50% full chimney out over the whole grill area your heat will drop because the coals are more spread out. Wait 10-15 until the charcoal has completely ashed over. Drum smokers are extremely fuel efficient, so they dont burn through excess coal. It has a 14" diameter making it large enough to cookout food for 2-4 people easily. If you want to use the baskets for low-and-slow cooking, follow the same principles of the Minion and fill the baskets with unlit coal. In many cases the temperatures will fall from high heat to medium heat in less than 30 minutes. Here is what experts had to say against using lump charcoal. The type of smoker can impact the amount of charcoal needed. Pour out your hot coals on one side or use a spatula or tongs to carefully move all the coals to cover half of the lower grill grate. I use the ThermoPro TP19 because it can do everything a ThermaPen can do, but for a fraction of the cost. 18 inch Smokey Joe and 20 Weber. Note: The setup for this cook is different than the rest because its a much longer cook. These methods involve pouring a small amount of lit charcoal into the middle crater of a pile of unlit charcoal. My favorite charcoal is Royal Oak lump. A bag of lump charcoal comes in all different shapes and sizes, so you will get an irregular burn. An episode by Fred Thompson that deep dives into the debate. At that point, I stopped using lump and switched to exclusively using briquettes. Count how many seconds you can hold your hand over the coals before you are in pain. However, these amounts/settings will get you in the ball park then you can experiment and see what works best for your kettle grill. There are several ways to smoke wings, so the cooking times vary. The lit coal will slowly burn through the Snake and provide a consistent heat for several hours.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'meatsmokinghq_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_13',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-meatsmokinghq_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR9u4AF_DS4Video cant be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: How to Set Up the Snake Method in a Weber Kettle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR9u4AF_DS4). Barbecue is a very time consuming hoby. You are using an out of date browser. Rates as Low as 0% APR with Affirm. Whenever you think of the Weber Smokey Mountain, its hard not to think about Harry Soo, the world champion pitmaster who dominated competitions using his trusty WSM. How to Set Up a Weber Kettle for Different Cooking Methods Low n Slow Basics 638K views 2 years ago Almost yours: 2 weeks, on us 100+ live channels are waiting for you with zero hidden fees. When lighting the drum, open all the vents to get the fire going. How much charcoal do I need for a small Weber grill? My rule of thumb for vent settings is: For cooks of 275-350 degrees I normally start the cook with both vents set at half. Again . The WSM is not super thick skinned so wind will sap it's temps very fast. Buy The All-New Lumin Electric Grill Now, Pay Later. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm getting some bitter creosote flavor from too much smoke. America finally has news sources they can trust, Frankspeech.com. My son has tasked with grilling a duck. Lucky for Weber users, our grills have dampers that give us complete temperature control, so this discrepancy is less of an issue. Its the same principle. We dont have a hinged dont grate. Time Until the Kettle Stabilizes: 20-30 minutes. Around 10-12 briquettes need to suffice to barbecue some hamburgers and hotdogs no problem. First I was using chips. Add some wood chips or chunks to the smoldering briquettes and youre all set to smoke a first class low and slow meal. Briquettes with no other additives are usually labeled "natural" or "hardwood."