Fuel For Snake Method

[yorkshirebri]

Hi All I'm new here and this is my first post

Moved house last year and finally after a few years in the waiting I have my own outdoor space where I intend to get creative with the BBQ.

One question, looking at the snake mothod of cooking. Would you guys have any pointers on the type of fuel to use? I've always steered away from briquettes but wondering if the longer burning will lend its self to this type of cooking.

Advice much appreciated

Thanks

[BraaiMeesterWannabe]

Welcome.

There are a few threads on here about different methods for long cooks. Tried snake once but didn't work for me. I prefer minion. Could be down to the shape and size of the WSM I have but I find minion just works for me.

Also a lot of threads on different types of coal. I have used lump a couple of times for 4hr cooks but find temp regulation harder than with briquettes. As a result I've not really persevered with lump on low and slow.

I have used a lot of different briquettes and found Aussie Heat Beads to be the best of the bunch. No acrid unnatural smells and keep a good long steady burn. Got 14 hour cook from one basket a couple weeks back and reckon I would have had a few more hours on top if I'd needed.

The thing is to read up, listen to advice and try stuff you like the sound of. You'll end up working out what works best for you and your smoker.

Most importantly, enjoy the experimenting....let the fun begin

[essexsmoker]

What unit do you have? I always use lump but I have a UDS which has great air control.
For the fuse I would use briquettes, weber or heat beads will do. Just stay away from cheap ones and easy lighting.

Let us know how you get on.

[yorkshirebri]

I have a weber one touch 57cm. Seen a few try the low n slow method on these so hoping I can make it work. I'll take a look at the heat beads also seen them mentioned a lot. I'm intending a dry run tomorrow just so see how the heat works out, have invested I a thermometer too. Will see how that goes and let you know.

[essexsmoker]

I have done the snake in a OTP and it worked well. Think I got about 6hrs and there was probably about another hour left.
I used weber briqs.

Temp was fairly stable. Have you scaled your air vents? I have marks on my OTP for open, half, quarter, etc. That will give you a good idea of where you need to be with the vents for the right temp.

You only need to light about 6 briqs to get enough heat.

Hope that helps.

Always good to do a dry run first without food on.

[Deano]

I use the snake method using briquettes with my OTP, works great. As Essexsmoker says it's a good idea to mark the lower vent so you have some idea of the opening.

[Burnt2acrisp]

I've also had a reasonable amount of success on the OTP with the snake method. I too use briquettes and I stack them in a brick-bond style, to try and help keep them catching.

Cheers.

[paulfire]

Why not try a combination of heat beads and good grade lump, I was forced to use left overs and got roughly 6 hours at a good constant temperature so I regularly mix them now. I think that as long as you use good quality fuel it works ok. Same goes for the BBQ itself, get the best you can and enjoy the results


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[scotthay]

Anyone tried the Weber premium long lasting briquettes?

I've got my first long brisket cook coming up next weekend and doing trial tomorrow. I've got head beads on order but not sure they'll arrive in time. I was thinking of laying out some unlit Webers and dumping some lit Big K lumpwood on top to get it going.

Any thoughts?

[BraaiMeesterWannabe]

Weber are good imo