Which briquettes?

[Pecker]

We had a thread a short while ago about different types of briquette, and whether or not the Webers were any good.

Leaving thise aside, and not getting into the lump wood/wood/briquette discussion in itself, what briquettes do people prefer to use?

Steve W

[keith157]

I use cocoshell briquettes for long n slow and heat beads for grilling

[biggus_richus]

I used to use CocoShell, but I used up the last of my supply at the weekend and they're now like hen's teeth.

Next cook will be over Weber briquettes. I read the thread discussing the yellow ash and dodgy smell, but if they're good enough for Weber to use at their Grill Academy and on tour, then I'm happy to give them a spin.

Next cook will probably also be on the grill though, if the summer is truly about to arrive.

[RobinC]

Heat beads are pretty good

[thelawnet]

I just buy what ever is in the supermarket. Works for me.

Best time to buy i s usually about October when you can buy whatever is left over for about £2/sack.

[The Social Smokers]

I just buy what ever is in the supermarket. Works for me.

Best time to buy i s usually about October when you can buy whatever is left over for about £2/sack.

Really?! I wouldn't touch anything sold in a supermarket, especially when using in a smoker. Maybe for an open grill type BBQ. For a smoker you want something that doesn't contains any chemical binders or any lighter fluids that are going to taint your food.

[The Social Smokers]

I used to use CocoShell, but I used up the last of my supply at the weekend and they're now like hen's teeth.

Next cook will be over Weber briquettes. I read the thread discussing the yellow ash and dodgy smell, but if they're good enough for Weber to use at their Grill Academy and on tour, then I'm happy to give them a spin.

Next cook will probably also be on the grill though, if the summer is truly about to arrive.

We were supplied weber whilst competing at Grillstock, never again! The take ages to get going in the chimney starter and also they do have a dodgy sulpher smell. Devonshire lumpwood is good, but burns quickly. I'd go for Big K stuff or standard Supagrill Briquetts.

[Eddie]

Heatbeads, heat beads, heat beads and nothing else. Nice clean cook.
Eddie

[Pecker]

On the supermarket briquette front, I agree with what the two posters above have said.

They tend not to go as hot, nor last as long as better makes.

But if you're grilling a steak or some burgers, they go hot enough and last hot enough.

As long as you don't require them to last a long time, if you can get them at the end of the Summer when they're on clearence, they're a good deal for the autumnal/bonfire season.

Personally, I always feel guilty about using better/longer lasting briquettes for just 10 minutes grilling, and I never find that re-using briquettes is reliable. The barbecue is enough of an inexact science as it is without unnecessarily introducing a new variable, IMHO.

Steve W

[eater of food]

I believe that Eddie tends to go with heat beads.