Heat beads good or bad?

Feel free to ask any questions, one of the experts will certainly respond, don't be afraid to ask anything, we were all beginners at some point.
ollie
Still Raw Inside
Still Raw Inside
Posts: 6
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 09:32
First Name: ian worthington
Sense of Humor: Frankie Boyle
Location: Widnes Cheshire

Heat beads good or bad?

Post by ollie »

Hi, I have 6 bags of heat beads are they ok to smoke with as charcoal? Any taste or smell residue? I have BBq'd with them on my Cobb but not smoked.

Ian
User avatar
Steve
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1828
Joined: 17 Oct 2009, 12:17
First Name: Steve Heyes
Sense of Humor: Sarcastic, Filthy
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK.
Contact:

Re: Heat beads good or bad?

Post by Steve »

Never used them myself but I seem to remember Adie raving about how good they are.
User avatar
British BBQ Society
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 888
Joined: 20 Oct 2009, 11:03
First Name: Forum Admin
Location: On the web

Re: Heat beads good or bad?

Post by British BBQ Society »

Heat beads are a great product, they burn hot and long. I have a meeting with their rep on the 25th Feb to try and secure sponsorship from them this season, it has always been my preference.
Toby
All Weather Griller

Re: Heat beads good or bad?

Post by All Weather Griller »

Heat beads are fine for smoking, avoid the minion method where possible as you are likely to get some unsavoury tastes from that but I really do rate them.

Beerz

Adie
User avatar
British Bulldog BBQ
Got Wood!
Got Wood!
Posts: 42
Joined: 20 Oct 2009, 13:54
First Name: Toby
Location: Tongham, Surrey
Contact:

Re: Heat beads good or bad?

Post by British Bulldog BBQ »

All Weather Griller wrote:avoid the minion method
I think you could have just left it like that!
User avatar
Steve
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1828
Joined: 17 Oct 2009, 12:17
First Name: Steve Heyes
Sense of Humor: Sarcastic, Filthy
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK.
Contact:

Re: Heat beads good or bad?

Post by Steve »

Minion Hater! :lol:
Swindon_Ed
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1265
Joined: 14 Aug 2010, 18:48
First Name: Ed Gash
Location: Swindon
Contact:

Re: Heat beads good or bad?

Post by Swindon_Ed »

there are a couple of mentions against the minion method in the post, i'm using a weber smokey mountain and have thought this was the best way. is there another way that i should be using?
All Weather Griller

Re: Heat beads good or bad?

Post by All Weather Griller »

In my opinion Minion is ok but with lump - Restaurant or otherwise. That said in answer to the original post Heatbeads are very good! I wouldn't minion any briquette... HeatBeads, kingsford or weber... Just my preference.

Cheers

Adie
User avatar
stickthekettleon
Got Wood!
Got Wood!
Posts: 123
Joined: 20 Oct 2009, 12:35
First Name: Chris McQuillan
Sense of Humor: Radio Prunes rendition of macbeth is right up there, Lee Evans-stand up, Mitch Hedberg, Monty Python, Horton hears a Who, High Spirits staring a very pissed Peter O Toole, anything clever and well delivered. Not too keen on the innane and idiotic.
Location: Haslemere, Surrey
Contact:

Re: Heat beads good or bad?

Post by stickthekettleon »

Love heatbeads, my fuel of preferance, failing that weber ones will do. Anything from a forecourt or says 'instant lighting' on the front is not worth bothering with. Some of the guys on here really rate charcoal - I for one can't stand the stuff, restaurant grade or otherwise.
While I'm on a moan....... Minion method gives a bad taste to the food, some say it doesn't......It does.
Don't like the clay saucer method either. Again, one or two on here swear by it but I can't get it to work, it leaves my food dry, my temp is always too high and I don't get decent smoke rings.
Oh well, horses for courses eh. ;)
User avatar
Steve
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 1828
Joined: 17 Oct 2009, 12:17
First Name: Steve Heyes
Sense of Humor: Sarcastic, Filthy
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK.
Contact:

Re: Heat beads good or bad?

Post by Steve »

stickthekettleon wrote: Minion method gives a bad taste to the food, some say it doesn't......It does.
Wrong.

Maybe if you use briquettes, as the additives in all briquettes cause them to stink a bit when lighting. However if you're using lump wood charcoal and you ensure you've choked your fire properly before you put your food on, minion burns do not taint the flavour of the food.
Post Reply