Heat question..Someone please help!!!!

rmuller612 · Newbie Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 28

So I have tried both briquettes and lump and I have the same issue every $%^& time....only a section of my coal is still going with the food on. I literally have lump or briquettes not lit. I am using a chimney to light them and they are all glowing at the time I dump them. I even let them sit stacked for a few, but when I get my food ready to flip....only half of my food has grill marks and the other half is not all that brown and the coals are basically out.... HELP!!!!!

Tom C · Posted: Jun 27 2011 Post subject:

can you give us some more information?
What type of cooker?
Just off the top of my head it sounds like it's not getting enough air to the coals. No air, no fire.
_________________
Homemade offset smoker 24"x48"
Charbroil CB900 grill

Inner10 · Posted: Jun 27 2011 Post subject:

Yeah sounds like you put the lid down and snuff out the coals. If you have a chimney fully lit, dumped, grill down, food on, lid off, vents open...you should have a raging inferno.

Hell Fire Grill · Posted: Jun 27 2011 Post subject:

Try using more charcoal. Its ok to have some left over when your done cooking.

When burning lump charcoal. Dont let the coals stray to far from the pile, they barrow energy from each other in the form of air flow and heat.

If they get too much air flow Youll get a temprature spike, then after they burn down so far they start losing heat because they arent getting enough air flow from their friends near by and can stop burning.

Read this post.
http://thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=51364

Remember to drink lots of beer, relax and have a good time.

stetch · Posted: Jun 27 2011 Post subject:

yep -- be sure you open your air vents below the coals....

rmuller612 · Newbie Joined: 01 Jun 2011 Posts: 28

ok, so here are some things I leanred last night from your opinions and comments.

1. all my air vents were open, so that was not the issues.
2. i was allowing the coals to get a good start
3. i was spreading the charcoal from edge to edge in a 22.5 inch kettle weber grill. last night i did not spread it so thin and it was roaring

Problem solved, thank you for the help

Inner10 · Posted: Jun 30 2011 Post subject:

Well done, I almost never use more than half the grill. If I'm searing steaks I have the charcoal stacked pretty close to the grill!