Kingsford vs Lump Charcoal

[dfess1]

I bought my 1st bag of Cowboy lump at Lowe's and I'll never buy it again. So what the heck am I supposed to do with all those stones and rocks? Line my driveway? And how about 1/4 the bag of tiny charcoal chards that clog my chimney? I bought some Stubbs briquettes that were good. I'm also going to experiment with the blue Kingsford and another brand of local lump charcoal that so far has been excellent.

I use the wegmans brand. According to Naked Whiz it's the Royal Oak. I've always been happy with it. I'll used Cowboy if I have to, but those are really the only options I have down here.

 

[JLW]

This thread has given me a great reason to fire of the chainsaw!

 

[lschiavo]

This thread has given me a great reason to fire of the chainsaw!

I was thinking the same thing. I need some more applewood and this one died last year:

 

[hamiltont]

I have a gazillion ash trees in my back yard. I've tried using strictly ash for a couple of Q's but just wasn't all that excited about the flavor. I love Hickory! So, I'll use lump & hickory chunks to get the smoke into the meat & then move on to Ash once the meat is foiled, if I foil. Cheers!!!

 

[Bensiff]

I have been wanting to try Wicked Good for a long time now but it was never available near me and I wasn't about to pay to have it shipped. I just recently saw that there is a place about 45 minutes from me that carries it now. I am hoping to get down there soon and get a bag or two to try.

If you like low and slow I would load up on the stuff...it cracks and pops when you heat it up though, so avoid it for grilling.

 

[Sawdustguy]

I have a gazillion ash trees in my back yard. I've tried using strictly ash for a couple of Q's but just wasn't all that excited about the flavor. I love Hickory! So, I'll use lump & hickory chunks to get the smoke into the meat & then move on to Ash once the meat is foiled, if I foil. Cheers!!!

I agree. IMHO the best smoking woods are Hickory, Cherry and Apple. Myron Mixon would probably argue that peach should be thrown into the mix also.

 

[cheezydemon3]

I really just started this thread to HATE on kingsford, but it has actually yielded some good discussion.

Picked up some Cowboy AND some Stubbs at Lowe's yesterday. Looking forward to firing them up!

I also planted an apple tree and a pecan tree........

 

[Bensiff]

I really just started this thread to HATE on kingsford

Awesome

 

[remilard]

I agree. IMHO the best smoking woods are Hickory, Cherry and Apple. Myron Mixon would probably argue that peach should be thrown into the mix also.

Those are my favorites as well. I also like persimmon. Not sure how widely available it is, I think there is just a glut of it in MO since they don't make golf club heads with it anymore. I like plum for applications where I want a subtle smoke flavor.

They know how to cook a brisket in Texas, but mesquite is not my favorite.

 

[cheezydemon3]

Anyone know of a good chart of smoking woods and characteristics?

(also maybe woods NOT to use)

 

[JLW]

Found these on the interwebs

http://www.hhsbbq.com/smoking-woods.pdf

http://www.deejayssmokepit.net/Downloads_files/SmokingFlavorChart.pdf

 

[cheezydemon3]

Thanks JLW.

(yes I can google, but I likes a good discussion, so I do)

 

[JLW]

http://www.deejayssmokepit.net/Downloads_files/SmokingFlavorChart.pdf

Here you go CHEEZY!!

Man you are so cool how do you do it?

Jinx

 

[remilard]

Most of the fruitwoods are pretty similar. Mesquite is very distinctive. Woods typically used for some application tend to remind people of that application. Alder reminds people of salmon, hickory of bacon etc. They don't taste anything like the raw ingredient, but are strongly associated with the final product.

 

[JLW]

Thanks JLW.

(yes I can google, but I likes a good discussion, so I do)

I wasn't suggesting your google skills were somehow lacking. Was merely stating where I found them.

Yes, i enjoy a good discussion as well. Which is why I don;t mind posting questions that have already been asked!

 

[cheezydemon3]

Jinx

Lol I edited quick because It looked retarded after your post.

Most of the fruitwoods are pretty similar. Mesquite is very distinctive. Woods typically used for some application tend to remind people of that application. Alder reminds people of salmon, hickory of bacon etc. They don't taste anything like the raw ingredient, but are strongly associated with the final product.

Plain yellow mustard tastes slightly like hotdogs to me.

Also, you hear "applewood smoked bacon" all the freaking time now, like applewood is going to instill a sweet, juiciness, when in fact it is just another kind of smoke.

Kind of like "Chipotle"'s over-use, it is just a catch phrase.

 

[JLW]

I don't if anyone linked Naked Whiz site or not? They seem to have a comprehensive list of lump with ratings.

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm

 

[cheezydemon3]

BRAVO.

JLW, you have added "VALUE" to this thread. Good man.

I plan on firing up the stubbs tonight. EXCITED.

 

[Clann]

Just tried lump charcoal for the first time and I think i'm in love. They had it at the dollarmarket(super dollarstore) Mesquete lump charcoal, and it wotked wonderful. long lasting and good heat.
Also my first Atomic Buffalo Turds. They hung around just long enough to cool and were eaten

 

[cheezydemon3]

The STUBBS lumps were fantastic and predictable.

The COWBOY lumps CAN NOT be lumber yard scraps, unless they now use small logs to make houses. NBo WAY.

Great heat for searing, faster start, less smooth even heat (due to uneven lumps, some HUGE) overall my favorite, but for smoking or slow cooking, I could see the Stubbs being better.

 

[heferly]

The STUBBS lumps were fantastic and predictable.

The COWBOY lumps CAN NOT be lumber yard scraps, unless they now use small logs to make houses. NBo WAY.

Great heat for searing, faster start, less smooth even heat (due to uneven lumps, some HUGE) overall my favorite, but for smoking or slow cooking, I could see the Stubbs being better.

It is lumber scraps, mostly flooring, probably some moulding

 

[dataz722]

The COWBOY lumps CAN NOT be lumber yard scraps, unless they now use small logs to make houses. NBo WAY.

I have had pieces before that you could easily tell were tongue and groove hardwood flooring.

 

[lschiavo]

I have had pieces before that you could easily tell were tongue and groove hardwood flooring.

Yeah, isn't that their selling point...recycled?

 

[passedpawn]

I have had pieces before that you could easily tell were tongue and groove hardwood flooring.

I found a tooth in my cowboy lumps.

It's people. Cowboy lumps is made out of people. They're making our lumps out of people. Next thing they'll be breeding us like cattle for charcoal. You've gotta tell them. You've gotta tell them!

 

[lschiavo]

Cowboy Brand...made from real cowboys

 

[Duckfoot]

The COWBOY lumps CAN NOT be lumber yard scraps, unless they now use small logs to make houses. NBo WAY.

I would agree that there are some pieces of "real" wood in there, but Cowboy is generally kiln dried scraps.... I have found a many a piece of tongue and groove flooring in a bag... And a few rocks... As long as they weren't doused in flooring chemicals prior to carbonization, no big deal...

However, check out this link on Naked Whiz for a little more info on what else has been found in Cowboy Brand Products...

I have tried Royal Oak, BGE, Wicked Good, Cowboy, some brand I can't remember from Kroger, and Publix Greenwise...

Royal Oak and Brand I Can't Remember - good enough for government work.
Wicked Good - Excellent, but pricy.
Publix Greenwise - My standard for now.
BGE - I liked it a little less than Publix.
Cowboy - I used what was left in the last bag to start a burn pile last season.

 

[remilard]

Yeah, isn't that their selling point...recycled?

Yeah, plus cheezydemon has to be trolling us here. Nobody has ever actually looked at a bag of Cowboy and believed there was no scrap in it...

I like the pic on Naked Whiz of the huge piece of plywood that was in a bag.

I actually do think it has a place as it is very neutral flavor wise (for people like me that don't own a second gas grill, that can come in handy).

 

[MW66]

I bought my first bag of Cowboy lump charcoal from Lowe's this summer. I wished that I would have taken a picture of all of the stones and a few large rocks that were in my bag. I'll never buy that garbage again.

 

[cheezydemon3]

Troll? It's funny how........some...... people like that word.

the last bag of cowboy I had was the first I really scrutinized, and I was saying that the majority of it could NOT be lumber, not that there was no lumber.

No Publix here, evidently the BGE is available here somewhere, but I remember it being pricey.

I need to be on the lookout for fallen trees: oak, apple, etc. and offer to clean them up for a reasonable price.

 

[JLW]

Reviving a dead thread here. I have been using Kroger brand lump charcoal now for several months. I have been impressed with the consistency of the lumps and how long the heat lasts. Last night i cooked diced sweet potatoes and T-Bones on the grill and got a very long lasting heat. When I was done cooking after say 30 minutes i still had plenty of heat left if needed to cook something else.