wet charcoal

[das85]

So I thought I was so clever, getting a plastic bin to store my charcoal and keeping that under a counter...but apparently the last time I used it, I got sloppy, failed to fully close the bin or get it completely under overhang...and found a few inches of water in the bottom.

How do folks feel about using the charcoal that got wet? It's Jealous Devil lump, and mostly seems to have retained its lumpiness and structural integrity..

Right now I have it spread out to dry, but unclear whether it will get fully dry before it rains again, and ideally I'd like to use some in a few hours.. Would be adding to an existing fire, so lighting it is not an issue as such.

Thanks in advance to all!

[rickgregory]

it will smolder, dry out, then light. If it's soaked vs just damp, I'd not count on it unless it's a long cook.

[Thunder77]

If it’s Jealous Devil lump, it will be fine after it dries out. I have also been known to put wet charcoal on my
gasser at very low temps to accelerate the drying process. Indirect heat only, of course. 😎

[das85]

Thanks rickgregory and Thunder77 for great and timely advice. This was a long cook, I added toward the end and did fine.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

I'd rather have wet charcoal than wet pellets... dry it out and carry on

[das85]

That's for sure! I've only had to scrape wet pellets out of my hopper once..

[FireMan]

And here I was goin to answer, NO don’t wet yer charcoal! In light of this post, never mind.

[SmokeyGator]

I have got lazy and left bags of lump in my smoker table. Mostly out of the rain, but still there is a lot of humidity. Anyhow it does not hurt too much. I say that because water will get inside the lump and when you set it on fire it becomes steam. Then you get embers flying all over the place. But once it is lit and the heat deflector is in place, it burns. And who cares if there is a lot of popping and crackling - as long as embers are not being thrown at you.

The lumps that sat in standing water might not want to light until dry, so I would just stuff them on the side away from the fire. On a long cook they will dry out.