Testing Weber briquettes

[xaugievike]

Got my free sample of Weber briquettes. Putting them to the test now. I'll add my thoughts later.

[HJS]

Nice. Let's see if they're worth the price

[NortheastAl]

Curious to see your results. Received mine on Friday. Considering I've already purchased and used a bag it was a welcome package. I find it to be great charcoal. It burns hot and long. Less ash than BBK.

[Jerod Broussard]

Hardwood briquets are the best for smoking. Looooong burn times.

[Histrix]

Worth a read:

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/kingsford-long-burning-weber-hardwood-charcoal-burn-test-2017.html

[dtassinari]

Thanks! Great info.

[Danjohnston949]

Histrix, Just What dtassinari Said! 👍👍👍👍👍 I have been Pondering this Very Question❓ 😚🤔😳🤔😏
From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan

[dtassinari]

Curious as well. But then again my interest is purely academic, since here in Italy I can't find either Kingsford or hardwood Weber, and all I have are regular Weber "briketts" imported from Germany at a fairly ridiculous price #grumble

[David Parrish]

Worth a read:

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/ki...test-2017.html

I'm not a fan of the uncontrolled burn test. It's not a useless test, but aside from determining ash production and temps reached it doesn't do much good. I really wish he'd done the controlled burn test to see which charcoal had burned the longest.

I do agree with his conclusion that Kingsford Professional is good for cookers that need low ash production. I use that stuff in my Egg with great success.

[xaugievike]

Alright...my very unscientific notes from a reverse sear session with a filet and my sns.

the briquettes are noticeably larger and "heavier" (more dense). I took some coals out of my initial lighting strategy (usually 25 to start), down to 18.

That initial fire was also hotter. I was a vent jockey for a bit trying to dial the fire down...but it did eventually get to where I want it.

I did not notice an appreciable difference in the time it took for a chimney to get going.

I did notice appreciably less ash when I moved my lit chimneys to dump them, and when I added the second load to the SNS for the sear.

The odor of the igniting/burning coals is different than KBB....I convinced myself I could smell maple in there. I tried to have my wife come out and stand in the smoke to second the opinion....she rolled her eyes at me so hard her head snapped back.

the steak was phenomenal, btw. Came out perfectly and some shrimp I tossed on for the wife were equally well received.

Its gonna be a hard sell to pull me off KBB at their price point....especially when I can load up at the $10 sales.if it was $10 for a bag it'd be a different debate. I may buy a bag of Weber in a few weeks when I have a brisket cook planned to see what I think about it for longer cooks.

[Histrix]

I've tried a few of the Kingsford products and some other brands of bricks but I still haven't found any of them to be worth the premium price over good ole KBB.

[j_keegan]

Your point re: amount of time to get them going was the main difference I noticed. I usually use KBB, & they light up with little effort & quickly most of the time in my chimney. These suckers were a little more pernicious... But once they were lit they performed well. I won't be switching from KBB.

[1lightning]

what is KBB i'm using kingsford original till i can find some pro.looking to change for longer burns just put a shoulder on 15 min ago looking forward to pulled pork sandwich tonight

[xaugievike]

KBB = Kingsford blue bag

[JeffJ]

I haven't come across Weber charcoal at any store in my area.

[rodkeary]

The local Home Depot here in Vancouver, B.C.

Weber charcoal (20#) - $23.88
KBB (15.4#) - $9.88

Twice the price for the Weber brand. Yikes!

[btuckertx]

I used my sample bag to smoke some baby backs on my Weber 22.5 kettle. Burned long and hot. Haven't looked at the pricing, but would use them again if they're competitive. Only issue I had was they are incredibly dirty. Completely covered my hands in wrist in charcoal dust just fishing out 12 of them.

Just checked the local Home Depot: $19.99 for a 20# bag. Good thing the bag is rain resistant.

Guess I'll be buying KBB on sale for the foreseeable future.

[HouseHomey]

Free fuel??? what?

[dshaffes]

I received my sample bag 2 weeks ago. Used them in my Performer with the SnS to cook a flank steak. Very impressed with the quality, burn temp and flavor that they imparted on the relatively quick cook. My son declared "best steak ever".

[1SG LouK]

Bought a bag of Weber at HD on friend's recommendation.. Did two racks of SLC ribs yesterday in my Kettle. The briquets did burn hotter than the Kingsford blue bag, but once I got the temp dialed in, the cook went fine. Frau K enjoyed the ribs, declaring success!