Summer's here and I'm looking forward to grilled food (when it stops raining....). Usually one uses shop bought charcoal for this. But the thought of using some of our firewood has struck me. Do any of you guys have experience with doing this on/in a kettle-type grill? Is it doable? And how long do we have to wait for the embers?
Yup, I use chunks of wood quite often in my Webber. I split my smoking wood in smaller pieces to begin with (3-4" splits). If I'm going to cook directly over wood I will cut them down to 2-3" pieces with a miter saw. I light the chunks in a chimney starter just like charcoal. I normally wait till the fire from the wood dies down before I add meat. Normally I sear over the wood and then indirect cook to finish everything off.
Just do it! My only difficulty is re-stoking for s'mores after dinner because I have to mess around with moving the grates.
Another option, if you want, is buying one of those little stainless steel chip boxes and setting it on top of your coals or even above your burner in your gas grille..... Put some chunks or damp shavings of your favorite wood in the box. I just forego the entire grille and use the firepit for cooking....lol Here's some ranch burgers we flamed up last evening over some Applewood splits. Man were they ever good!!
I use "chunked" firewood in my grill/smoker, either the way he who has chicken legs, Genius, does it or toss some on top of store bought charcoal(smoking). I ruined a ham once by using nothing but cherry wood, the flavor was too strong.
Could you please stop posting pics of your pit???? I really want to make one of those but I have zero time... I can taste the food from the pictures
Thanks! I'll give it a go then. Just need to buy some sort of kettle grill! Sent from my iPhone so pardon any autocorrect bollocks
I prefer the bigger charcoal grills with the multiple air vents, feed door and adjustable height for the coal bed. Got mine for about $50 at the end of the season a few years ago.
I always mix the two - hardwood lump charcoal for fuel, and firewood (chunks) for flavor. I tried straight cherry one time when I was out of charcoal, and I didn't really like the result. The fire was initially way too intense for cooking, and by the time it off-gassed, there wasn't enough fuel left to complete the cook. Your mileage may vary with another type of grill however (I have an Egg). Pure firewood is better suited to open pit or offset firebox style cookers, in my opinion. I think you will find it difficult to control the fire in a kettle cooker.
I will throw in an occasional chunk of wood with the briquets but the only time I use all wood is with the indirect smoker. Home Depot usually puts Kingsford on sale around Memorial day weekend. You get the plastic wrapped double bag (17 lbs?) for $10. A good time to stock up if you like using charcoal! I found this, looks like its current and a great deal! Kingsford 18.6 lb. Charcoal Briquettes (2-Bag)-4460031239 - The Home Depot
As far as money allows, I can steer away from a kettle grill. This type is available here; Buy Landmann 31401 Dorado Charcoal BBQ | John Lewis I might go for this one...
I think you will really appreciate the extra features on that. A nice big feed door makes life so much easier.
I use only firewood for grilling, also I save charred chunks from previous fires to put in the grill. I have good success building a good bed of cooking coals by making an upside down fire, Google it.
Hasn't been much of summer weather here. Lots of rain and and low temperatures. No barbecue weather that's for sure! I'll be looking for a barbecue on sale when the wonderful fall comes around. Sent from my iPhone so pardon any autocorrect bollocks
Nothing but wood goes in this bad boy! Only charcoal to start and get some hot coals! Get some hot coals, throw wood on, "repeat" as needed. To give you a size comparison, that Turkey is about 18lbs
Oh, like you're some kinda welder/smoker, eh Dave? Love the setup. You have a thread on that build? My neighbor wants to use a 275 gal. tank on a smoker build.....
