No one here buys charcoal, right?

I bought one bag in my life and feel like I got ripped off. Charcoal is just half burned wood. Since the gas stove rotted away. I figured why not build a fire out of some sticks, brush, and splitter trash. It worked very well. So far I've cooked over wood 4 times this summer. Does any one buy charcoal? Or is your wood too valuable?

 

I buy and use charcoal in my smoker. Wood wouldn't give the low/slow temperature that charcoal does without constant management.

 

I have been buying charcoal for decades. I highly prefer it to LP.

 

Why not use wood?

 

This is my only complaint with my stick burner , a lot of baby-sitting with wood but the end product is worth the time and effort.
I do use a half of chimney of briquets to get it going and then just wood.

Used to use charcoal in my old vertical brinkman smoker.

 

There is more of a smokey taste associated with using wood for grilling. A little bit, fine. But not appreciated when it is overpowering.

 

Henry Ford was a genius.

No fancy cooking really for me, so just use LP. By fancy I mean rib racks or something of that nature. I leave that stuff to the professionals. LP is fine for steaks, burgs, dogs and brats which covers the gambit for me mostly.

 

Tripod grill over a good bed of coals was how i was shown. Can throw in some green sticks of whatever wood floats your boat for a bit of smoke while grilling. Would much rather have the taste of wood vs anything else, privided its the right type of wood. Not poplar, cottonwood, or anything similar.

 

This man uses wood for cooking and I've not seen anything that he's made that I wouldn't devour. He's a miracle worker with some coals and a dutch oven.

Cooking Woods.... Everything you need to know - Kent Rollins

 

Looks like some good info there. Have to dig into it a little when I get some time.
Thanks.

 

I use charcoal for steaks, burgers, dogs, brats ect. I put wood with it for smoking for certain other meats like ribs, fish. I use a pellet "grill" for pizza or other outdoor baking.

 

I figured this was going to be making your own charcoal. One of the many things I want to do, but just haven't found the time for......

 

My OWB is a charcoal factory. I just pull from there.

In the past I've put a 30 gallon drum filled with hardwood pieces inside a bottomless 55 gallon drum and burned scraps of wood in the space between the drums. Once the inside drum stops smoking your charcoal is done. Have to let it sit overnight before opening the lid on the 30.

 

We grill with charcoal 1-2 weekly in the warm weather and I do buy it. I have tried making my own coals from scraps but too much work.

I start the fire, grate of charcoal over the flame and ready in a few minutes. We have a barrel type grill/smoker.

 

Very cool set up!! So how about pine or spruce or cedar for cooking?

 

Not good from what i was taught. Only hardwoods. Haven't tried them myself so i don't KNOW.

I used an unknown hardwood species last time camping. While the burgers and bratts were very edible, once i got home and cooked the leftovers over some oak, there was a noticeable difference.

 

I consider myself somewhat of an expert on dutch ovens myself.

 

I dare you to add some coals.

 

I only use wood.

 

That's how my old man is and has been since i can remember. Charcoal and lp taste weird once you know better. They all have their place tho, imo.

Hardwood=taste
Lp=convenience
Charcoal=campsite or park