Charcoal lovers...

[bwana]

Do you prefer lump charcoal or briquettes?

Personally I prefer briquettes, especially for longer cooking times.

 

[Binary_Bark]

Prefer to use wood, but if i cant i use briquettes

 

[Polymathic]

Whats the difference?
But I personally prefer the harder coals while everybody else I know likes the softer coal because it lights easier. (Not sure if this is the thing you were referring to)

 

[Pegging]

Whatever is on special.

 

[Francois Marais]

Depends on the use case. In a normal braai, lump or charcoal. Weber, briquettes.

 

[bwana]

Whats the difference?

People claim the lump charcoal is more "pure" than the briquettes. While lump is made from slowly burning wood in a low oxygen environment, briquettes, while processed in a similar manner, might contain other things such as sawdust.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I find the lumps don’t breathe as well and therefore struggle to get going, often also killing the initial fire.

So briquettes all the way.

 

[backstreetboy]

Lump charcoal with some small wood pieces to get it going.

 

[RonSwanson]

It depends on what I am braaing. Beef gets charcoal, chicken gets briquettes, lamb doesn't care either way.

 

[Suspect99]

Briquettes in the Weber. Charcoal tends to get very hot in there and doesn't last as long.
Briquettes stay at the optimal temp for longer

 

[Cray]

Prefer lump but usually if there are a lot of people braaiing briquettes are more practical.

 

[Drifter]

Lump and wood combo.

 

[Cray]

I find the lumps don’t breathe as well and therefore struggle to get going, often also killing the initial fire.

Yeah, crappy lump charcoal sucks, especially if there is a lot of dust. The being said there is a local producer called Kenmere in KZN - always big pieces of charcoal so you don't get the issues of it not being able to breathe.

 

[Hamster]

Really depends on what I'm doing and what "braai" I'm using.

So wood is the absolute winner if we're in this for a couple of hours. The first bag of wood is basically offered to the fire gods to set the mood Problem is there are a lot of rest ruin it especially in sectional titles so cannot always use it.

Eco Logs are great. Probably my preference because of the heat and longevity of the coals they make.They produce very little smoke and the only "downside" is that you can spend 90 minutes waiting for the right coals to develop.

Decent quality lump charcoal works great for a quick braai. I have two "restaurant quality" bags at home at all times.

Briquettes...when I'm forced to. So if we're smoking something in the Weber or if we do anything in the baby Weber (because if it's **** airflow it's easier to build an "air passage" with briquettes).

...and gas if as a "ready in 20 mins" backup or if we are cooking chicken and not smoking it.

I'm spoilt for choice . I reckon in the practice I use:

Eco Logs and Lump Charcoal the most.
Briquettes and gas next most.
And rarely wood but only because I'm oppressed by a communist body corporate.

 

[Hamster]

I find the lumps don’t breathe as well

Woolworths sell these black bags of charcoal which contain big pieces making the breathing problem less of an issue.

 

[netstrider]

I onlg use briquettes when making potjie. Othwerwise wood.

Even then I will have a wood fire beside it just because.

 

[bokka1]

I prefer the lump charcoal, either Namchar or Woolies.

BUT I braai with wood 90% of the time.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I prefer the lump charcoal, either Namchar or Woolies.

BUT I braai with wood 90% of the time.

I was about to say...what is this charcoal nonsense, I thought you were a real man.

 

[bwana]

I prefer the lump charcoal, either Namchar or Woolies.

BUT I braai with wood 90% of the time.

Wood is nice but Webers prefer charcoal.

 

[Snyper564]

Woolworths sell these black bags of charcoal which contain big pieces making the breathing problem less of an issue.

common misconception is that WW is expensive, they sell some of my favr briquettes and charcoal and often sel 2X5Kg bags for R100, lol almost fell over when I say charla was R89 at spar for 5kg!