Charcoal and heat beads

Charcoal cookers (such as Weber Kettles)
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2yackers
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2016 6:12 pm
Location: Blaxland, Blue Mountains NSW

Charcoal and heat beads

Post by 2yackers »

G'day Folks
I have been cooking using heat beads in my Weber kettle for a while now and achieving the required temperatures for indirect cooking using 50 heaf beads fo a normal fire.
I would like to know what the equivalent number or amount of charcoal would need to be used to achieve a satisfactory result when cooking similar dishes to those when I have been using heat beads please.
I have read that using charcoal is superior to my usual method and I can't find ay comparison charts for amounts to use.
Regards
Bob
12x7
Posts: 772
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:32 pm

Charcoal and heat beads

Post by 12x7 »

It depends. Different charcoal burns differently. What sort/brand of charcoal were you thinking of using?
2yackers
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2016 6:12 pm
Location: Blaxland, Blue Mountains NSW

Re: Charcoal and heat beads

Post by 2yackers »

Don't know at this stage as I haven't carried out that much investigation.
I didn't realise it was that technical.
Once I hunt up some I will revisit the site and provide some more info.
Thanks for your enlightening response
Regards
Bob
Michael_Dunn
Posts: 156
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:11 pm

Re: Charcoal and heat beads

Post by Michael_Dunn »

charcoal will give you a better flavour, but beads are a consistent size,
about 40g each, so if you want a hotter fire you start with 60, colder 40 etc

It might be worth experimenting - get 40 beads alight in your baskets then
add a few bits of charcoal on top (about 400g = weight of 10 beads).

see how that goes, if OK, next time try less beads, more charcoal
2yackers
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2016 6:12 pm
Location: Blaxland, Blue Mountains NSW

Re: Charcoal and heat beads

Post by 2yackers »

Thanks for the suggestion and help
Regards
Bob
12x7
Posts: 772
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:32 pm

Re: Charcoal and heat beads

Post by 12x7 »

Here's some typical Australian Lump Charcoal you can buy.

bbqaroma.com/homepage/charcoal-bbqs/charcoal-fuel/

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Here's some Lump Charcoal from overseas

Emberpak - emberpak.com/
Good service and useful advice.
Their courier range is wide and ship as far as the Central Coast. They also ship interstate so it is worth a call if you don't live in Sydney.

Mangrove lump charcoal - From Thailand
20KG standard lump
20KG large lump
20KG large premium
Charcoal briquettes
10KG sawdust
10KG coconut
Compress sawdust log - from Malaysia
Charcoal chips - from Malaysia
White Charcoal/Binchotan - From Thailand

Standard lump
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If you are after uniform shape try this from Firebrand

https://firebrandbbq.com.au/product/3006/

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Some of it is smokeless, ashless, burns hot, burns long, some of it is cheap and other expensive.

Depending on what you want to do they add another dimension to your charcoal cooking experience.
snowfella
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 7:37 pm

Re: Charcoal and heat beads

Post by snowfella »

Just a side question here. Would Emberpak be worth a visit for picking some charcoal? Work just down the road so would be a welcome local spot for coal.
12x7
Posts: 772
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:32 pm

Charcoal and heat beads

Post by 12x7 »

Emberpak is definitely a good place to visit. You can get good advice on what to use for what type of BBQ you have.

Buying lump charcoal in the 20 kg bag is a cost effective way and far cheaper than buying from places like Bunnings or BBQ G.
snowfella
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 7:37 pm

Re: Charcoal and heat beads

Post by snowfella »

Cheers.
I'll keep it in mind for when I start running low, at the going consumption I likely have enough to last me 6-12 months out in the garage :lol: Raided the Masters sale the other weekend when they had a 10% off employee "special" .
12x7
Posts: 772
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:32 pm

Charcoal and heat beads

Post by 12x7 »

Masters has lots of good stuff on sale as they close down. Hard to leave without buying something.
Wayshorn
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2017 6:17 pm

Re: Charcoal and heat beads

Post by Wayshorn »

Hi,
you can go with Home Heat & BBQs products, check out the charcoal range here: http://homeheatbbq.com.au
Thanks
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