Anyone cooking with Hardwood Lump charcoal?

[quadrafire]

If so what are your favorite brands........
Also maybe tell me some good and bad things about them.

I have used

Big Green Egg brand------ Lights easy, burns hot, tastes pretty good.........Don't like the cost
Cowboy-----lights fairly easy, burns good, tastes like crap......... Dirt cheap
Wicked Good------Difficult to light, cannot get it to burn as hot without a fan, taste is good....... moderate price
Primos------ lights easy, burns hot, tastes good.......moderate price
A couple of others I can't remember

[scottcrb]

tag. gonna pull the new webber 26" one touch gold out this weekend.

[quadrafire]

Another thought. How bout lighting ideas.

I frequently use a tightly twisted paper towel, lightly soaked with olive/veg oil. Place under a couple pieces of lump and light the ends. Works great on the easy lighting lump.
I picked up an propane weed burner at a garage sale and hook that to a 5gal propane tank. That is the ticket for lighting the difficult stuff.

I also have an old fan from a downdraft oven that I use to "fan" the flames to get a roaring flame.

[quadrafire]

NRAforlife will have some good ideas here I'll bet 

[arees]

Check out the Lump Charcoal Database: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm

I only use lump charcoal in my Green Egg.

[NRA4LIFE]

I've tried almost everything you listed with very mixed results.  I now use only one, Lazzari Mesquite.  I can get 40 lb bags for about $23.  Good flavor and very hot burning.  It has huge hunks too so it burns a long time.

[quadrafire]

I've tried almost everything you listed with very mixed results.  I now use only one, Lazzari Mesquite.  I can get 40 lb bags for about $23.  Good flavor and very hot burning.  It has huge hunks too so it burns a long time.

I'm gonna make a point to get some next time I'm over there. That is a great price. Does it light pretty well?

[quadrafire]

Check out the Lump Charcoal Database: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lump.htm

I only use lump charcoal in my Green Egg.

Thanks arees

I'm using the egg too.

[NRA4LIFE]

It lights very well.  I use one of those cheap electric charcoal starters. 

[wafisherman]

It lights very well.  I use one of those cheap electric charcoal starters.

 

[arees]

It lights very well.  I use one of those cheap electric charcoal starters.

 

I also use the cheap electric charcoal starters and keep a couple on hand.  If I get distracted while starting my Green Egg I find that the starters do not like 500 degrees.  I don't lost very many any more, but I like to have an extra around.

[newbs55]

I also use the Lazzari. For Starting I use a chimney style starter that sits perfectly on the propane side burner on my duel fuel Char Grill. Hot coals in about 10 minutes.

[NRA4LIFE]

Arees, good point.  You need to keep tabs on the fire starting.  The handle on my starter is nothing more than a solidified blob of once molten plastic.

[washelkhunter]

Never have but should try it. I've been happy with Stubbs briquettes. I like the tip of getting it going with the propane burner.

[Rider]

I've cooked with various charcoals. For my big pit charcoal is little more than a fire starter. One 20# bag to get the fire going so I keep it simple with Kingsford Blue. Get it one sale at Lowes and Home Depot in a couple weeks for 2 20# for $10. Once the fire is rolling the pit will shift over to burning splits & rounds.

I also use Lazzuri which I can get at Restaurant Depot. Not a big fan because the lump isn't a consistent size and doesn't burn at a consistent rate. But it'll work okay in the bullet after breaking up the large pieces. But I've found my bullet runs just fine on Kingsford and chunks.

My other pit is a pellet so I use BBQers Delight or Green Mountain Grills depending on the cook. 

Propane weed burner is the way to go. Used to run with 2 chimneys starting on a Camp Chef. Chimneys kept falling apart after 6 or 7 rounds. Fifteen minutes of the weed burner and done. It is also great for pre-heating the cooking chambers and cleaning the grates.