Heads Up - Kingsford Sale @ Lowe's

[73mountaineer]

20lb twin packs, $9.99

I missed out on the Home Depot sale earlier this year, but I grabbed 8 bags today.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_361268-308-4...-_-charcoal_sv

[davecmu]

Are there any guys here who smoke low and slow with these standard briquettes? I use the Competition ones that don't have any chemical additives or fillers because I don't want to risk having any long exposure to a chemical additive introduced to my smoking medium. Could be overkill, I suppose. Anyone here use these in a smoker and not experience any ill effects?

[73mountaineer]

I do, and I know of at least one other member here with a serious smoking outfit that uses plain ol' Kingsford as well.

Here are all of the ingredients in Kingsford briquettes, courtesy of virtualweberbullet.com:

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/charcoal.html

Here is the official ingredient list for Kingsford Charcoal Briquets from a company press release, including the purpose of each ingredient in parentheses. The explanation after each ingredient is my own.

• Wood char (Heat source)
  This is simply the wood by-products I mentioned above, burned down into charcoal—almost pure carbon. In the case of Kingsford, they use woods like fir, cedar, and alder that are local to the regions in which they operate—Burnside and Summer Shade, Kentucky; Glen, Mississippi; Belle, Missouri; Springfield, Oregon; and Beryl and Parsons, West Virginia.
  
• Mineral char (Heat source)
  This is a geologically young form of coal with a soft, brown texture. It helps Kingsford burn hotter and longer than a plain charcoal briquette. As with the wood, Kingsford heats this material in an oxygen-controlled environment, eliminating water, nitrogen, and other elements, leaving behind—almost pure carbon.
  
• Mineral carbon (Heat source)
  This is anthracite coal, the old, hard, black stuff once commonly used for home heating. It helps Kingsford burn hotter and longer than a plain charcoal briquette. It's already 86-98% pure carbon, but once again, Kingsford processes it in an oxygen-controlled environment, leaving behind—almost pure carbon.
  
  What exactly is coal, you ask? "Nasty stuff," some folks say. Well, coal is a fossil fuel, most of which was formed more than 300 million years ago. To make a really, really long story short: Plants and trees died, sank to the bottom of swampy areas, accumulated into many layers, then geologic processes covered the stuff with sand, clay, and rock, and the combination of heat and pressure converted it into what we call coal.
  
  So, coal is really old plant material that can be processed into almost pure carbon. Charcoal is wood that is burned down into almost pure carbon. Not much difference, in my book. End of coal lesson.
  
• Limestone (Uniform visual ashing)
  Limestone creates the pretty, white coating of ash you see after lighting the briquettes. Limestone is a sedimentary rock consisting of calcium carbonate—also found in egg shells, antacids, and calcium dietary supplements.
  
• Starch (Binder)
  As mentioned above, starch is used to hold briquettes together, and is found in corn, wheat, potatoes, and rice.
• Borax (Press release)
  Borax is used in small amounts to help briquettes release from the molds. But isn't Borax a detergent? Well, yes, it is, but it's actually a naturally-occurring mineral that is non-toxic in the quantities we're talking about in a briquette. It consists of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. You already know what oxygen and water are. Sodium is a common element found in lots of stuff we eat, including salt. Boron is an element that is necessary in small quantities for plant growth. Borax is commonly used in cosmetics and medicines.
  
• Sodium nitrate (Ignition aid)
  This is the same stuff used to cure meat. According to Robert L. Wolke, professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, sodium nitrate gives off oxygen when heated, helping the briquettes to light faster.
• Sawdust (Ignition aid)
  Sawdust burns quickly, helping the briquettes to light faster.

Did you notice there was no mention of "petroleum by-products" or "toxic waste"? What about "fillers"? Looks like every ingredient is there for a purpose—to improve the performance of the product.

My message to you is this: Don't let people scare you away from briquettes, Kingsford or any other brand. They're a perfectly good product to use for making great barbecue!

To each their own, but my personal opinion is that the "chemical additives" aspect is way overblown.

[Flynnster]

I stocked up at home depot a few days ago. $7 for almost 30 pounds. Cooked on it for a day and to be honest, the smoke made my eyes and lungs hurt. Kinda sucked breathing for the evening. I will probably not be using it again and will go back to lump charcoal or find all natural brickiest.

[tattewell]

The only kingsford product I wouldnt use is those quick light ones that are soaked in something.. im not gonna say what it is, but im fairly certain its not natural...

The only reason I wont use Kingsford in my smoker is the amount of ash they give off... I love em in my kettle though, fantastic flavour and a consistant burn. Usually I just use lump though as thats what I keep around for the smoker... and its more readilly available on the German economy.

[HoosierTrooper]

The standard blue bag K is all I use for smoking, with a few pieces of wood for flavor. I like the consistent burn rate and temps from it.

Are there any guys here who smoke low and slow with these standard briquettes? I use the Competition ones that don't have any chemical additives or fillers because I don't want to risk having any long exposure to a chemical additive introduced to my smoking medium. Could be overkill, I suppose. Anyone here use these in a smoker and not experience any ill effects?

[HoosierTrooper]

To each their own, but my personal opinion is that the "chemical additives" aspect is way overblown.

I couldn't agree more.

[BingeAndPurge]

The standard blue bag K is all I use for smoking, with a few pieces of wood for flavor. I like the consistent burn rate and temps from it.

This is why I switched as well. Lump burns hotter, but faster. I much prefer adding coals every 2 1/2 hours than every hour. I still prefer lump for direct grilling, though. I do notice that briquette smell as the coals start to catch when doing the minion method, which I always wonder if it affects the taste, but roll with it anyway.

[Commander Quan]

Thanks. I picked up 120 lbs. That should get me through the summer.

[73mountaineer]

Thanks. I picked up 120 lbs. That should get me through the summer.

Since you put it that way, I guess I bought 160lbs...no wonder my wife laughed at me!

[Commander Quan]

I was going to get one more but I had my golf clubs in the hatch of the Mazda 3. I thought about going back tomorrow and getting more.

[Wid]

I use it all the time in my WSM. I've tried all kinds of different brands and the Kingsford is as good as any. How can ya beat it when it's on sale.

[Lucius]

Are there any guys here who smoke low and slow with these standard briquettes? I use the Competition ones that don't have any chemical additives or fillers because I don't want to risk having any long exposure to a chemical additive introduced to my smoking medium. Could be overkill, I suppose. Anyone here use these in a smoker and not experience any ill effects?

Certainly no acute affects.

Although I'm growing weary of the tremendous amount of ash Kingsford leaves behind.

[davecmu]

Thanks, guys. This looks like a good deal for enough to get me through smoking duty for quite awhile (I have a Weber propane for the quick grilling dinners during the week). You gotta appreciate the honest feedback from guys who really use this stuff (and have dedicated smoking sheds, right Hoosier?).

[mayhem]

The standard blue bag K is all I use for smoking, with a few pieces of wood for flavor. I like the consistent burn rate and temps from it.

Me too, although I will use Kroger's store brand when it's on sale - pretty much the same stuff.
I use all the ash in my vegetable garden.

[whavens]

I use it in my smoker and my kettle grill. I stock up when it goes on sale, so it looks like I have to go to Lowe's to grab some more.

[showard]

I use standard Kingsford in my Weber smoker because it gives me very consistent temps. I use lump in the grill because it burns hotter than briquettes and doesn't leave a huge amount of clay-like crap behind after it burns.

[jd_1138]

I went to Lowe's yesterday and the 40lb's for $10 wasn't available, but I did get the 15 pounds of Stubb's for $8.50. And I bought a Kingsford charcoal chimney starter for $9.99. The Weber one was $15. This will save me money in the future, because the Instant Light Kingsford Charcoal that I usually get costs twice as much as regular charcoal. I used it last night for the first time, and it worked great. Less chemicals in the mix, now. I should've bought one years ago.

[73mountaineer]

Chimney starters are the bee's knees!

[Commander Quan]

A weed torch is only $40 at Harbor Freight. I've thought about getting one to use instead of my chimney. Then I'll maniacally laugh when someone tells me how much faster it is to start their gas grill than a charcoal grill.