Kicking the charcoal habit

[ncboman]

"Pick up some charcoal while you're there."

so I made my way to the stack of bagged charcoal in the groc store. $6, $8, $12 ,,, man, I thought oil was expensive. :hmmmm2:

I pondered a bit, guessing how many meals a bag of this stuff will cook. Finally I just passed.

Once back home I googled, just to see ...

http://www.barbecuen.com/wood.htm

hmmmm,,,

went out to the firewood stash with the chainsaw and sliced off some 4" bucks of pecan, red oak, and maple. Grabbed the splittin maul and wasn't long I had a good pile of chunks just right for the grill/smoker.

FREE, FREE, FREE

no more expensive charcoal for me.

and as a bonus, the food tasted MUCH better. :biggrin:

The best things in life are free. ,,, well, almost. :proud:

[SeniorCoot]

I use local apple/ cherry/ maple chips and some mesquite i bring back from Texas, same as you did for most smoking/ cooking but get saw dust(free0 in big bags from buddy at saw mill- for big loads of brisket or pork ribs/shoulder I still use charcoal in my large barrel cooker--gives steady- indirect, heat and can cook 6 briskets at a time.

[Altjaeger]

I carry a 1 gal zip lock bag for cooking on the river the first night because you never know what kind of wood you will find in drift wood. At home I have a good supply of oak and hickory.

[apples]

I never thought of using wood chips directly on the grill. I've smoked with chips many times of course, but except for the odd wienie roast, never put meat directly over a wood fire. I think I'll grab a chainsaw and go carve up a few old trees I've been meaning to clear! They've already been downed, just need to turn them into fuel.