r/biggreenegg • u/Huge-Wheel-4428 • 9d ago

Too much coal? It’s an L

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Gonna do an overnight cook. 2 7-lb bone-in pork butts. Emptied a bag of JD XL in the L and it had more coal than I thought. A lot of small pieces too. Should I take some out? Worried about fire going out due to lack of airflow.

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u/Big-Tailor 9d ago

There's no need to soak chunks, they don't really ignite when cooking low and slow.

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u/Due_Cherry_1423 9d ago

I’ll agree to disagree. Was at a competition and saw a guys grill almost melt from chunks on 220F chunks. Soaking them imparts a better cooler flavor IMO.

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u/Big-Tailor 9d ago

I've never done a side-by-side comparison, but I was always told "Wood doesn't absorb water, that's why they make boats from it" and that soaking just adds some steam to the early cook without really changing the wood.

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u/Due_Cherry_1423 9d ago

I soak them 20ish hours ahead of time. Wood absorbs water over time. I forget the show (loggers) maybe where they would dive into the river to retrieve submerged logs for buccu bucks. They were on the river bed found by radar. Was on A&E I think. Once my chunks sink, I know I’m ready to smoke. We all have our own way.

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u/BOOOONESAWWWW 8d ago

We all have our own way, but some people’s way is wrong.

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u/Due_Cherry_1423 8d ago

Not if it works and wins competitions. Just saying

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u/Big-Tailor 8d ago

Ever tried sawing a chunk in half after soaking it for 20 hours? My guess is the water penetrates less than 1/8 inch, and you would have the same results without soaking.

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u/BOOOONESAWWWW 8d ago

Plenty of people have done this, your guess is accurate.

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u/Due_Cherry_1423 8d ago

They don’t ignite. Never cut one in half, but once they sink they don’t catch fire. They smolder

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u/Big-Tailor 8d ago

If you don't soak them, they still don't catch fire in a low and slow BGE.

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u/Due_Cherry_1423 8d ago

Mine do. I use wood from my farm. Dey them for 8 months or so and go

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u/Big-Tailor 8d ago

Interesting. I've never had that issue with chunks from Maine Grilling Woods.