Vent: My smoke session went sideways when I misjudged the coal bed.

I let the coals burn too low before adding more, and the temperature dropped fast. What's your go-to method for keeping a steady fire?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_dylan1d ago

Honestly, a totally steady fire is overrated. Letting the temp swing a bit can give you better smoke flavor on something like a pork shoulder. I usually just dump a big pile of lit coal in and let it do its thing, peaks and valleys included.

shane32721h ago

My last brisket cook had the same coal bed issue. I feel your pain, it's so annoying when the temp drops fast. I saw @the_dylan saying swings can help flavor, but I need a steady fire for peace of mind. My go-to is keeping a charcoal chimney going on the side. I add a few fresh lit coals every 45 minutes to keep things even. It takes focus, but it beats a cold smoker lol.

nathancraig17h ago

You just dump in a big pile of lit coal without any plan? That sounds like a sure way to burn your food or starve the fire. I could never trust my cook to that much chaos.

ivan73315h ago

Yeah, shane327 has it right with that charcoal chimney on the side... I fought the same fight for so long. My fire would just die out and I'd be stuck waiting for a recovery. Now I keep that little chimney going and add a small scoop of fresh hot coals about every hour. It's not perfect but it stops those big scary drops... lets me relax a little instead of babysitting the temp every five minutes.