On 9-Apr-2009, "Gil Faver" > wrote:

> reading the various posts in this tread, can somebody summarize what we
> should be looing for and looking to avoid, generically speaking?

Here's more then you ever wanted to know about charcoal. This guy
has put an unbelievable amount of effort into grading charcoal for the
BBQ community.

Basically you're looking for chacoal made from real unprocessed
wood. It will look like real wood that has been baked until black
because that is what it is. It should not look like black used lumber.
It should be made from some kind of hardwood, never soft pine
or some such. Controversy rages about various types of wood,
but IMNSHO they all cook down to pretty much the same thing
when they run through a proper kiln. Some manufacturers are
more careful then others to exclude junk like rocks and dirt.
Some lump gets handled too roughly and much is lost to tiny pieces
and dust. Keep your eye out for lump that is still on the original
shipping pallet. That's about your best chance to get lump that
hasn't been bashed about too much.

Once those minimum wage store clerks get to throwing it around
all bets are off.

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpindexpage.htm?bag

--
Brick WA7ERO (Youth is wasted on young people)