BBQ - Charcoal Briquettes vs. Lump Hardwood

Lump Hardwood are pieces of wood pre-burned to create charcoal. They're all natural, no additives, burn hotter and faster than briquettes, add flavor to meats and are more expensive than briquettes

Briquettes are a convenient, inexpensive source of fuel. The general consensus is that briquettes tend to burn longer and more consistently than lump charcoal, but not quite as hot. The consistency of briquettes is due to the fact that they are an engineered product.

Briquettes often contain borax as a binder and nitrate to make them light. The key is to purchase only natural briquettes without additives. Read the label and know the ingredients that you prefer to either deal with or not.

I prefer lump charcoal over briquettes, food cooked with lump charcoal simply tastes better. Lump charcoal has a distinct, natural flavor whereas charcoal briquettes contain various types of "fillers" that are not naturally found in wood.

You make the choice

BBQ - Minion Method

The concept behind the Minion method is simple. Place a small number of lit coals on top of a pile of unlit briquettes and control your temperature by adjusting your vent(s). The lit coals will ignite the unlit coals slowly, allowing you to cook for long periods of time without having to add new coals as well as controlling your temperature since it is easier to bring a fire up to a certain temperature rather than try to bring it down. You really only want to use this method for slow and low cooking (225-300 degrees), not for 325-350 degree cooks.