Fire craft
Fuel guide
What to burn, how much, and how to light it without chemicals.
Fire craft
What to burn, how much, and how to light it without chemicals.
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What to burn
British lumpwood lights fast, burns hot and gives a clean smoke. Use it for grilling and for anything you want to taste of the fire.
Kiln-dried oak under 15% moisture for a bright flame and a hot stone. Split small so it catches quickly.
Oak and hickory for beef and pork, cherry and apple for poultry and fish. One or two chunks on the coals is plenty.
How much
| Cook | Kettle 57 | Kamado | Fuel needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burgers | About 1 kg | About 0.7 kg | One full chimney |
| A chicken | About 1.2 kg | About 0.8 kg | One full chimney |
| Pulled pork, 10 hours | Not suited | About 3 kg, one load | A full basket plus a top-up |
Lighting
Stand a chimney starter on the grate and fill it with lumpwood.
Sit two wood wool firelighters underneath, then light them.
Give it 15 to 20 minutes, until the top coals are grey at the edges.
Pour the coals, then bank them to one side for a hot zone and a cool zone.
