Burger flare ups ...... (pics added!)

[Cookingmama]

Do you have them?

I can usually tame them....but this week I had an awful grease fire.  Flames .....soot....awful.  I will try to get pics up.  Ol platinum probably up for its yearly cleaning!

I usually just do 80/20 for best flavor.  But I don't know if I should do 87/13 ...85/15. Or a mixture of 85/15 and 80/20.   

I pile my coals in the center and then have the burgers hang around singing kumbayah.  Then alternate and move as needed.  I cover them for a bit and it's when I uncover that things go nuts.

Suggestions.......

[Idahawk]

Try putting all your coals on one side as opposed to the middle , leaving you a safe zone , also it doesn't take to many coals to cook a burger how much are you using ?

[Troy]

keep the lid closed.

keep the burgers in batches. i usually do 4 over the coals, 8 in the safe zone.
i rotate them, searing only one side of each burger at a time.
usually by the end, the last batch doesn't get much of a sear - but they all taste great.

[Eastex]

Pretty much the same here, coals to one side and not that many either. I think I had some kind of subliminal thing going in where I expected burgers, brats, and hot dogs to all be cooked and turned out fast. I guess fast food will condition you that way. Now I slow down and take more time with everything I cook and, to my mind anyway, everything's tasting better

[1buckie]

Do you have them?

I can usually tame them....but this week I had an awful grease fire.  Flames .....soot....awful.  I will try to get pics up.  Ol platinum probably up for its yearly cleaning!

I usually just do 80/20 for best flavor.  But I don't know if I should do 87/13 ...85/15. Or a mixture of 85/15 and 80/20.   

I pile my coals in the center and then have the burgers hang around singing kumbayah.  Then alternate and move as needed.  I cover them for a bit and it's when I uncover that things go nuts.

Suggestions.......

yeah, if you've been going heavy, there can be grease buildups, esp. if you're using the outer edge like that, which is cool 'cause you got the hang of it good !!!!
But, more area to drip to.......usually can't happen w/ just one cooks worth tho....

I'd just wipe it out with an old handtowel & some iso alcohol, let dry completely & drive on.....

PS:       Possible Tagline Alert !!!   

"I pile my coals in the center and then have the burgers hang around singing kumbayah."

[Cookingmama]

I close the lid as well.  Maybe it's the amount I'm making.  I grill 20 burgers.....at the least! 

I will try with the coals to one side today.

[Cookingmama]

This is how it started....

[Cookingmama]

Little bit of smoke , but things werent bad yet.

[Cookingmama]

Things got hot!

[Cookingmama]

Close up of my sorry a** sausage and dogs.  Steam......soot....just awful.  They were ok after a rinse though! 

[Cookingmama]

@Idahawk.... Not a full chimney.... Maybe 3/4. 

[Idahawk]

I use a performer as my main cooker and those baskets don't hold much , maybe a half a chimney , it's plenty of heat to grill a burger

[1911Ron]

CM, I have the solution for you, get another kettle and use both! Wala fixed

[Jeff]

I agree with Ron...you need another kettle...or a 26!!!!!!!!

[CharliefromLI]

I know this is an old thread  but after some serious flare up issues yesterday I took this advise on here and made some excellent burgers today.