If the charcoal has a high moisture content it'll burn inconsistently with temps going up & down a little in a closed cooker, or it will have a slow startup followed by an intense burst of heat in an open grill.
To solve the problem take the charcoal inside the house for a couple days and leave top of the bag open so the moisture can evaporate. High moisture is common in the winter, especially when the store employees don't know how easily charcoal absorbs moisture.
Another problem could be having too much dust or small pieces keeping the air from flowing or the heat from transferring to the lumps nearby. If your using a chimney to start the charcoal, before you light it, shake the chimney til no more charcoal falls out the bottom. That removes anything under ~1\2 inch.
After the charcoal is good and dry again you'll need to keep it away from anything that condensates or vaporizes water. Keep the bags off any concrete or dirt floors, by storing them on a pallet or wood runners so the air can move freely around them. When your not taking charcoal out of the bag the top of the bag has to stay closed or it'll drink water rapidly. I always roll the top down and set a chunk of wood on top to insure it don't unroll itself, then I cover it with a flat, empty, bag for extra protection.
Topic: Lets talk lump (Read 1089 times)
