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Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: Jack Fate on November 06, 2015, 08:22:36 AM

Title: Charcoal cooking at high elevations
Post by: Jack Fate on November 06, 2015, 08:22:36 AM
Gave my daughter a diy vortex . She lives in Denver . I live in ohio & can easily reach 600 degrees plus . She can only get 350-400 with a full chiminey of kingsford blue and a little less with kingsford comp. Her snakes take about 20-30% more charcoal to achieve same temps as I get in Ohio . I guess it's simply the altitude and you just live with it ?

Any high altitude cookers out there?

& as always cheers
Title: Re: Charcoal cooking at high elevations
Post by: Idahawk on November 06, 2015, 08:37:46 AM

Quote from: Jack Fate on November 06, 2015, 08:22:36 AM
Gave my daughter a diy vortex . She lives in Denver . I live in ohio & can easily reach 600 degrees plus . She can only get 350-400 with a full chiminey of kingsford blue and a little less with kingsford comp. Her snakes take about 20-30% more charcoal to achieve same temps as I get in Ohio . I guess it's simply the altitude and you just live with it ?

Any high altitude cookers out there?

& as always cheers

I'm on the West Slope of the Rocky Mountains and yes cooking at higher elevations is different , less oxygen obviously and cooler temps don't help , she may have to run some lump or a mix of lump and KBB to reach the higher temps.


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Title: Re: Charcoal cooking at high elevations
Post by: MikeRocksTheRed on November 06, 2015, 08:43:14 AM
I hit temps too high for my Maverick to register with my vortex!  She probably just needs to leave the lid of for a little longer to get those coals really cranking along!
Title: Re: Charcoal cooking at high elevations
Post by: Jack Fate on November 06, 2015, 08:44:22 AM
Yep , that's what I told her to try. Maybe a chunk or 2 of dry hickory . Thanks was hoping for someone to chime in from high country
Title: Re: Charcoal cooking at high elevations
Post by: MikeRocksTheRed on November 06, 2015, 08:45:45 AM
Also, if its a medium vortex it will take a good chiney and half to chimney and three quarters, so she might also try adding more coals.
Title: Re: Charcoal cooking at high elevations
Post by: Jack Fate on November 06, 2015, 08:51:17 AM

Quote from: MikeRocksTheRed on November 06, 2015, 08:43:14 AM
I hit temps too high for my Maverick to register with my vortex!  She probably just needs to leave the lid of for a little longer to get those coals really cranking along!

She claims she does that. I know that KBB has a temp spike to it  (KC not at all) and I play the spike of the kbb to hit up to 800. Maybe she waits to long ?
I'll pass this on to her thanks
Title: Re: Charcoal cooking at high elevations
Post by: Qreps on November 11, 2015, 07:20:45 PM
I'm a native here in Denver and yes it's  harder to hit the higher temps. The kingsford  comp burns a little hotter.  Tell her to try co-shell it's harder to get going but burns very hot and clean.