Hardwood charcoal help

[Ralph]

Do many of you use this instead of briquettes from Kingsford and the like?

I started using it last summer and initially was quite pleased. Now, I'm just flat out perturbed! Using a chimney starter, the coals get nice and hot, orange and slightly ashy. However, when I then put the food on the grill rack to cook (closing the cover), the heat virtually disappears. WHY?? What am I doing wrong? All the vents, top and bottom remain open.

Tonight was a great example. I tried to cook a 1.5lb flank steak which should go about 6 minutes per side for medium. After 18 minutes, the outside was brown but not charred; the inside was raw.

Any suggestions are appreciated. TIA.

[aggie94]

Interesting. We are of the charcoal briquette using kind (Kingsford Mesquite) but my DH is the BBQer in the family. I probably couldn't cook meat on a grill to save my life. So how does this help you, you're wondering. Well, it doesn't. I just thought I'd let you know that in case someone doesn't have an answer for you (but someone probably will), I'll ask my DH. I tried to call him but he's not home.

[shoezoo]

We only use the hardwood charcoal and love it. My DH said you're not letting enough air to the charcoal. You need to leave the top off and cook stuff hot with these. Hardwood cooks a lot harder and faster than briquettes. Never use the top on your grill with this hardwood charcoal.

[Ralph]

Originally posted by shoezoo
You need to leave the top off and cook stuff hot with these. Hardwood cooks a lot harder and faster than briquettes. Never use the top on your grill with this hardwood charcoal.

I suspected this had something to do with it. Thanks!

[Ralph]

Well, doing it topless worked. In fact, I think the coals were still rather hot after we finished eating even though I had put the cover on to help put it out!

[Peggy C.]

I missed this thread the first time around and while I didn't have an answer, I did learn something. I have to say Ralph that your initial posting could have been written by myself or DH=, we thought it was the fact that the second bag of hardwood charcoal was just beat to heck, it was in tiny pieces and we thought that was the problem, maybe we'll give it another try, topless of course!