Basic fuel advice please

[MickyB]

Hi
Just bought a weber 57cm with starter chimney, I have seen on this forum good reviews for 'heat beads'.
To start with I will want to cook the normal BBQ fare of chicken breasts and burgers etc to get used to the weber. Then try a whole chicken or meat joint and then on to smoking some meat for a few hours.
So my questions are what to buy for..
Normal BBQ grub, briquettes or heat beads or lump wood charcoal?
Whole chicken same question? Or can I use a combination of each type?
For the long smoke? I have absolutely no idea
Your advise will be most welcome
Thanks Mick

[YetiDave]

For regular grilled stuff I'd just use lumpwood or briquettes, but I prefer lumpwood because briquettes tend to give off a bit of a nasty smell because of all the binders (in my experience anyway) I'd reserve the expensive headbeats for longer cooks. Also FYI lumpwood tends to burn hotter than briquettes, but from what I've read you don't get that problem with heatbeads

[Tiny]

Welcome chum,
Excellent kit you have their, I would echo Daves sentiment, lumpwood for grilling and roasting and smoking. Never used heat beads but from all I read they are splendid and ideal for the longer cooks, would also suggest that with an kettle you are looking for longer burning fuels for the longer ones.

Hope this helps
PS buy them from Toby on this site!

[ConorD]

i use heat beads for low and slow an bigk lump for grilling.

[MickyB]

Thanks guys, used briquettes for a quick grill, went ok, experimented with opening the vents to see how it effected the temp.
I will find a supplier to get some lump wood for the next cook
Best regards
Mick