My first cook on my ProQ

1st and foremost IM IN LOVER WITH MY EXCEL20. This is by far the best smoker I have used. Ive been reading alot of people do chicken for their 1st cook. NAH, I did 30lbs of pork butts. I used a combination of kingsford and cowboy lump charcoal. I used the minion method. Apparently I didn't add enough to start but I held 225* for 4 1/2 hours before I threw about 3 handfuls of charcoal on and had another 2 1/2 hours before the temp dropped. I did fill the water pan up at the start. Maybe this is the reason I couldn't get the temp over 225*. I would of loved to been around 230-235*. If anyone has any suggestions how to get the temp up higher, I would love to know about it. This by far was my best pulled pork i have ever made. I cant wait to use this for my next competition. I will take pictures and post them next time.......

Hi, I too am having great success with my E20 - it's a great smoker!.
your temps sound pretty much exactly what I get ... 220 - 230 holding like a dream for 4+ hours.

The first cook I used coconut briquettes and found they lasted a lot longer than the standard charcoal I used for my second cook.

Both times I used a 5lb bag ... with the coconut I cooked for 6 hours and with the charcoal I cooked for 4 hours.

I guess it'll come down to personal preference, but myself, I'm going for Coconut from here on in.

I guess I should find coconut charcoal. Unfortunently I have never seen it here in NJ. I guess its a little easier for you to come by. Im going to try to find a bag a give it a shot. Thanks...

I usually hold at 225-235 by using lump rather than briquettes (as you are) and by having the water pan less than half full, typically I run with the vents close to fully open for those kind of temps, but I do suffer with quite a lot of wind in my garden which robs the heat. I find the E20 is hungry on the charcoal, I can hold 4 hours plus on briquettes but less on lump. I also give the smoker a little kick every once in a while to knock the ash off the charcoal.

Hope that helps


Steve