Everdure 4K - Cooking with Charcoal: The Basics; Charcoal Types and Properties; Wood Chips and Weather Impact

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Cooking with Charcoal: The Basics
Natural Lump Charcoal v Briquettes
Charcoal is widely available in dierent sizes, shapes and even avours. Charcoal fuel is split into two main
categories: Lump Charcoal and Briquettes. Please keep in mind that charcoal should be considered as an
ingredient: the better the quality, the better the avour.
Natural Lump Charcoal
We recommend using natural lump charcoal with the Everdure by Heston Blumenthal 4K. Natural lump
charcoal contains no articial additives or chemicals. It has a low ash content and most importantly, burns
hotter. Natural lump charcoal is processed in a kiln and allowed to dry before packing. Sizes can vary by
quite a big amount, but the Everdure by Heston Natural Lump Charcoal is size graded for a consistent
cooking performance and great avour. See everdurebyheston.com for more information.
Briquettes
Briquettes are a popular choice as they are convenient. Briquettes usually have a consistent “pillow shape”,
though it is worth noting this uniformity is not natural. Briquettes are a manmade, processed fuel that
contain binders, llers and chemicals. They usually contain around 20% non-combustible materials that
leave behind a much higher volume of ash than natural lump coal does. Briquettes do oer a consistent
burn time, albeit at a much lower temperature than natural lump coal. This type of fuel can be used with
the Everdure by Heston Blumenthal 4K, however you will achieve a shorter ignition time and better overall
cooking performance using natural lump charcoal.
Wood chips
Wood chips are a great avour enhancer. The most common avours are Mesquite, Hickory and Cherry.
Always avoid putting wood chips directly onto the ame and instead, place them slightly to one side of
the burning coal. The indirect heat from the charcoal will make the chips smoulder and smoke, rather than
instantly ignite. This gentle smoke will avour the food.
Weather Conditions
As the 4K relies on a clean supply of oxygen to keep the re burning, it is always worth remembering that
dierent weather conditions can radically change the cooking time and oven temperature (i.e. a cold, breezy
day will inuence the 4K more than a warm, still or damp day).
It should be expected that the same recipe can take slightly longer or quicker on dierent days, based on
the weather conditions.
Lump charcoal Briquettes