Deciding on using lump or briquette charcoal has a lot to do with personal preference, the style of cook you want to achieve, and the specifications of the grill you are using. Through our experience with the AKORN Auto-Kamado, we recommend using lump charcoal.
We recommend using lump charcoal because it contains to additives or fillers. This makes for more efficient burning, less ash, and better tasting food.
Be sure to keep your charcoal stored in a dry space. Charcoal that has a high moisture content will take longer to activate, slowing down the speed the AKORN Auto-Kamado will get to the desired temperature.
>Do not use a Charcoal Chimney to ignite charcoal in the AKORN Auto-Kamado. Over-activated charcoal will prevent the controller from being able to control temperature.
Make sure to use the recommended amount of fuel to reach your desired temperature. If too much charcoal is added, it will be challenging to control the temperature.
When adding charcoal to the grill, always wear heat resistant gloves and do not add more charcoal when the grill temperature is set greater than 250F.