Methods for burning charcoal briquets

Abstract

An improved charcoal briquet having combustion aiding surfaces is packaged in a compact boxed package. A charcoal briquet having improved burning characteristics and also improved shipping and retailing characteristics is thereby provided. An improved packaged charcoal product including a flat sided box adapted to hold randomly oriented briquets and be split open at its corners and at a lower portion for use in igniting the briquets and a grooved pillow shaped briquet are also disclosed.

1 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of burning a plurality of charcoal briquets formed of a combustible material, the method comprising:
 causing ignition of at least a portion of said briquets;   generating, via at least combustion of said combustible material, a temperature of at least 1000 degrees Fahrenheit in less than thirteen (13) minutes after said ignition; and   maintaining a temperature on the order of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit for at least fifteen minutes thereafter.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said burning is performed substantially within a barbeque apparatus, and said maintaining said temperature on the order of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit for at least fifteen minutes enables completion of cooking of at least one food item using said barbeque apparatus. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the plurality of briquets comprises a plurality of briquets that each comprise a burnable composition formed into shape having convex upper surface, a convex lower surface, and a plurality of grooves extending across a majority of both said convex upper surface and said convex lower surface, said grooves configured to aid combustion by providing air circulation around said briquet at least when said briquet is at least partly surrounded by others of said plurality of briquets; and   said plurality of grooves and said shape cooperate to enable both (i) said generating and (ii) said maintaining.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising adding an ignition substance to at least a portion of said plurality of briquets prior to said causing ignition. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said causing ignition comprises causing ignition of said ignition substance, said ignition of said ignition substance causing said combustion of said combustible material. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising causing enhanced circulation of air around said briquets;
 wherein said generating a temperature of at least 1000 degrees Fahrenheit in less than thirteen (13) minutes after said ignition is enabled at least by said causing enhanced circulation of air.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said causing enhanced circulation of air around said briquets comprises causing air circulation through a plurality of grooves formed on the outer surfaces of said briquets. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said enhanced circulation of air around said briquets is enabled by said briquets each having an enhanced surface area-to-mass ratio. 
     
     
         37 . A method of burning a plurality of grooved charcoal briquets formed of a combustible material, the method comprising:
 during a combustion phase, generating via at least combustion of said combustible material and circulation of air via a plurality of grooves formed within said grooved briquets, a temperature of at least 1000 degrees Fahrenheit within twelve (12) minutes after said ignition; and   during a cooking phase immediately subsequent to said combustion phase, maintaining at least 1000 degrees Fahrenheit for at least ten (10) minutes thereafter so as to enable cooking.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein a majority of said cooking phase is completed within about twenty-five (25) minutes of a start of said combustion phase. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said cooking phase is completed within twenty-five (25) minutes of a start of said combustion phase. 
     
     
         40 . A method of cooking by burning a plurality of grooved charcoal briquets, the method comprising:
 disposing said plurality of substantially identical briquets in an outdoor cooking apparatus;   causing ignition of at least a portion of said briquets;   generating, using at least some of said plurality of briquets, a combustion temperature of about 1000 degrees Fahrenheit within about fifteen minutes after said ignition; and   after said temperature has been achieved, cooking at least one food item to completion using said cooking apparatus, said cooking comprising maintaining at least said combustion temperature for about fifteen minutes thereafter.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein each of the briquets has a surface area, and the generating comprises generating the combustion temperature substantially evenly over said surface area of each briquette. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein:
 said causing ignition comprises using a flammable substance other than said briquets to facilitate said causing ignition; and   said generating and said cooking are accomplished after said flammable substance has been consumed.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said disposing a plurality of briquets comprises disposing a plurality of grooved briquets each having a total surface area measurable in square inches and a total volume measurable in cubic inches, the ratio of said total surface area to said total volume comprising a value in a range between approximately 13.7 to approximately 2.16, in the cooking apparatus. 
     
     
         44 . A method of cooking by burning a plurality of charcoal briquets with grooves, the briquets formed of a combustible material, the method comprising:
 disposing said plurality of grooved briquets in an outdoor cooking apparatus substantially in a pile, said pile comprising a configuration wherein said plurality of briquets are in contact with adjacent others of said plurality;   causing combustion of at least some of said combustible material;   spreading said combustion throughout said pile via at least air circulation via said grooves of said briquets;   generating via at least said combustion a temperature of at least 1000 degrees Fahrenheit within twelve (12) minutes after said ignition; and   after said temperature has been achieved, cooking at least one food item using said cooking apparatus, said cooking comprising maintaining about said temperature for at least fifteen minutes thereafter.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein:
 said formation of a combustible material comprises a substantially uniform formation of combustible material; and   said generating combustion comprises causing combustion uniformly and primarily with a surface region of individual ones of said briquets.