The Snake Method: Low and Slow on a Kettle

Step by step

1. Build the snake

   Around the outside edge of the charcoal grate, lay briquettes in a line two across and two high, each one overlapping the last like fallen dominoes. Run it about three quarters of the way around the bowl. The coals must touch, or the fire will not carry.

2. Leave a firebreak

   Stop the snake short so there is a clear gap of several inches between the start and the end. If the two ends touch, the fire will jump across and burn from both directions at once, which halves your cook time and doubles your temperature.

3. Space wood chunks along the first half

   Sit four or five fist-sized chunks of wood on top of the snake, spread along the first half only. Smoke is absorbed mostly in the first three hours, and wood on the back half of the snake is largely wasted.

4. Add a water pan inside the ring

   A foil tray of hot water in the middle of the bowl, inside the ring of coals. It stabilises the temperature, adds humidity that helps smoke adhere, and catches drips so the fat does not hit the coals.

5. Light one end with 8 to 10 coals

   Light 8 to 10 briquettes in a chimney until fully ashed, then tip them carefully onto one end of the snake. Precision matters: coals that scatter across the middle of the snake will start a second burn front.

6. Set the vents and walk away

   Grate on, food on the opposite side of the bowl to the lit end, lid on with the top vent over the food. Bottom vent roughly a quarter open, top vent about half. Adjust with the bottom vent only, in small increments, waiting fifteen minutes between changes.

How long does a snake last?

A two-by-two snake running three quarters of the way around a 22 inch kettle burns for roughly 10 to 12 hours at 120°C (250°F). That is enough for a brisket, a pork shoulder or a full day of ribs without touching the fuel. On an 18 inch kettle the same configuration gives you around 7 to 8 hours.

You can extend it by going two wide and three high, or shorten it by running a single row. Width and height set the burn rate; length sets the duration.

Why is my snake burning too fast?

• The bottom vent is too far open. This is the cause about eight times out of ten. Close it to a quarter or less.
• The lit coals scattered when you tipped them in and started a second burn front somewhere along the snake.
• The two ends of the snake are touching, so it is burning from both directions.
• You used lump instead of briquettes. Lump is irregular, so it packs unpredictably and burns faster and hotter. The snake method wants uniform briquettes.

Why has my snake gone out?

• The briquettes are not touching closely enough. Each one has to be in contact with the next to pass the fire along.
• The bottom vent is closed too far. It needs some air, just not much.
• Ash has built up and choked the bottom vent. On a very long cook, sweep the One-Touch handle occasionally.
• The charcoal is damp. Charcoal stored in a shed over winter absorbs a surprising amount of moisture.

Snake method or Minion method?

Common questions

Can I use lump charcoal for the snake method?

Not well. The snake relies on uniform pieces in consistent contact, which is exactly what lump is not. Irregular lump leaves gaps that break the burn and dense chunks that spike the temperature. Use briquettes.

Do I need a water pan?

Not strictly, but it makes the cook considerably more stable and catches drips that would otherwise flare on the coals. On a long cook it is worth the two minutes it takes to set up.

How do I add fuel if the snake runs out?

Carefully extend the snake with more unlit briquettes ahead of the burn front, working around the far side of the bowl. Doing it before you run out is far easier than restarting a dead fire under a half cooked brisket.