I use a SS 1/2 size hotel pan WITHOUT water, and also have the strainer insert so excess ash falls through, and the hot binchotan isn’t directly on the surface below (I still don’t put it on anything that can burn or melt, usually it’s on my outdoor SS table or a Concrete patio block). When you put the lid on it goes out relatively quickly considering how hot it is at first. I’d not use aluminum foil, it could melt and would be cumbersome to Try and put on top. Just get a matching SS lid.
I don’t like the idea of putting out in water. Some of the cheap stuff like Pok Pok often falls apart just trying to pick it up. I also find some of the other charcoals absorb moisture, and when heating with a gas burner may result in explosions (had burning fragments hit me in the face). I had this case of Aramaru from Korin which was particularly bad for this, I swear it was mislabelled as the case I had from before looked and performed differently.
I sometimes preheat a baking sheet full of charcoal in my oven at 450°f for 30-60 min to help remove any humidity, which seems to help make lighting go more smoothly, even if used over the next few weeks.
I have about 200lbs of various binchotan / aramaru so have tried different things (not sure why it’s rotating my pic)
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