Originally Posted by
exerda
I would think the shape helps them burn hotter; it gives them more surface area, and maybe somehow the hole draws air through them, too, during burning.
I find that since Kingsford changed their formula a couple years ago, their briquettes burn too hot and too fast...I used to get a much longer heat from them without adding coals...now they burn down way too quickly. I use hardwood chunks when I want super high heat but I would prefer the briquettes to burn slower so maybe those extrusion things aren't for me.