10 Best Lump Charcoal Products to Get For Grilling

10 Best Lump Charcoal Products to Get For Grilling

Grilling is the way to go if you want to have tasty food while enjoying the peaceful outdoors. From barbecues, beach trips, to camping — you can successfully try your hand at making this grilled salmon recipe using only a grill or smoker and, of course, the best lump charcoal at your disposal.

But as with any means of cooking, it’s always best to use the best materials for grilling. And this article is all about a specific type of grill fuel. So continue reading to discover our top picks for the best lump charcoal to get this year and how to choose the best one! Apart from that, we’ve also answered some of the internet’s most burning charcoal-related questions below.

The Best Lump Charcoal Options At A Glance

10 Best Lump Charcoal Options This 2022

To decide on the best items to include in this list, we carefully considered a few important factors. This includes brand reputation, product specs, and overall customer reviews. Continue browsing this section for a more in-depth review of the different types of charcoal products featured on this list.

Best Overall: Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

What We Love

  • Available in four sizes
  • Waterproof and resealable bag
  • Minimal ash production

What We Don't Love

  • Quite pricey

The Jealous Devil charcoal is a number one best-seller with rave lump charcoal reviews to boot. This is not surprising since it has all the necessary qualities that you’d want from the product and more. Primarily, the lumps themselves are hand-picked, hand-cut, and naturally produced using all-natural South American hardwood. Without additional fillers or chemicals, the wood chips then undergo a hand-firing process in the manufacturer’s custom brick kilns. As a result, it boasts a strong cook power, longer burning time, and hotter temperatures.

The waterproof and resealable packaging is also a bonus. You can get the best lump charcoal from Jealous Devil in four different sizes, perfect for varying needs. For instance, there are smaller eight-pound bags for single-use and larger 35-pound ones that are suitable for chimneys. You can use this product for charcoal grills, smokers, and various kamado grills, too. With its mild aroma, the charcoal would impart a distinct smoky flavor to enhance the flavor of your easy grilled whitefish recipe. When you’re done, cleaning up won’t be much of a problem because this charcoal type produces minimal ash.

Best Budget-Friendly: Royal Oak Premium Hardwood Charcoal Briquettes

What We Love

  • Available in two sizes
  • Locally sourced wood
  • Minimal ash production

What We Don't Love

  • Inconsistent burning time
  • May spark

This Royal Oak product is an inexpensive yet good quality bag of charcoal that you can have delivered to your doorstep today. To put things into perspective, a standard 20-pound pack of this product sells for nine cents per ounce which is a steal compared to most charcoal types in the market!

Despite that, Royal Oak lump charcoal doesn’t disappoint when it comes to overall quality and performance. We like that it’s made from locally and sustainably sourced American Oak and Hickory hardwood so you can whip up grilled lamb chops without having to worry about harmful chemicals. This briquette is also quite versatile since you can use it for high and low-temperature cooking methods in traditional smokers and grills (either ceramic or non-ceramic). 

Best Hardwood Lump: Best of the West All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

What We Love

  • Inexpensive
  • Naturally produced
  • Minimal ash production

What We Don't Love

  • Inconsistent lump sizes

Among the best hardwood lump charcoal types to get this year, this product is a top contender. Sold in 20-pound packs for a reasonable price, this wood charcoal product is undeniably a bang for your buck because it also delivers in terms of overall quality.

The Best of the West lump charcoal is naturally produced without any extra chemicals or preservatives. You can also use it in a chimney starter, smoker, or a traditional charcoal grill for making juicy pieces of grilled beef tenderloin. This hardwood charcoal lump product is especially ideal for cooking or heating methods that require hotter temperatures since it burns better than its standard briquette counterparts.

Best for Big Green Egg or Kamado: Kamado Joe Big Block XL Lump Charcoal

What We Love

  • Available in two sizes
  • Long burning time

What We Don't Love

  • Quite pricey
  • Inconsistent lump sizes

A kamado grill is a game-changer when it comes to outdoor cooking. For those who don’t already know, this is a special oval-shaped barbecue grill-slash-smoker that is made of durable ceramic for insulating heat. Its form and material are specially designed to trap heat within the cooking equipment, producing juicier and more tender cuts for your bbq pork chops recipe. Big Green Egg (BGE) is a popular variant of this. As such, manufacturers recommend using lump charcoal for kamado grills because they can reach higher temperatures compared to briquettes. 

For the best lump charcoal for kamado and big green egg grills, we recommend this pack of Kamado Joe charcoal that boasts large lumps for maximum heating capability. That’s because it’s naturally produced using a combination of hardwood from Argentina, namely Guayacan, Guayaibi, Mistal, and White Quebracho. 

Aside from imparting a unique smoky taste to your dishes, this kamado and big green egg charcoal has an average burning time of 18 to 27 hours. The brand also suggests reusing the Kamado Joe lump charcoal up to three times to get the most out of the product.

Best for Smoking: Fogo Super Premium Lump Charcoal

What We Love

  • Easy to light
  • Long burning time

What We Don't Love

  • May spark
  • Inconsistent lump sizes

There’s no better way to cook this smoked cod recipe than by using the best lump charcoal for smoking. And for this year, this 17.6-pound Fogo lump charcoal pack takes our top spot. This product is a combination of all-natural tropical hardwoods that lends a mildly smoky flavor that isn’t overwhelming to food.

Apart from that, each bag of Fogo charcoal contains large easy-to-light lumps that are great for extended cooking times. Use it for Kamado-style grills, smokers, and other large charcoal-fueled cooking equipment. Since it can reach very high temperatures, it’s also ideal for reverse-searing steak and other similar recipes.

Best Natural Lump: Cowboy Lump Charcoal

What We Love

  • Sustainably sourced wood
  • Naturally produced

What We Don't Love

  • Pricey

The Cowboy lump charcoal is produced using none other than a blend of sustainable, all-natural hardwood. The combination of oak, hickory, and maple offers a satisfying smoky aroma that will surely tie your smoked beef roast together. It burns clean without leaving an unpleasant chemical quality to food, making it the best natural lump charcoal to get this year.

It burns really hot, ideal for searing to lock in moisture and flavor to your dishes. Also, you can say goodbye to lighter fluid because this Cowboy charcoal is very easy to light.  

Best for Flavor: B&B Charcoal Oak Lump Charcoal

What We Love

  • Available in packs
  • Long burning time
  • Minimal ash production

What We Don't Love

  • May spark

If you can’t seem to achieve just the right amount of smoky flavor for your dishes, you’d greatly appreciate this Texas-style B&B charcoal pack. Since it’s completely made from oak, it should offer the perfect amount of flavor that isn’t overpowering to your rum-soaked grilled shrimp skewers

In addition, this B&B charcoal doesn’t have any additives or fillers, so it burns clean—all the while leaving minimal ashes. In terms of burning time and temperature, it also performs well.

Best Briquettes: Duraflame Cowboy Natural Hardwood Briquettes

What We Love

  • Naturally produced
  • Even-heating
  • Good burning time

What We Don't Love

  • Quite pricey
  • Burn time could be longer

Charcoal briquettes are great for even and consistent heating. If you’re willing to give it a try, we recommend going for this Duraflame Cowboy charcoal. The material used for this product is hardwood without extra chemicals or fillers, so you can expect that it imparts a more natural taste to grilled dishes. 

Also, each piece of charcoal briquette in this package has a uniform pillow-shaped form which is more consistent than regular lumps. It’s available in 14-pound bags which is just the right size for home cooking. 

Best for Beginners: Kingsford Easy-Light Charcoal Briquettes

What We Love

  • Available in two sizes
  • Naturally produced
  • Portable

What We Don't Love

  • Quite pricey

You don’t have to be a grill master to achieve this refreshing Brazilian grilled pineapple dish, and with this Kingsford product whipping up the dish is even easier. Firstly, this product is made using good quality wood from North America, which is ideal to achieve a more natural wood-fired taste. 

However, what truly sets it apart from the rest of the charcoal products on this list is its  “easy light” packaging. To ignite these briquettes, all you have to do is light the bag itself, and it will take care of the rest. Also, it’s compact and portable, so you can carry these single-use charcoal around with you on your outdoor excursions. This is the best charcoal for both beginners and more experienced home cooks alike! Now, talk about range.

Hottest Burning: Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

What We Love

  • Minimal ash production
  • Sustainable materials

What We Don't Love

  • Inconsistent lump sizes

Rockwood charcoal is a blend of locally and sustainably sourced left-over hardwood from Missouri, an offshoot of timber milling. It combines oak, hickory, maple, and pecan for a uniquely light smoky flavor that compliments the flavor of any grilled dish.

Despite being easy to ignite, the Rockwood lump charcoal burns hot and it isn’t as quick to burn out. Use it for Kamados, Big Green Eggs, and any other type of grill or smokers. Waste also isn’t a problem, since this product leaves minimal ash and its paper bag is recyclable, landfill-safe, and safe to burn.

What to Look For in the Best Lump Charcoal

Burning lump charcoal briquettes

You might have noticed from our list that this type of product is produced differently depending on the manufacturer. So, how do you determine which one is the best lump charcoal to get for your outdoor activities or everyday cooking needs? To help you find the answer, you can use these important factors as a guide.

Source

Aside from figuring out where to buy charcoal, it’s also important to know where they come from. With that in mind, lump charcoal brands should play an important role in your decision. Products that are sourced using left-over hardwood are ideal. This is because they are more eco-friendly and sustainable compared to those that are produced by taking down trees for charcoal. Aside from that, we also recommend going for those that don’t have additives or fillers for safety reasons.

Type of Wood

The type of charcoal wood is also a crucial component since it influences the flavor and overall burning temperature of the product. For instance, wood from fruit-bearing trees such as apple and cherry tends to be milder. Whereas other popular types like hickory impart a more robust smoky taste. If you want something that offers a good amount of flavor that isn’t overpowering, oak is a good middle ground. Although, you should also note that most hardwood types consist of some combination of these materials. If you want more consistency, briquettes are a good option.

Different types of wood burn at varying rates and temperatures as well. In general, oak tends to be more difficult to ignite, but they burn slowly and steadily.

Package Size

For special outdoor activities like camping where you’d have to move around a lot, it’s best to go for single-burning options that are more compact and portable. However, if you’ll be using it a lot for everyday cooking, you should go for medium-sized or larger bags. You should also consider what you’ll be cooking as this can affect how much charcoal to use in general.

Packs that contain jumbo-sized lumps of charcoal are the best for Kamados or ceramic grills and other large grilling or smoking equipment since they burn hotter and longer than smaller bits. Also, be wary of packages that contain lots of powdered particles so you can get more out of your purchase.

READ ALSO: Pellet Grill Guide: What It Is, And The Best Pellet Grills To Choose From [2022 Edition]

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you light lump charcoal?

The best way to light lump charcoal is by using a charcoal chimney starter. However, don’t worry if you don’t have this tool because you can also make do without it. The second-best method is by using dry, used paper. All you have to do is slightly crumple them on the grill. Then, put your desired amount of charcoal on top and set the paper on fire. The lumps will catch the heat and ignite from there. If not, you also have the option of using lighter fluid. Although you should know that this contains chemicals which may not be the best for health.

Can you relight lump charcoal?

Yes. In fact, this is one of the best sustainable practices you can do if you’re fond of firing up the grill to cook. The trick to this is simple, really. When you’re finished cooking, shut the smoker so that the charcoal burning won’t be exposed to any more oxygen. This will stop the lumps from completely turning into ash so you can reuse them two to three more times. When you’re ready to cook again, all you have to do is light them up like usual.

How long does lump charcoal burn?

Burn time varies depending on the product and the environment you’re in. Some lump charcoal types burn up to one hour, while others may last up to six. Ultimately though, briquettes generally offer a more consistent and longer burning time than most hardwood lumps.

What is the difference between charcoal and lump charcoal?

Charcoal is an umbrella term for the black combustible material that is produced by burning wood in the absence of oxygen. Don’t confuse this with coal which is a mineral naturally produced without human intervention. Meanwhile, lump charcoal is a type of charcoal that is mainly used for grilling and smoking.

What’s better, lump charcoal or briquettes?

This question has been around for a long time, and the answer really depends on your preference. You see, the advantage of lump charcoal vs briquettes is that they mostly consist of all-natural hardwood. They are better than briquettes if you want to stay away from chemicals, as the latter is usually made using a combination of charcoal and other things.

Another advantage of lump charcoal is that they tend to burn hotter than others. So if you’re looking to get a good brown sear from using your grill, this is a good option. It produces minimal ash compared to briquettes, too.

On the other hand, go for briquettes if you want your fuel to be more uniform in terms of appearance since lump charcoal comes in different shapes and sizes. It’s also more consistent to cook with.

Want to share your experience with these lump charcoal products or have a favorite that wasn’t mentioned in our “10 Best Lump Charcoal Products to Get For Grilling” article? Head over to the Cooking Techniques forum section and join the discussion!

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Kaye

Kaye is a writer and a recent oat milk convert. With a background in Language Studies, she has founded a deep appreciation of cultures, traditions, and the power of words. In her spare time, she enjoys testing some of the trendiest and most accessible recipes on the internet.