2022’s Best Lump Charcoal

When it comes to BBQ parties, you must have taken the time to choose the greatest ingredients or the best charcoal grill. But have you considered purchasing the finest lump charcoal?

The sort of coal you choose may make or break your barbeque since it is more than simply fuel. Various charcoals reflect different tastes, so choosing one that flavors the dish precisely as you want is critical.

Finding the finest lump charcoal, on the other hand, isn’t always as simple as you may expect. You must choose which sort of charcoal is most suited to your cuisine. Your decision and selection are heavily influenced by your preferred grilling technique as well as your own tastes.

To assist you make a decision, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite charcoal options that will work well in a variety of situations.

Do you intend to purchase a charcoal barbecue this year? Only make a decision after reading these reviews of some of the best charcoal grills.

Our Top 7 Choices for Best Lump Charcoal

1. Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal – Best Premium Choice

Rockwood is one of the most highly regarded brands for the finest lump charcoal. This lump charcoal is ideal for folks who do a lot of grilling or barbecuing.

This charcoal has been consistently selected best by several websites and chefs, and it has a deep, woodsy scent that is recognized to offer a more desired and pleasant taste to the dish. It is manufactured from Missouri hardwood, including hickory and oak.

The wood is not expressly cut for charcoal but is a byproduct of another cut, making it a terrific eco-friendly alternative for your barbecue.

Pros:

• Burns for a long time
• Simple to light
• taste that is desirable and pleasant
• Eco-friendly

Cons:

• The standard of quality may not be constant.

2. Jealous Devil All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal – Best Overall

All-Natural Hardwood Lump Jealous Devil Charcoal is made from a South American hardwood comparable to oak. The taste of this charcoal is light, so even with lengthy, slow cooking, it will not overpower the natural flavor of your meal. This wood alternative is said to be safer to use since it sparks less than other forms of coal.

Another fantastic aspect of this charcoal is that the bag has been updated to preserve the charcoal while it is being sent.

This may seem to be a little detail, but it will make a significant impact when the fire reaches the coal, resulting in larger charcoal particles and fewer dust and residue.

Pros:

• Flavor is mild and smooth.
• Excellent packing for keeping the charcoal particles intact.
• Quickly illuminates
• Heats up consistently

Cons:

• Expensive

3. Royal Oak All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal – Best Budget Choice

If you are new to grilling and are still getting acclimated to this sort of fuel, go with Royal Oak. Because of its smokey taste, both novice and professional grillers like this charcoal.

It is constructed of maple, hickory, oak, and walnut. It is simpler to ignite and produces more smoke than some other brands; nevertheless, it also burns quicker. As a result, you must use caution here.

Over all, it is a more cheap alternative than the others on the list.

Pros:

• It burns quite hot.
• Simple to light
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Quality may be variable.

4. Cowboy Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

Do you want to locate lump charcoal with purer components and a more delightful flavor? Choose Cowboy brands hardwood lump charcoal.

Its all-natural lump charcoal is manufactured from the ideal combination of maple, hickory, and oak. These hardwoods burn well and provide a wonderful smoke that is appropriate for many sorts of cooking. It has no additives and produces a more pure hardwood smoke.

Another advantage of utilizing this charcoal is that the company Cowboy intentionally dries its charcoal to lower its moisture content. This, in turn, decreases the possibility of mold without the use of any chemicals.

Pros:

• Being a typical combination of oak, hickory, and maple, it is suitable for various cuisines.
• It burns hotter and lights faster.
• Excellent for use with all sorts of charcoal barbecues.
• Moisture content was removed by heat treatment.
• Chemical-free

Cons:

• Since it burns quicker, you may need more.
• There might be a lot of little chips in the bag.

5. Fogo Super Premium All-Natural Hardwood Charcoal

Fogo’s charcoal is made mostly of oak, which is sourced from Central American hardwood. It is then combined with various kinds of wood to produce charcoal that is easy to ignite and burns for a long period while creating enough heat to cook your favorite meal.

The Fogo brand is well-known for providing huge bits of charcoal. Furthermore, it comprises over 85% medium to big pieces, making it an excellent option for lengthier cooking durations. Also, it includes less dust and chips, which is another significant element that makes it an excellent charcoal alternative.

Generally, it is one of the most common alternatives for grilling or barbecuing.

Pros:

• Chosen wood
• Simple to light
• Burn over an extended period of time
• Charcoal in large chunks
• There is some dust and chipping.

Cons:

• The packing is inadequate, which may result in damage during transit.

6. Char-Broil Center Cut Lump Charcoal

This brand distinguishes itself by carefully selecting the timber that is converted into charcoal. This ensures that the grill burns cleanly.

Note that the sort of charcoal you use will affect the outcome of your grilling. It is ideal to use charcoal, such as this one, since it is created from center-cut hardwood. This removes bindings, limbs, barks, and dust.

Selecting Char-Broil Center Cut Lump Charcoal will provide you with 100% natural hardwood, as well as excellent burning and long-lasting heating. Moreover, it is of high quality, low in weight, and includes no additional chemicals.

In summary, choosing this charcoal enables you to enjoy a product of superior quality.

Pros:

• 100% organic and natural
• Only center-cut hardwood is used in its production.
• Eco-friendly
• Burning steadily while swiftly spreading the flames

Cons:

• It may not be practical for certain stoves or barbecues.
• It may need greater amount since it may run for less hours than intended.

7. Kamado Joe All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

Get this Kamado Joe All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal if you have a ceramic grill. This charcoal is manufactured from three dense Argentine hardwood trees, and the wood is so hard that the locals call it “ax crusher.”

Even at high temperatures, the charcoal may burn for prolonged periods of time. This is due to the fact that it creates less ash, which adds to optimum airflow. The bigger sized bits also contribute to it burning slowly and for a longer period of time than regular lump charcoal.

Pros:

• Charcoal lumps of a large size
• Even and consistent burn
• It is quite hot.
• Low ash content

Cons:

• A little costly

Best Lump Charcoal Buying Guide

What is Lump Charcoal?

A protracted burning procedure produces lump charcoal. Wood is burnt in a low-oxygen atmosphere, which purifies it and burns away water or any other form of fluid, leaving something similar to carbon. This is called lump charcoal and is the most natural type of charcoal.

What to Look for When Buying Lump Charcoal

The primary reason for purchasing charcoal is to provide a smokey taste to your cuisine. As previously stated, the taste might vary according on the wood used. Nonetheless, keeping the following criteria in mind can help you choose the appropriate charcoal for your smokey taste demands.

Sources and Quality

The lump charcoal you want to purchase should be obtained responsibly. Examine the package and the rainforest destruction compliance laws.

In terms of quality, excellent lump charcoal is created from 100% pure, all-natural hardwood. There should be no additives, binders, or fillers. Also, there should be little sparking.

Flavor

A bag of lump charcoal will often include a blend of hardwoods such as oak, beech, and ash. As you may be aware, various hardwoods have distinct taste characteristics.

Lighter woods, such as maple, will offer a sweeter, lighter taste. This method is ideal for cooking white meat. Darker wood, on the other hand, will give a richer taste, which is ideal for red meat.

Burning Temperature

Various types of lump charcoal burn at different temperatures. Maple, for example, burns at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas apple burns at 1190 degrees. This implies you’ll have to vent your fire depending on the sort of charcoal you use. Taking this into consideration is thus critical.

When purchasing lump charcoal for your next BBQ party, keep these things in mind. If you’re searching for the finest charcoal smoker for your backyard, you may limit down your options by reviewing our list of some of the greatest charcoal smokers.

Why Should You Use Lump Charcoal for Grilling?

The main argument for utilizing lump charcoal is that it is the purest kind of charcoal. Yet it isn’t the only reason lump charcoal differs from other types of charcoal. It also has a number of additional characteristics that make it great for grilling. Among them are the following:

• a substantially greater temperature of combustion
• Simpler to light
• It emits relatively little ash.
• It is much more environmentally friendly than briquettes.

Also, lump charcoal is more reactive to oxygen. This, in turn, makes it simple to increase and temper the heat levels, i.e., manage the temperature of the fire provided your grill has adjustable vents.

Flavors of Single Species Charcoal

Similarly, lighter woods such as maple and fruit trees have a sweeter taste that works well with white meats, whilst dark woods such as hickory and oak have a powerful flavor that works well with red meats.

When you want a good smoky flavor in your food, it is important to consider these characteristics rather than simply grilling your steak or burger.

If you’re interested in smoked meat, stick to single species types. They are often offered in the form of briquettes or compacted pellets. To discover what’s available, try searching for wood + lump charcoal.

Some single species to try if you’re fortunate enough to discover them are as follows:

• Apple: Because of its availability, applewood is quite popular in the Midwest and northeast. Since the smoke is subtle, it works well with pork or fish.
• Alder: If you want a sweet, smokey taste, this is the one to go for. People in the Northwest often use it to smoke salmon and other sorts of fish.
• Birch is ideal for cold-smoked seafood. Since this light wood contains a lot of pitch, it must be adequately carbonized before use. If not, it may have a stronger flavor.
• Beech has a musky smoke and fragrance that is similar to that of hickory. If you enjoy a smoky flavor and are fortunate enough to find it, go for it.
• Cherry: Are you going to grill a chicken, fish, or duck? Taste this flavor of a single species. It produces a distinct sweet smoke that pairs well with grilled foods.
• Chestnut is well-known for its mild, nut-like taste. It is more popular in the United Kingdom.
• Hickory: This is one of the most well-known varieties of wood smoke. It is a traditional barbeque wood that imparts a rich taste to everything you smoke. It is, however, perfect for beef brisket and pork.
• Oak is the primary constituent in the majority of lump charcoal. It gives a smokey taste that is superior than hickory.

Since they are seasonal or regional, the single species tastes listed above may not be widely accessible. But, never pass up an opportunity if you can have it. They’re worth a go if you like experimenting with various smoke tastes.

Store Your Charcoal Properly

Storing your charcoal is critical if you want to keep it as dry as possible. Never keep charcoal (whether sealed or unsealed) in a humid environment. Choose a dry location with no additional water or dampness.

After you’ve opened the bag, place the unused charcoal in a sealed container. Keeping them open in areas such as a garage may allow them to collect moisture.

If your charcoal becomes wet, let it dry out in the sun for a few days. Place the damp charcoal on a tarp or piece of paper to do this. Charcoal has no expiration date.

You may use it indefinitely, but make sure you keep it carefully and in a dry place. If not, it will not burn properly and may grow moldy, affecting the overall flavor of your dish.

Conclusion + Our Top Pick

Summer is the season for grilling. Although you may experiment with other kinds of charcoal, lump charcoal is the best choice for all sorts of excellent smoked meats.

Just make sure the kind and brand you choose employ sustainable techniques, provide medium to big pieces, and are consistent in size and quality. Selecting one from the list above may be a game changer for all future BBQ gatherings.

In general, any sort of lump charcoal may be used with any style of grill. They also ignite rapidly, so you can start smoking your meal in only 10 minutes.

Yet, since each taste is unique, the kind of wood used will influence the smokey flavor. It is recommended to experiment with single species to see which variety best matches your taste.

The Jealous Devil All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal is our top option from the list. It has a nice taste, warms up fast and evenly, and, most importantly, does not ignite as much as other charcoal.

If you’re searching for a more affordable alternative, choose the Royal Oak All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal. It’s simple to light, burns rapidly, and, most importantly, has a delicious smokey taste.