Your charcoal grill should be the heart of your back yard. It’s a place where you can entertain friends and family, and a place where memories are made.
However, the charcoal you choose and your technique are of utmost importance. That’s why I’ve put together a guide to the particularities of lump charcoal.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Fogo Premium Oak Restaurant All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal | Best Overall |  |
| Royal Oak 195228021 15.4# NAT Lump Charcoal | Budget Pick |  |
| Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Fogo Premium Oak Restaurant All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal
This is by far the best lump charcoal available on the market. It’s the result of blending both 100% hardwood oak and mesquite woods with no preservatives or dyes. These characteristics turned the lump charcoal into an environmentally friendly product which produces little ash, while still burning very hot and very well.
The perfect choice for long, slow burning and quality grilling and smoking sessions.
In addition to cooking, Fogo Premium Oak Lump Charcoal can be used as a decorative piece when added to a fire pit, they can be used to mark your spot on the beach, anywhere where minimal smoke and hardwood aroma is desirable.
2. Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal
Pros:
- Available in different wood combinations
- Made in the USA
- High-quality materials
- Great flavor, fewer flare-ups
- Very economical
- Burn longer
- Lighting is fast
- Produces less pollution
Cons:
- Collected from wood off-cuts
- Mix of woods is not consistent
- Hard to get in big bulk
If you love grilling and have an outdoor cooking area, you probably use lump charcoal on a regular basis. Lump charcoal is essentially charcoal made from unprocessed or unsorted pieces of wood.
Lump charcoal burns hotter and cleaner than briquettes and can make your life a lot easier. This is thanks to the self-lighting properties of lump charcoal. It saves you time and money, so they are great for beginners or casual cooks.
Rockwood all-natural hardwood lump charcoal consists of pieces of hardwood that are collected after the process of local lumber production. These pieces of wood are so big, they wont fit inside a wood stove or fireplace.
3. IPPINKA Kishu Binchotan BBQ Charcoal
Pros:
- Provides long-lasting steady heat
- Very durable and slow-burning
- Increases grill efficiency
- Burns cleanly outdoors or in the oven
Cons:
- A bit expensive
- Can be hard to find
The newly designed and improved Ippinka Kishu Binchotan Lump Charcoal is one of our favorite types of charcoal on the market today for use with a variety of cooking devices. It's relatively new to the market so may be harder to find than charcoal made by other popular brands.
Even so, the new and improved Ippinka Kishu Binchotan Lump Charcoal is completely worth seeking out. Its appearance is very different from the charcoal you may be accustomed to in that it comes in small, irregular shaped pieces. This makes it easy to light despite not containing any coating. It also makes it easy to add directly to the grill.
Binchotan is an ancient variety that has been a favorite among the Japanese for hundreds of years in large part due to its ability to burn for a long time without dying out. The long burning ability of Ippinka Kishu Binchotan Lump Charcoal is what makes it such a great choice for smokers and other devices that require low heat output but lots of heat.
4. Royal Oak 195228021 15.4# NAT Lump Charcoal
Pros:
- Thick, long lasting " plates" of wood coal
- Relatively cheaper than other lump coals
- Available in a 2nd bag
- Long-burning
When it comes to charcoal, you can rarely go wrong with Royal Oak. They’re available in over 25 different varieties, but most smokers utilize one of their various lump charcoal products.
5. Cowboy Brand Hardwood Lump Charcoal
Pros:
- * Available in bags of 20
- 24
- or 28 lbs
Cons:
- * Comparatively more expensive
No products found.
6. Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal
Pros:
- Made from natural hardwood
- Burns hotter than synthetic ingredients
- Cheap
- No chemicals added
Cons:
- Lump charcoal needs better distribution of heat
- You need to add lighter fluid occasionally
For Smoking, Grill, Pizza Oven.
This bag of all natural hardwood lump charcoal is great whenever you want the authentic hardwood flavor for your meat. It's easy to put together and is ready to start grilling in no time at all. The charcoal burns really hot, so it doesn't take the coals long to get ready for cooking.
We certainly enjoy cooking on it. It's also ridiculously cheap when you look for a good charcoal at an affordable price. It's great to use for your indoor grill for the family or to smoke a generous amount of meat. You'll just need a decent chimney starter to light it with. Once you get it heated up, you'll have plenty of heat for cooking.
7. Kamado Joe All Natural Big Block Argentinian XL Premium Charcoal
Pros:
- Available for a 2-pack
- Comes highly recommended
- Long-lasting
- High-quality
- Versatile
- Can reduce smoke
- Easy to light
Cons:
- You might need a chimney starter
- Lid can be difficult to take off
The Kamado Joe All Natural Big Block Argentinian Charcoal is an all natural premium big block charcoal made in the mainland of Argentina. It comes in a pack of two and is one of the most highly rated charcoals on the market.
Reason being is that it provides consistent heat and has excellent heat retention capabilities during grilling. The fuel is very eco-friendly, cleanly burning, and environmentally friendly.
The block of charcoal has a long burn streak and a high ignition temperature. It can also be used to smoke barbecue and can take to temperature of 500 degrees within a short period of time.
8. B&B Charcoal Oak Lump Charcoal
Pros:
- It’s 100% natural.
- Burns without ash.
- Available in different containers and sizes.
Cons:
- Some have reported bad smells coming from the container.
- Packaging issues reported.
You may have noticed charcoal everywhere at your local supermarket. You might even have found a specific type that you liked. Nowadays, having a good barbeque is a must-have, and charcoal provides the base for a good barbeque.
One major concern that we find among charcoal buyers is its quality. The market is saturated. There are hundreds of charcoals that come in different price ranges and claims.
We know. We've tried all of them. When quality counts we prefer to recommend B&B Charcoal. This is because of the quality, price, and the overall satisfaction of its customers. Not to mention it's a very reputable brand in the charcoal market.
9. Primo 608 Natural Lump Charcoal
Pros:
- High-quality, high-energy density stuff
- Twenty pounds is a lot of charcoal, giving you lots of smoke
- It is easy to light
This is some amazing stuff. The size of these lumps is good enough to use for many purposes, including most slow-cooked BBQ foods. And it is easy to ignite and use on almost any barbecue grate.
It is made with 100% all-natural lump hardwood charcoal, so that should put your worries to rest if you're wondering about it being produced with blends of synthetic materials. This is all natural high-energy density stuff.
It is a bit difficult to break up by hand, but it's worth the effort. You can just use a pair of sturdy garden gloves or a hammer. Once lit, these pieces are going to burn bright for a long time, so you'll want to make sure you have enough charcoal for the kind of barbecue you plan to throw.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is lump charcoal better than regular charcoal?
Lump charcoal burns hotter, faster and more evenly than regular charcoal. Unlike briquettes, lump charcoal is made of solid pieces and contains no fillers, chemicals or added wood. This makes it an ideal product for people who like to use a charcoal grill.
Lump charcoal essentially burns cleaner and for a more beneficial period of time. It’s also a popular option for people who want to control the flavor and types of wood that they want to add to their grill or fireplace. Lump charcoal is also ideal for people who are budget conscious as it can last the entire grilling season.
Is lump charcoal good for grilling?
In general, lumps produce less ash than briquettes. They consist of wood that has been charred in an oxygen-limited environment, they have no binders or fillers.
Because the charcoal is less processed (and there is no binder), burning lumps can produce better taste and character. As a result, it gives your food a more authentic wood-grilled flavor.
Briquettes have binders and fillers that make them more convenient. They light farther away and can be easier to use. It will also burn longer.
In summary, lumps are regarded as the best choice for low and slow heat sources like grills, stoves, fire pits, or a chimney. The best lumps are wood based and come in softwood or hardwood varieties.
Why is lump charcoal so expensive?
Compared to charcoal from briquettes, lump charcoal is expensive and may be the reason for some reluctant bbq-ers. Is there some reason why it’s more expensive?
The answer is a clear “YES”. Take a look at your bag of briquettes, the first 5 ingredients are listed soybean flour, cornstarch, isobutane, and other additives. These are created specifically to burn longer, which is what prevents the burn without putting out any heat.
Lump charcoal on the other hand is created with 100% real woods, which burns at a much higher temperature. Also, it’s harder to maintain such a high temperature as most bbq devices cannot be used with charcoal that burns at such a high temperature.
Is Lumpwood charcoal any good?
The biggest advantage that lumpwood charcoal has over other types of charcoal is its form. Due to its uniqueness, it provides heat and moisture more evenly, thus a use of lumpcharcoal is recommended for grilling vegetables, fish, chicken, or other similar food items.
Lumpwood charcoal is also good for long lasting heat as it is very hard to ignite and to burn out, compared to other types of charcoal. This type of charcoal is made from compressed wood sawdust. It is like briquettes coated with paraffin wax. By using lumpwood charcoal, you save yourself from having to use lighters and matches. It will start burning easily once you put it on the grill.
Compared to other types of charcoal, lumpwood charcoal has a very long burning time. Not only that, it contains fewer impurities which is good for your health. It is also more sustainable and does not produce more carbon dioxide than other charcoal.
Conclusion
If you think that you’ll be able to buy charcoal in your local supermarket, or you are among those who want to buy charcoal online, you’re in for a surprise.
Only seasoned or lump charcoal will do. The quality of charcoal is not the same all over the world, and many varieties are mixed with nearly all available ingredients except charcoal.
You need to know how to choose the right charcoal for your grill, preventing yourself from being ripped off.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Fogo Premium Oak Restaurant All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal | Best Overall | |
| Royal Oak 195228021 15.4# NAT Lump Charcoal | Budget Pick | |
| Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal | Upgrade Pick | |