Whether you're grilling with lump charcoal or charcoal briquettes, understanding your fuel type for charcoal grilling is key to your cooking experience. Learn more about the two fundamental charcoal types and decide which is best for your grilling needs.
Charcoal Briquettes
Charcoal briquettes are what most people think of when it comes to charcoal grilling. These dense, squarish nuggets are composed of packed sawdust and generally offer even, long-burning heat on your grill.
Charcoal briquettes aren't the most natural option due to their composition of packed sawdust and binders meant to help hold their shape. But at the end of the day, charcoal briquettes are economical and dependable for your grilling needs.
Lump Charcoal
Lump charcoal is made from 100% real hardwood, usually made from tree limbs or logs that are kiln-fired without oxygen. Irregularly shaped, lump charcoal burns hotter, less evenly, and quicker than briquettes. With lump charcoal, it's all about the flavor, as the natural wood flavors impart on your food due to what you're grilling with.
When it comes to lump charcoal, the bigger the pieces the better. You'll want to purchase lump charcoal that's labelled “hardwood lump charcoal” or “all-natural” to ensure you're getting the best quality wood.
Benefits of Natural Lump Charcoal over Briquettes
In the debate between lump charcoal and briquettes, we believe that lump charcoal is far superior for grilling. Some of the benefits of lump charcoal include:
- All-natural fuel
- Burns hotter
- Lights quickly
- Easier to adjust the temperature
- Better smoke for better flavor
- Re-usable
- Less ash production for easier clean-up
- Versatility - use with low and slow smoke or a high-heat sear
From its purity and natural flavor to its quick ignition and high heat capabilities, lump charcoal offers a myriad of benefits that enhance the cooking experience.
Why Use Kamado Joe Big Block Lump Charcoal?
Our Kamado Joe Big Block XL Lump Charcoal is perfectly crafted by artisans to create charcoal that's not only significantly larger, it's also noticeably better - better burn times, better flavor, better smoke.
Made up of a blend of Guayacan, Guayaibi, Mistal, and White Quebracho hardwoods, the Kamado Joe Big Block XL Lump Charcoal can burn for up to 18 hours continuously or can be reused up to three times.
