What Is The Best Lump Charcoal Of 2021

#1. Fogo Super Premium Oak Hardwood Large Lump Charcoal – Best Lump Charcoal

If you are looking for the very best lump charcoal, you won’t be going wrong with the Fogo All Natural Lump Charcoal. It is a 35-pound bag of large chunks that are all made from American Hardwoods. All of the fragments that you get are hand-selected to ensure they are on the standard needed.

Depending on what you are cooking, these Fogo charcoal lumps can be ready in around 15-minutes. However, the temperature will still be a little high, and finding the ideal temperature can take a little longer. The chunks have also been considered to have restaurant-quality while remaining safe for the environment to use.

One of the best features is the fact that there is virtually no sparking that you will need to deal with. The lumps will retain a steady flame until they are ready to be opened up for cooking.

Additionally, they add an oak flavor to your meals, and this might give the illusion that the meal has been smoked when cooked correctly.

While you do get a 35-pound bag that will give you numerous use, you cannot argue the fact that it is also a little more expensive than most of the others.

Since no chemicals or filler have been added, you can cook the meals in the coals as well. This will give you more of a natural flavor when out in the wild.

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#2. Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal – Bets Lump Charcoal For Smoked Flavor

The Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal is one of the perfect charcoals that you can choose from smoking. It has been made from South American Hardwood and gives you a similar taste to oak. However, most of the bitterness that one finds in many oak products are not included in these coals.

Since most of you will have to experience shipping, you should note that these Jealous Devil coals are contained in a unique bag. The bag is resistant to residue and dust that might occur when it is left outside or when traveling. Frequently, this small addition might have an impact on the taste or keep them from igniting correctly.

One of the biggest and most important selling points is that these coals have a massive life. If you need some fire for the day to cook meals as you go on, they should hold up quite nicely.

Even though it does still have a little bit of spark, the spark is much less than you would find in many of the others, making the wood much safer.

The bag of charcoal is expensive for many people, but this should not dissuade you, as you will get great results. Often the chunks might be a little smaller than many people expect and this can cause some temperature inconsistencies.

However, this is not a common thing and only happens on the odd occasion.

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#3. Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal – Best Flavored Charcoal

One of the main things that we all think about when grilling is the taste. Yes, you can add spices and marinade, but when you have great charcoal, it can also enhance the taste.

The Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal is a combination of Missouri Hardwood, Maple, and Pecan woods, which gives you a unique flavor.

Most environmentalists will also encourage the use of this charcoal since it does not damage the environment. According to the manufacturer, not a single tree has been chopped down, and they are made from renewable sources of nature. The bag itself is also completely recyclable but does lack some durability.

While the chunks might not be as large as most of the others, they still offer you a lot of time to cook. Depending on the temperature it reaches, you will have a decent amount of time for preparing your meals.

Additionally, there is minimal ash that you will need to clean up once you are done cooking with it.

The initial price can be a little daunting for many people. However, you receive three bags with all these flavors and quality. As we have mentioned, the bags themselves might lack a little bit of durability, but this is not the end of the world.

#4. Harder Charcoal HAXLWC33 Barbecue Grilling Lump Charcoal - Best for Eco-friendly Features

You will love this Harder Charcoal HAXLWC33 lump charcoal as much as we do, as it offers 100% natural ingredients and restaurant-style design and content. Consequently, it's perfect for smoking and grilling your favorite food and provides the ultimate quality, flavor, and taste.

Moreover, the charcoal is excellent due to its unique design and performance. As you'll notice, the lump charcoal includes only the handmade "ax-breaker" Quebracho wood. Thus, the charcoal will offer the best performance and will serve you for ample time.

Regarding the flame, it will be a smokeless and sparkless one for a more extended, even, uniform, and consistent heat that will last longer and provide the ultimate grilling or cooking experience. Thus, there won't be any difficulties when you start grilling.

The unit is perfect due to its eco-friendly features; therefore, to create the charcoal from this content, the experts didn't need to cut a single tree in South America. So, it's perfectly legal to use it and enjoy your BBQ needs.

Finally, it's a versatile product; you could apply it for various grill types, including Kamado Joe, Big Green Egg, Primo, and all other Kamado style grills, for the best food quality, juiciness, full flavor, and taste.

#5. Royal Oak 195228021 15.4# NAT Lump Charcoal – Best Budget Pick

If you are new to grilling, you might need something affordable to help you get started. Fortunately, the Royal Oak 195228021 15.4# NAT Lump Charcoal is some of the most affordable that you find in a 15-pound bag.

The charcoal is found in medium-sized chunks that tend to have a decent burning time. According to the manufacturer, you can have your ideal temperature in just 15-minutes.

However, the smaller pieces also mean that the charcoal will burn out much faster. This can cause temperature inconsistencies for more prolonged cooking.

The one feature that made us choose it is the fact that you get a lot of smoke when using it. These Royal Oak 195228021 charcoal chunks are known for causing some smoke, and when you close your grill, you can add that smoked taste to it. The bag itself is durable, with limited complaints from users that are just starting or testing it.

As for the price, it is much cheaper as well, which allows most users to choose it for the price alone. We think the quality is on par, but mostly for beginners.

Some of the top grill masters might not find that it is excellent for cooking on a rotisserie. This is one of those Royal Oak 195228021 charcoal options that you have a specific market of users.

#6. IPPINKA Binchotan BBQ Charcoal from Kishu, Japan – Best Premium Lump Charcoal

The Binchotan Charcoal is still one that is heavily debated by many people. However, it is considered some of the best charcoal on the market today, despite the premium price that it commands. The IPPINKA Kishu Binchotan BBQ Charcoal is made from Binchotan or Japanese Oak as many people would like to call it.

This is a sustainable source of charcoal that you can find for adding some of the smoked flavors to your meals. Not only is it available in huge chunks, but the added burning time makes it one of the top options for restaurants as well. If you store it properly and keep it out of the elements, you can reuse it after one use.

A spark arrestor should be used when you are lighting up this IPPINKA charcoal as it does tend to spark fast. However, the spark will die down and leave you with a reliable flame and minimal smoke. Since you can reuse the charcoal, it does not break up as fast, and you can clean out the grill with minimal effort when done.

Unfortunately, it is by far the most expensive charcoal on the market today. Not only is the charcoal premium quality, but it also needs to be shipped from Japan.

However, many people will swear by the quality and the value they have gotten from it. You will need to try it for yourself to see if it is the right charcoal for you.

#7. Wicked Good Charcoal Lump Bag – Best Lump Charcoal For Small Grills

The Wicked Good Charcoal Lump Bag is more of a primary charcoal type that has been made from American Hardwoods. All of the chunks have been selected based on the size. It is measured to ensure they all are consistent. This means that you have a little more consistency to deal with when you are cooking.

The Wicked Good Charcoal also does not have much ash you need to deal with when you are cooking with massive chunks. This could help you significantly when you are preparing in an outdoor area, and the wind is coming up. Since you don’t have too much ash, you can add some more of the charcoal for a consistent burn.

If you only add a little bit of charcoal, the consistency might not be perfect as you would expect. However, the more you add, the more consistency you have. Many people have reported some small chunks as well, but this is not always a bad thing. The smaller pieces can work wonder in some of your smaller grills.

If you need decent charcoal that will not force you to break your budget, this can be one of the perfect options. The bags are around 20-pounds, which gives you more than enough charcoal for a couple of cooking sessions. We won’t recommend it for cooking at a commercial scale, but this is the perfect family grill charcoal option.

#8. Char-Broil Center Cut Lump Charcoal – Best For Cooking On A Rotisserie

Char-Broil Center Cut Lump Charcoal is a 100% natural hardwood charcoal. It is made from center-cut, organic hardwoods, without bark, limbs, excessive charcoal fines or dust. All lumps are hand-selected by experts in the barbecue field.

One of the best benefits of this charcoal is that it can be used in some of the ovens that we have outside. Many people might enjoy a good pizza or pot bread that has been cooked, and for this you need time. As we have mentioned, the longer lifespan of the charcoal makes it extremely practical for cooking over a long period.

This Char-Broil charcoal is made in the average 3-inch briquette size and the ash is limited to 3 percent max. It needs to be fired for a longer time, but it produces clean-burning and minimizes the dirty smoke, ash , and unwanted wood sparks.

Char-Broil has tried to make a product that is lightweight but heavy on the quality. Their motto is better charcoal equals better quality of your meals.

Fortunately, the price is also quite affordable, making it much easier for many users to buy it.

1. Quality

Wood is generally categorized into either hardwood or softwood. When you are selecting charcoal, you need to keep the quality of the wood it was sourced from in mind as well. 

Hardwood will give you larger chunks that are much harder. This will ensure better quality and make it possible to cook for much longer.

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2. Chunk Size

The chunk size has a direct correlation with the quality of the wood. As mentioned, larger chunks tend to burn for a longer time, and this makes them practical for cooking, especially on a rotisserie.

We recommend looking for larger pieces, but medium-size pieces can still do the trick on smaller grills.

3. Eco-Friendly

Since you don’t want to cause any damage to the environment, you will need to look for something that is also eco-friendly.

Renewable source of energy like oak tress can give you a lot of value for your money and won’t damage the environment. Oak might have a bitter taste, but once it is burned, your meat will have a smoky flavor.

What's better: lump charcoal or briquettes?

Lump charcoal is a better option, as it burns longer, and you don't need to add more fuel often. Additionally, it will burn cleaner than briquette, and it won't produce a large amount of ash.

Finally, it will burn hotter than a briquette; however, you can moderate and regulate the temperature on the grill with various adjustable air vents, so don't be discouraged.

Why is lump charcoal so expensive?

It's more expensive than regular charcoal due to certain factors. Hence, you could notice that it takes too much time to be produced - it's a labor-intensive product.

In addition, it contains several raw materials at a higher price, and it's an all-natural product containing no additives or artificial content.

It also has limited production and uses in specific areas; therefore, all of this contributes to its higher costs.

What is the difference between charcoal and lump charcoal?

Charcoal is a product made out of burning wood in the absence of oxygen, while lump charcoal is a product of such a process.

As the lump is charcoal in its most natural and basic form, no matter what, perfectionists will insist on using only this one for their BBQ adventures.

What is the best brand of lump charcoal?

The best brand would be Fogo, as they produce quality and natural lump charcoal. This charcoal will also deliver in budget, performance, durability, and heat options, so you won't have to bother too much about the possible issues.

You could cook or grill as you like, and the Fogo charcoal adjusts to your needs.

What is the best lump charcoal for smoking?

The best one is undoubtedly the Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal, as the unit provides the best smoking flavor, juiciness, and full smoking taste for those who prefer smoked food.

This is the primary advantage; however, you could notice additional ones if you select this product.