A Beginner's Guide To Charcoal | Lump vs Briquettes

In this video, I'll go over the pros and cons of Lump vs Briquette charcoal for BBQ grilling and the brands I've used over the years including Royal Oak, B&B, The Cowboy Brand, Kindgsfords, and FOGO. Which brand is the best bang for your buck and which brand of charcoal do I personally love to grill with?

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro
00:49 - Kingsford Originals- Personal Favorites
01:22 - Briquettes vs Lump
02:24 - Lets Talk About Brands
02:56 - Royal Oak Lump Charcoal
04:03 - Cowboy Brand
05:07 - B&B
06:00 - FOGO
08:00 - Handling and Storage
09:55 - General Safety Tips
10:27 - Igniting Your Charcoal
12:44 - Flavored Charcoal
13:18 - Final Thoughts and Recommendation

Discounts:

Discount Code: thermoproteam

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WHAT I USE:

VIDEO EQUIPMENT

LIGHTS

COOKING

CHEF KNIVES

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[tomwadek]

Did I miss a brand you like? Let me know in the comments below!

[jduncan]

I've had a Weber Mid range kettle for maybe a decade. After a year of frustration, I put it in storage. Now I'm trying to get back to it and your videos are helping. Your conversational style is easy to listen to. Thanks.

[xCaPz]

Your videos are really underrated. This is the type of video I look for when im first getting into something new. I bought an all-clad pan and the Amazonbasics Dutch oven because of your videos

[VillanuevaMedia]

Decided to check out your other videos. I really do like B&B hickory and their mesquite lump. Get it at ace hardware here in socal.

[theprinceeats]

Thanks for this! There's so much fuel out on the market and this is helpful.

[kurtisloew]

Just got into smoking on a Weber Kettle. Made a slow and sear basket out of the two Weber baskets. Have smoked beef chuck roasts, wings, and pork. I had a bag of all natural oak lump. Filled the basket, added some wood chunks on top of first half of lump, and lit one end. Made a couple adjustments on the vents, and had no problem holding 250 on the meat side (I added 2 thermometers, one on meat side at grate height, and one on heat side). At 400 degrees my meat side by top vent holds 250 for about 5 hrs! Cant comment on longer cooks and adding fuel as I cook smaller portions. I will say, I do not like the bigger log pieces, but they break up easy enough. Im pretty impressed with my used/like new, $50 kettle!

[spaces]

I've used Kingsford and B & B charcoals. B & B is much better. The coals are consistently in tack and burn much longer than Kingsford. I still like the Kingsford brand. You said it well when you stated that it's the jack-of-all-trades coal. I use the Kingsford for regular occasions but when I want to impress I break out the B & B.

[patricia]

Thank you; this was very helpful, as well as informative!

[boohoohoohoo]

10:02 if initial ignition of any new briquet produces smoke that makes meat acrid, then how could one avoid acrid smoke doing a slow cook via snake method on a kettle grill?

[rondetorres]

Trying to up my BBQ skills. I grew up using Kingsford and It's my go to briquette but I've heard good things about B&B for a long burn time, better for "slow and low" smoking. I've never used lump charcoal but always wanted to give it a try. From what I gather via transit / delivery lump charcoal seems to a little more fragile causing large pieces breaking into smaller pieces and then sometimes ash. Maybe I'll try and find the smallest bag of lump and give a try for reverse searing. Thanks for posting!

[Tom_N._Jerry]

I saw fogo at home depot in socal yesterday. Looking online appears that ace carries it here too. About $20 for 18 lbs

[chrishernandez]

I got a bag of fogo a while back, literally part of a burnt fence in there complete with a couple nails

[BbqMikeG]

Solid advice! I once pulled a trunk size chunk of charcoal out of a bag of Sonora mesquite lump wider than my chimney! Thank God for hammers. I also like how you used only one starter cube. That’s all you need. Great video!

[Dad_Lyon]

Well made video! Content was discussed well, editing is on point, your voice doesn't annoy me, and decent music. Best of luck, I'm subscribed!

[TheROMaNProject]

In north Houston (Spring TX) the 17.6 pound bags of Fogo are readily available at Home Depot for $24.95, about mid-way between the prices you mention. They also carry a “super premium” grade of Fogo for $32.95 which looks to be very large chunks .

[chrisreye]

I recently tried Jealous Devil lump charcoal. Stuff burns wicked hot and has very consistent pieces. Ive found im using less of this stuff at most half a chimney full. Even at a quarter i was hot enough to sear with for about an hour.

[patrickhenry]

I just recently bought the Kingsford Match Light briquettes from Walmart. I haven't used it, yet.

[fivelakesyj]

Woohoo! B&B! We can get B&B here (Minnesota) locally at a couple hardware stores. I've tried different brands, but this is so consistent in my smoker. I've had it keep 225 to 250 for purt near 20 hours straight. One bag, set the air intake (it's a UDS that I put ball valves on to control air intake), get to temp, add meat and walk away until it's done. The only charcoal briquettes I use are Kingsford in the blue bag. That's for the charcoal grill and any dutch oven cooking that can go quick. Otherwise for the dutch ovens I start a fire in the fire pit and burn wood to get enough coals to keep the oven hot.

Side notes... Our seafood buffet was a great success. We've ordered beef ribs and a brisket from our butcher down the street, so those will be getting done soon. Prices here aren't as high as in California. The B&B lump charcoal is $15.99. Brisket is $2.49/lb and the ribs were $1.99/lb. Sometimes it's nice to live in a small town in the middle of nowhere. lol

[robinjohnson]

Could you please try to answer my question about if it safe to eat

[mariacaterinabruciapaglial]

I did not know I have been inhaling bad smoke all this time. Thanks for the smoke advice!! Gonna be more aware of it know, and ask for a chimney as bday gift lol