The Best Lump Charcoal For Grilling and Smoking in 2023

Most serious grillers will tell you that using hardwood lump charcoal for your grill is a no-brainer. It provides the classic, grilled flavor without leaving any artificial, chemical tastes. Finding the best lump charcoal is key to amazing grilled food, so let’s explore our options!

Lump charcoal is made by slowly burning pieces of hardwood in the absence of oxygen until it’s mostly carbon. I’ll put a video down below to show you how they are made. 

It is a really fascinating process. This releases all the moisture and sap from the wood and creates black, lump pieces of charcoal. Briquettes, on the other hand, contain composite woods and chemical additives.

For the purposes of this article, we’ll just focus on the lump charcoal as it is significantly better for grilling.

Let’s dig deeper into the benefits and explore some of the best lump charcoal products available.

Lump Charcoal vs. Briquettes

Lump charcoal is indisputably the more natural and healthier option. This is the clear winner of the lump charcoal vs briquettes comparison.

Briquettes

Briquettes are really the “fast food option” of charcoal: they are cheap, extremely easy to find, and reliable when it comes to grilling. 

Unlike pure, natural lump charcoal, briquettes are highly processed and manufactured with chemical additives that help them to burn evenly and consistently. The majority contain petroleum to make them burn longer. When burned, those chemicals will work their way into your food, changing the flavor (and not for the better!) To top it off, you need lighter fluid to get the fire going – again, more chemicals in your grill.

It is easy to see why people are attracted to the convenience and consistency of grilling that these offer. But, they give off a chemical smell when lit and create a lot more ash.

Most people don’t take the time to learn about how they are made, but if they did then they would quickly make the transition to lump and never look back. 

Lump Charcoal

Lump charcoal offers a variety of benefits. It is more responsive to oxygen, which makes it much easier to control the temperature of your fire if your grill has adjustable air vents. It also lights quickly with no lighter fluid and creates very little ash and sparks, making it much easier to clean up after each grill. Best of all, there is no chemical smell to deal with since it is entirely natural with no additives, fillers, or binders.

If you do have the choice, we strongly suggest you opt for high-quality lump charcoal because it is all-natural, additive-free, and is better for your health and the environment.

On top of that, it’s easy to learn how to light charcoal without lighter fluid, and a much healthier option. There are quite a few methods and tools to choose from including homemade fire starters, charcoal chimney starters,

Types Of Lump Charcoal

There are three main types of lump charcoal, and the difference between them is the source of the wood.

• Kiln dried lumber scraps
• Saw mill lumber scraps
• Unprocessed wood pieces (such as limbs)

I highly recommend you stay away from kiln dried lumber crap. This type of charcoal can come from processed wood such as flooring scrap which means it contains some chemicals. This type of lump charcoal usually burns fast and breaks easily when handled.

You can find good quality charcoal made from limbs and saw mill lumber scraps which is my personal recommendation. Both types are made from unprocessed wood.

Best Lump Charcoal 

Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal 

This professional-grade lump charcoal is made from pure, ultra-dense South American hardwood trees. There are no fillers, scrap materials, or chemicals in this charcoal – it’s just wood. It offers superior burning time: 4+ hours in open grills and 20+ hours in controlled smokers. The maximum temperatures are over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, but I have never needed to burn it this hot. This lump charcoal comes in a waterproof and resealable bag with a zip-top closure to keep your charcoal secure no matter where it’s stored.

Items to Note: 

• Wood is sourced from Paraguay, which has some of the strictest preservation laws
• Perfect for Kamado Style Grills like the Big Green Egg
• A 2” lump of this hardwood charcoal is more dense than charcoal made from mesquite or oak. That means it will burn more efficiently.
• Requires less charcoal due to its density

What reviewers say: This charcoal is absolutely the best one in terms of heat, longevity, coal size, density, and naturalness. Low ash, incredible heat, pleasant smoke smell and flavor, and perfectly sized pieces. 

Kamado Joe KJ-Char Hardwood Extra Large Lump Charcoal

Crafted in Argentina, this charcoal features a unique blend of different South American hardwoods. These dense hardwoods produce an ultra-large charcoal that burns longer and produces a top-quality wood flavor and smoke.

It is 100% natural and made from hardwood trees, meaning it burns clean without additives or foreign materials.

This charcoal burns longer and hotter, meaning that it costs less per use than similar high-quality charcoals from other brands because you won’t need to use as much to cook your meat to perfection.

Items to Note:

• Made from Argentinian hardwoods: Guayacan, Guayaibi, Mistal, and White Quebracho
• Does not use any scrap wood or cutoffs from manufacturing
• The 20lb bag may be shipped in a box to minimize damage

What reviewers say: Burns longer than other similar brands for a given volume of charcoal. Comes in a sturdy box that protects the charcoal pieces, meaning that pieces don’t get crushed through the bag before they make it to your home. Burns slow and steady for several hours. Gives barbecue foods a pleasant, smoky aroma. 

Fogo Super Premium Oak Restaurant All-Natural Hardwood Charcoal for Grilling and Smoking

This 35-pound bag contains a premium blend of 100% all-natural hardwood species. It lights up fast, lasts long, and reaches ultra-hot temperatures quickly. It works in any style of grill including gas and charcoal grills, but does especially well in ceramic-style grills, like Big Green Egg, Weber Kettle, Smoky Mountain, Primo, Kamado Joe, and others. This restaurant-quality charcoal produces wonderfully flavored meat and food. The bag contains medium-sized pieces.

Items to Note:

• This is a 35lb bag
• “Super Premium” means about 80% of the lumps are 4 inches or larger
• Larger sizes result in a more stable temperature and longer burn time

What reviewers say: Burns for nearly twice as long as other brands. Smells great and imports a pleasant hardwood flavor onto the food. Truly consistent and long-lasting heat that reaches high temperatures. Many reviewers claim that this is the all-around best charcoal available on the market. 

Big Green Egg 20-Pound Bag of Natural Charcoal 

Big Green Egg charcoal is 100% natural and ultra-premium quality lump charcoal. The 20-pound bag contains American oak and hickory hardwoods. It is quick to light and burns hotter and more efficiently than charcoal briquettes. Since there are no additives, it leaves food tasting delicious with a pleasantly, natural smoky flavor. There is minimal ash after each grilling session, which makes for easy cleanup.

Items to Note:

• 20-pound bag
• Can be significantly less expensive to find at a local BBQ dealer

What reviewers say: A little bit goes a long way because these pieces of charcoal burn slowly, ultra-hot, and efficiently. Mostly large pieces with some smaller pieces thrown in there, essentially the only small pieces were previously larger pieces that had been broken through the bag. Top-quality charcoal that consistently cooks meat and food to perfection. 

B&B Oak Lump Charcoal

This 100% natural charcoal prides itself on being the “expert’s choice” for professional and outdoor grilling use for over 50 years. These large, lump pieces of charcoal burn cleanly and ultra-hot, plus they last much longer than lower-quality brands of lump charcoal. A nice, natural earthy smoke flavor complements grilled food, and there is minimal ash leftover afterwards.

What reviewers say: Some pieces in the bag are quite small but are mixed with larger and medium-sized pieces. Many reviewers say this is premium-grade charcoal and on par with other top-quality brands. 

Royal Oak All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

Royal Oak lump charcoal is made from American oak, maple, and hickory hardwood free of any additives.

The lumps are quite uniform in size and this brand is available in various stores such as Home Depot and Walmart. It’s also affordable offering good value for the price.

What reviewers say: It lights up fast but other brands are more suitable for long burns (it still works nicely for quick grilled foods such as grilled skirt steak or grilled chicken burgers. The flavor is nice and there are no large chunks but many people seem to also find rocks in the bag.

Rockwood All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

This is an eco-friendly option as the wood used to produce this lump charcoal is high-quality Missouri oak, hickory, pecan, and maple from leftover timber milling. This means no trees are specifically cut to produce this charcoal.

Rockwood charcoal burns clean and hot, lasts long, and is additives-free. Even more, the bags are recyclable, landfill-safe, and burn without producing toxic fumes.

What reviews say: Rockwood lump charcoal is great for long burns and produces minimal waste. It also lights fast and has a great “base” smoke flavor you can further enhance with your favorite wood-smoking chips or chunks.

Cowboy Hardwood Lump Charcoal

Available in various bag sizes, Cowboy lump charcoal is made from a blend of hardwoods, including hickory, oak, and maple. It’s an affordable option you can easily find.

It has the classic campfire flavor used for Southern BBQ cooking and provides a long burn time with very little ash. The sparks and pops it produces when you first light it up are potential drawbacks. It’s worth noting the chaos dies down with the flames.

What reviewers say: Most people say Cowboy charcoal produces long-lasting high heat but you’ll find some very large pieces in the bag which might have trouble fitting inside small chimney starters.

❗Expert Tips For Choosing The Best Lump Charcoal

While charcoal is always made out of natural wood, sometimes brands are misleading with their wording. Some lump charcoal brands claim their charcoal is made from natural wood, but they are actually made from compressed dried lumber scraps, sawmill scraps, or general scrap pieces of wood. 

Wood Source

While those are technically all natural (since it is implied that there are no additives), it is always best to use a lump charcoal that is made directly from hardwood trees and otherwise unprocessed.

Second-hand scraps that have been transformed into lump charcoal tend to create more dust/small chips than natural wood lumps, which is not ideal for grilling.

Smoke Flavor & Intensity

The flavor profile of lump charcoal can differ greatly depending on the hardwood used to make it. Fruit wood such as apple, cherry, and peach create mild and sweet flavors.

Oak and maple offer a classic medium smoke, while hickory, pecan, and mesquite are bolder options in terms of smoke intensity. Check our smoking wood cheat sheet for more information.

Size

In general, larger-sized uniform charcoal is the ideal choice as it will burn hotter and longer than smaller lumps. If there’s any charcoal dust at the bottom of the bag, don’t use it. It will only cause sparks and won’t contribute to maintaining the heat.

Burning Temperature

Lump charcoal burns at different temperatures depending on the species of hardwood it’s made from. The typical range is between 800-1000°F.

This type of information can be useful depending on the time and temperature needed for smoking or grilling.

📕More Smoking And Grilling Resources

You’re well on your way toward becoming an expert pit master. Consult these free resources to level up your smoking and grilling skills even more! And don’t forget: it’s also important to learn how to put out a charcoal grill and not expose yourself or your family to unnecessary risks.

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• Best Wood For Smoking Chicken
• Best Wood For Smoking Brisket
• Best Wood For Smoking Salmon
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