Best charcoal to use !


 
Tim Gray

Tim Gray

TVWBB Member
What's the best charcoal ? I have been using Cowboy Lump and not to impressed.I have heard a lot of good stuff about Rockwood and Ozark.Just looking for something other than Cowboy.
 
I've been using Ozark Oak - I used to use Kingsford and had good results - but when I tried the Ozark Oak, it tasted "cleaner". I can't really describe the difference, but that's what I do.

I'll probably try Rockwood - my folks live in South Central MO - maybe they can find some.

I went through a learning curve with lump - took me a while to grow back the hair on my fingers 'til I cut the amount that I use way back.
 
I used Kingsford blue bag for a long time and then someone gave me a bag of Royal Oak lump to try and for now on that is all I'm going to use... Night and day difference IMO... Kingsford had always given me issues due to ash content as they burn and seems as though it was smothering or suffocating itself with the ashes... Royal Oak to me has almost no ash and didn't have to be babysat... Again, this is just my opinion...
Leo...
 
I've been using Stubbs briquettes for grilling and Kingsford Competition briquettes for smoking in the WSM. Stubbs can be found at Lowes and Kingsford Competition is now available at Wal Mart. I still buy Kingsford Blue bag during the holiday sales.
 
I've been using Stubbs briquettes for smoking in the WSM, it burns clean very little ash left over. I have only been able to find Stubbs at Lowes.
 
I recommend checking out Naked Whiz. They test charcoal and give gobs of info on the subject.

I used to use Royal Oak lump exclusively but found the irregular pieces varied so widely that it became a concern so I need to try something else. I've given KBB an honest re-try by using it exclusively for the last few months but the ash build up is just too much for me (again). The briquette consistency and ash volume of lump is the balance I am looking for. I am going to do a price comparison between K Comp and Stubb's (can't find the price of K comp at a local store online) and give whichever is cheaper a new try. So for me the answer of which is best is a balance between cost, performance, and consistency.

Here's what I found

Stubb's 15 lb @ $7.87 = 0.52/lb (edit: found at Walmart today)
KBB (2x20) 40 lb @ $19.99 = 0.50/lb (seasonal sale price is MUCH better)
KBB 16.6 lb @ $11.99 = 0.72/lb

Here's what Naked Whiz found:

Pricing
This is a bit tricky, obviously, as pricing can vary greatly from store to store and region to region. For what it's worth, we checked a few prices locally. Both the Kingsford Competition and Sure Fire briquette prices came from do-it-yourself stores. The price for Wicked Good Charcoal briquettes came from their website. Since we also saw Stubbs brand all natural briquettes at a DIY store, we also included their price:


Price per Pound
Kingsford Competition $0.75/lb
Kingsford Sure Fire $0.38/lb
Stubbs $0.56/ob
Wicked Good Charcoal $0.53/lb
Wicked Good Charcoal
w/ shipping (See note) $1.16


Note: Wicked Good Charcoal price with shipping assumes purchase of 6 11-pound bags
and includes Fedex Home Delivery shipping to Colorado as an example.
 
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15 lb bags of Stubb's briquettes are currently $7.87 at Amazon, limit 3 bags at a time. (my local Lowes has it for $8.99, less tax)
I'm a Prime member and recently bought 3.
The shipping box was in rough shape, but the charcoal seems fine, haven't opened one yet.
I'm trying to wean myself off of KBB, and always really liked Stubb's.

For lump I use Ozark Oak.
IMO, Rockwood is on par with OO, but more pricey, even though it's made and sold locally.
 
I too use to always use KBB but found that ash content to much. Changed to lump (royal oak) and felt not only did my food taste better but I just liked it more. I've been rotating between Stubbs lump and RO. I would have to say like Dwain the thing that bothers me about the two brands is the inconsistency of the pieces but other then that I have had good luck.
 
50% Kingsford Competition briquettes or Kingsford blue and
50 % Royal Oak
All mixed together, works for me.

Peter
 
I have found Royal Oak Chefs Select briquettes to be about the best bang for the buck for grillg or for use in the WSM. It's an all natural briquette, very clean burning, nice aroma, and low ash.

If you have a DoIt Best hardware store in your area, you can order 40 lb bags on line and they will ship to store for free. Cost runs just a hair North of $.50 per pound, about $22.00 for a 40 pound bag.
 
I have had no problems using Kingsford Original. When Pitmaster Champions use it and win, that's all I need to know. I have tried different charcoal including lump and other than different burning characteristics, I can see no difference in taste and THAT is what is important to me.

When Kingsford is on sale I buy 300-400 lbs. Last year I paid as little as $7.88 for 40 lbs ($.197 per lb) to as much as $12.88 for 40 lbs. ($.322 per lb). Yeah, I have several bags sitting in my garage all of the time, but I sure don't run out of charcoal and fuel cost is obviously MUCH lower than paying full price. Using the same brand of charcoal that is consistent in performance, means a lot to me. I can predict what will happen with some accuracy. I tried lump and it is so different, bag to bag, that you can't depend on it for smoking. Further, I found all kinds of trash in my bags of lump (others have reported the same in different brands). I don't find that encouraging.

There are good "all wood" briquettes and they have some really good characteristics. However, for me, they have priced themselves out of contention. But, that's just me...

It is a personal decision. Everyone has different "druthers". You just need to satisfy yourself (and your family and guests, of course). Me, I appreciate the lower cost and since I can't tell the difference in taste, etc. it's a "no brainer" for me.

YMMV
Keep on smokin',
Dale53:wsm:
 
Every time I buy something on amazon I add two bags of stubbs, cheaper than Lowes

Bob Correll said:
15 lb bags of Stubb's briquettes are currently $7.87 at Amazon, limit 3 bags at a time. (my local Lowes has it for $8.99, less tax)
I'm a Prime member and recently bought 3.
The shipping box was in rough shape, but the charcoal seems fine, haven't opened one yet.
I'm trying to wean myself off of KBB, and always really liked Stubb's.

For lump I use Ozark Oak.
IMO, Rockwood is on par with OO, but more pricey, even though it's made and sold locally.
Click to expand...
 
I usally use blue bag because when you get it on the sale it is hard to beat price wise. I also really like stubbs and get it when I can find it at the local walmart. I have used lump before, the only one I don't like is cowboy.
 
Cowboy did try to change some, but lump that looks like twigs the size of a finger, is kindling IMO.
I use RO, cause I can get it year round from Menards and it's only a few mile drive.
I tried 12 bags of Stubbs when it was clearanced out at HD, and I felt it behaved the same way as RO briqs, which are cheaper, so I stick with RO.
K-comp I like and will buy it when on sale. KBB I have no use for, besides burning stumps out of the ground, cause it is cheap.
No offense to any one who uses it, I just pass on it since they did the change in 06.
I need to find some of that RO chefs select. The bags at GFS are pretty good, and a bargain when on sale.

Tim
 
Tim Gray said:
What's the best charcoal ? I have been using Cowboy Lump and not to impressed.I have heard a lot of good stuff about Rockwood and Ozark.Just looking for something other than Cowboy.
Click to expand...

Just try anything you can get locally. I can't say I notice much difference except that lump has less ash than briquettes so I prefer lump. I have read a lot of complaint about Cowboy so you might have already tried one of the worst. Charcoal and wood are expensive if you have to include shipping so that is why I say whatever you can buy local. The other option is that some stores like True Value have some charcoal that they don't stock locally but you can ship to store for free. That may be another way to try different brands.
 
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