Kingsford Blue vs. Kingsford Competition


 
R

Ron A

TVWBB Fan
Just an unscientific observation about KB from a relative "newbie". For the last year, I have been using Kingsford Competition almost exclusively (courtesy of Costco specials), but I ran out in February and could not find bags of it anywhere in the Seattle area (including Costco), so I picked up a two-pack of "blue" at Home Depot. From the very first smoke, I had problems with excessive ash and maintaining the heat (within 10-15 degrees of my target) even though there were no other changes to how and what I was smoking. Is there really THAT much difference between "Blue" and "Competition"?

BTW, Costco has since re-stocked for the spring and summer so I picked up five 2-packs ($4 off) which should hold me for a while. I now have a half of one remaining bag of "Blue" that I'll just use in my Kettle when I feel like grilling.
 
I just posted a similar observation recently. I guess it boils down to what you've been accustomed to. I had been using my 18lb bag of Kingsford Competition (from that Costco sale) this past month and have appreciated its low ash production. But it wasn't until I bought stockpiles of the blue bags that I noticed the old familiar smell that's not found in the Competition. I used to like the blue bags, and favor them for their price and consistency, but their chemical smell is quite distinct. There are others here, however, who swear by them. I don't know--did Kingsford change their formula recently? Maybe those freshly bought blue bags need to stay in storage for a while before using! Or perhaps I just need to keep using them and get used to that smell until I don't notice it anymore.
 
I prefer Kingsford competition but the blue bag is good specially with the sales they are currently having at lowes and HD
 
And I'm of the opposite end of the spectrum. I don't find the Competition to be all that much different from KBB and not worth the extra cost - even on sale. While the Comp does fire up quicker & burn hotter (according to Kingsford) they don't last as long and produce slightly less ash. For the cost of Competition, I'd much rather have Stubbs. THAT stuff is great charcoal and blows the Competition (no pun intended) out of the water.

I like Stubbs & lump, but I load up on KBB and use it a lot simply because of cost.
 
Kingsford competition briquettes are designed to burn a little hotter and have less ash than the blue bags.
 
Obviously Competion is going to be more expensive is a better product. If I'm doing a nice cut off may like a cab I'm going with competition or stuubs. If in doing butts n ribs I'm going with the blue. It's all based on your body. Competition burns longer with less ash, whereas the blue has fillers
 
Decade long KBB users here recently converted. Not to Competition, but to Stubbs as someone above mentioned.

Wally has it for $7.87 a 15/lb bag here.

Stubbs burns hotter than KBB, and way less ash. I think I like the flavor better too, but haven't used it long enough, only 2 bags so far.
 
Have smoked many a rib, brisket, boston butt and chicken for numerous guests and not one has ask whether I used KBB , Stubbs, etc. They just enjoyed the end product.

For 95 plus percent of your guests and those of us cooking charcoal is charcoal.
 
FYI, my Walmart carries Kcomp year round.

No I don't think there is a difference in temp control. Where I notice a difference is in direct grilling or hanging meat over open coals- I get a subtle iron like taste with kbb which took years to notice. That said, for indirect smoking kbb is fantastic and I don't know of an advantage of kcomp there. If you do a lot of minion method maybe there's a chance kcomp could be of benefit there.
 
Its seems to me that the Comp does not maintain a steady 250 nearly as long as a KBB...I never timed it, but the last few briskets I did were Kcomp, and it seemed to not last as long.
 
Thanks to all for your candid remarks and observations. As Timothy pointed out, "just use what you like".

I'll keep the "Blue" for grilling on the kettle and use the K-Comp for the WSM.

Life is good!
 
Lots of folks have had Kbb ash issues. Check out the Cooking Topics Section of the TVWB. Chris Allingham, using Kbb, documented having to stir the coals TWICE each cook, during two out of the three overnight pork butt cooks as well as in the "Midnight Brisket Cook".
 
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