Big Green Egg is an industry leader with backyard smokers and ceramic grills. These beauties are some of the highest quality on the market. To get the best results, it’s important to fill them with high-quality ingredients. How do you make sure you’re using the best fuel for your Big Green Egg product?
Big Green Egg
Big Green Egg provides the best Kamado-style grill on the market. The company’s philosophy is that cooking hasn’t changed over the past few millennia. They believe that cooking is best done in an earthenware enclosure that has been surrounded by burning wood.
The company uses an iconic domed style that was inspired by ancient ovens used in Japan and China. These ovens used the same charcoal and wood that we find today. But unlike ancient ovens, modern-day grills are used for cooking meat more often than rice.
Comparison Table
| Brand Name | Weight | Ingredients | Time to Heat |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1. Royal Oak Lump Charcoal Our Best Pick  Check Price | 15.4 pounds | All natural ingredients | 15 minutes |
#2. Fogo Lump Charcoal Check Price | 17.6 pounds | All natural ingredients | 10 minutes |
Lump Charcoal Compared to Briquettes
Charcoal is made from vegetable or animal substances. When charcoal is used to cook, the majority you’ll find on the market is made out of wood. There’s evidence that charcoal has been produced across a multitude of cultures for thousands of years, especially in cultures that had a great deal of wood.
In comparison to briquettes, lump charcoal produces less ash, burns hotter, and lights faster. It’s also easier to adjust the temperature of lump charcoal. Charcoal uses all-natural ingredients, while briquettes don’t tend to.
There are a few potential downsides to lump charcoal, though. The charcoal doesn’t have as consistent a size as a briquette. In addition, it burns up faster, so you have to use more of it. Lump charcoal tends to be a more expensive option as well.
With that said, lump charcoal is most highly recommended by BBQ experts. The natural wood ingredients positively influence the flavor of your food.
Choosing a Good Lump Charcoal
There are a few things that make the best lump charcoal.
The first is natural ingredients. The best charcoals on the market use high-quality and natural ingredients. Most often, these include wood. You don’t want charcoal that’s been made with a great deal of additives and chemicals. The chemicals seep into the food’s flavor, making it unpleasant.
An ideal charcoal will light quickly and burn at high temperatures. Good charcoal will have your grill ready for use within just a few minutes. The hotter it burns, the more effective it will be at cooking meat or other dishes. It’s also ideal for the coals to be long-lasting and burn for a significant period of time.
Another contributing factor is size. You want to use the right-sized lump for your charcoal. Huge lumps don’t give you the right cooking surface or burn time. But cheap charcoals often include small, useless crumbs and dust.
Making Your Own Charcoal
If you’re passionate about having the best ingredients, one thing you can do is make charcoal within your backyard.
The first step is to get an empty paint can. Paint cans are the best to use because their heavy-duty construction stands up to heat. Drill a few holes in the lid to allow gases to escape. This is imperative — failing to do so could cause an explosion!
You’ll need to decide what kind of wood to use. Charcoal can be made using the wood you find in your backyard. If you want to give your meat the best possible flavor, some of the best woods to use are ash, hickory, and cherry. Regardless of the type of wood you use, it’s important to make sure it’s dry.
Break up your wood into small pieces. Fill the paint can with the pieces and put the lid on.
You should put the can on a grill or fire for somewhere from 4 to 5 hours. After the can has cooled down, you’ll have your own charcoal inside. The fire helps to burn out any other substances.
There are also a number of charcoals you can buy at the store.
The Best Lump Charcoals for Big Green Egg
#1. Royal Oak Lump Charcoal
It’s true that Big Green Egg makes their own lump charcoal. However, the company behind its manufacture is Royal Oak. Royal Oak brand charcoal does the job just as well, but at a fraction of the price. It’s easy to find at any online retailer.
Royal Oak charcoal is ready to use within about fifteen minutes. It’s hard to beat thanks to its modest pricing and effective use.
#2. Fogo Lump Charcoal
Fogo is another brand that manufactures lump charcoal that’s suitable for use in Kamado grills. The brand’s lump charcoal is made out of dense hardwood. The charcoal is quick-lighting, allowing your grill to be ready to use within 10 to 15 minutes.
For environmentally-conscious people, Fogo is an ideal brand. The company uses sustainable practices to create its charcoal by using tree trimmings and trees that have been marked as safe for removal.
Final Thoughts
You might be tempted to buy the lump charcoal produced by Big Green Egg. It’s true that this charcoal will work well with your Big Green Egg grill or smoker, but the brand-name charcoal tends to be pricey.
You can get the same product by buying Royal Oak lump charcoal. This company is responsible for making Big Green Egg’s lump charcoal, and their own products are the same quality. Royal Oak is your best quality option for Big Green Egg.
However, if you’re concerned with environmental consciousness, another valid choice is the Fogo lump charcoal. Fogo is careful to use sustainable practices for its charcoal production.
