After buying your big green egg to use for cooking meat, you are super excited about using it. So, you go ahead and buy a bag of coals from the store.
But alas, the charcoal gets depleted too quickly and you have to use more than you’d anticipated.
There’s also plenty of ash and the meat’s flavor is not very good. You can even taste some of the charcoal’s additives in it.
Does the story feel familiar?
There’s no problem with your cooker. The issue is that you’re not using the best charcoal for big green egg.
If you want charcoal that lights quickly, burns efficiently without producing much ash, and lasts around 18 hours or more in the egg, you got to use lump charcoal.
But not all sellers of lump charcoal offer you a quality product that comes with these benefits. I have created the review below to help you get a good bag of lump charcoal.
Let’s jump in.
Image | Name | Editor's Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jealous Devil Lump Charcoal | 5 out of 5 | |
 | Kamado Joe KJ- Lump Charcoal | 5 out of 5 | |
| Fogo Super-Premium Oak Charcoal | 4.5 out of 5 | |
| Cowboy 24220 Lump Charcoal | 4 out of 5 | |
Rockwood Charcoal | 4.5 out of 5 |
Our Recommended Best lump Charcoal for Big Green Egg
1. Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal
When it comes to charcoal, Jealous Devil is one of the most revered brands. What it offers is the best lump charcoal for big green egg in terms of heat level, burning efficiency, and the duration of burning.
As its name suggests, the Jealous Devil All Natural is lump charcoal that comes from hardwood. This product comes from hardwoods grown in South America, with the biggest advantage being that it is pure.
The wood doesn’t contain chemicals or additives like scrap metal or petroleum products. Because of that, there are no worries about the charcoal poisoning your food.
Moreover, your food doesn’t get any weird flavors or tastes apart from the nice smoky flavor that charcoal usually adds to food.
Did you know that the majority of bbq lovers prefer lump charcoal to briquettes? Are you asking yourself why?
The reason is quite simple – lump charcoal offers better cooking power and it is more efficient.
The Devil All Natural is particularly good in that regard. Just a gram of this lump charcoal can cook up to 7000kcal of food, which is almost twice the cooking power of briquette charcoal.
Also, this product burns more strongly to maximum temperatures of over 1170 °F. In addition, the charcoal burns far longer. It can last up to 20 hours when used in the big green egg.
Are you tired of excess ash in your egg?
Try this charcoal, which produces low amounts of ash. Besides, it does not pop or spark, and thus it is safer and more convenient to use.
The Jealous Devil comes in varying sizes between 1 and 35 pounds to suit your needs.
Thankfully, the packaging is waterproof and resealable so you needn’t worry about your charcoal going bad.
Highlighted features:
2. Kamado Joe KJ-Char Big Block Lump Charcoal
Kamado Joe is a renowned brand that sells charcoal specifically meant to be used in the big green egg.
If you’re looking for best natural lump charcoal, the Kamado Joe KJ-Char Big Block would be an excellent choice. Let’s see why.
First of all, as the name suggests, this is lump charcoal. It is obtained through blending charcoal from various hardwood such as White Quebracho and Guayacan.
Being natural lump charcoal, the product burns intensely and for longer durations. Can you believe that in the kamado, it burns for up to 18 hours? That’s a long duration, meaning this is a great product.
Because of this charcoal’s long burning time, you can reuse it several times. In that regard, you don’t have to wait until the charcoal burns out. You can put out the fire and reuse it again later. Actually, you can use each batch three times.
When looking for charcoal for the big green egg, one of the factors you want to keep in mind is the size of the lumps.
You see, if the lumps are too small, they crumble easily and produce a lot of ash, which, in turn, reduces the burning efficiency. It is great to see that the Kamado Joe lumps are extra-large. They don’t crumble easily, and hence, ash is not something to stress about.
Lastly, if you want a product that comes in good packaging, this one will do. It comes in a waterproof, resealable bag that keeps the charcoal safe from elements such as moisture.
The charcoal is available in two sizes – 20 pounds and 30 pounds.
Highlighted features:
3. Fogo Super-Premium Oak Charcoal for Big Green Egg
One thing you might notice about this product from Fogo is that it is pricier than what most of the competitors are offering. But, at the same time, the Fogo Super-Premium Oak Lump Charcoal’s quality is unmatched.
As the name implies, this is super-premium charcoal. Being made from Oak, which is one of the highest-quality hardwoods on the planet, the charcoal packs some great perks. It burns with strong heat and the burning duration is long.
One of the reasons why this charcoal is a fan favorite is the kind of flavor it imparts. Oak smells great, and it adds some nice hardwood flavor to your food.
You may have heard that bigger lumps are better than smaller ones. Well, Fogo’s charcoal comes in the form of large lumps sized about 4 inches long. Therefore, they have a better airflow that ensures there is a high burning efficiency.
Furthermore, the big surface area enables the charcoal to burn slower and for longer.
The truth about such large lumps is that lighting takes a bit of time, which is to be expected.
On the bright side, once you’re able to get them burning, the lumps throw in a great heat that is highly consistent. You’re also able to reach searing temperatures quickly, which translates to speedy cooking.
If you use charcoal often, there is no need to get a small quantity. Go for this package that comes with a capacity of 35 pounds.
To conclude, this is not cheap store-brand charcoal. You’ll pay more, but you’re not doing so for a regular product.
You’ll be paying for the best lump charcoal for green egg. These are super-premium coals that beat anything you can find in the stores.
Highlighted features:
4. Cowboy 24220 Lump Charcoal for Green egg
If you’re serious about getting the best charcoal for big green egg, the Cowboy 24220 Lump Charcoal is yet another product worth considering. This product is well-made natural lump charcoal that boasts a wide fan base.
First and foremost, this charcoal is made from 100 percent natural hardwood. The manufacturer combines various hardwoods such as Hickory, Maple, and Oak to come up with the product.
Owing to that, the charcoal is strong. As opposed to the cheap charcoal varieties on the market, it doesn’t crumble easily.
As you may already know, charcoal that crumbles easily produces plenty of ash, which in turn lessens the heat and causes lots of smoke to be produced. But Cowboy burns efficiently without crumbling too much.
Do you love bbq? The secret to producing mouth-watering bbq is to make sure the smoke gets into the meat and that the smoke has a good smell.
One reason why the Cowboy charcoal is a fan-favorite is that its smoke features a delicious flavor. Rest assured that food cooked with these coals will leave you and your guests yearning for more.
When looking for the right charcoal for the big green egg, you want the finest option in terms of heat levels and burning time.
Tell you what? This product emits high levels of heat that is consistent. It also burns for a long duration of over 18 hours.
The Cowboy 24220 Lump Charcoal comes in a 20-pound package, which is enough for cooking large chunks of meat.
Highlighted features:
5. Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal
Are you looking to purchase just one bag or several bags of the best hardwood lump charcoal? Whatever the case, Rockwood has made things pretty easy for you. Its product, the Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal, is available in packs of up to 6 bags.
Each bag has a capacity of 20 pounds, and you know what the beautiful thing is? The brand offers you some quantity discount on each extra bag you purchase.
Another great thing I bet you will love about this product is that it is all-natural. It doesn’t come with any chemical additives, so you needn’t stress about bad flavors of toxic ingredients getting added to your food.
The coals are made from 100 percent hardwood that is grown in Missouri. Some of the wood used include Pecan, Maple, and Hickory.
With such great wood being mixed into the coals, you can bet that the flavor of the smoke is rich. Meat that is roasted with these coals contains a wonderful natural wood flavor.
How long your coals burn plays a key role in determining the cooking cost. Coals that burn for a long time require less refilling and ultimately result in lower costs.
That is one of the reasons why people love the Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal. This product is comprised of large coal lumps that burn slowly and for a long time, thus saving on energy costs.
Highlighted features:
6. Harder Charcoal XL Natural Lump Charcoal
When you think about how fast small pieces of lump charcoal burn, you get to see exactly why people prefer big pieces. Small lump charcoal pieces burn almost immediately, while big pieces hold out longer.
There are lots of small pieces in the Harder Charcoal XL Lump Charcoal bag, but guess what?
There are even more of the extra-large pieces. Once the small ones catch fire, they light up the big ones pretty quickly, which reduces the effort needed to light your EGG.
One of the biggest joys of this charcoal is that the big pieces produce incredibly high amounts of heat, which gets to over 1000 °F. At such high temperatures, you only need short periods to cook food.
What I find amazing about Harder Charcoal is that it is pretty resistant to crumbling. Made from a unique hardwood called the Quebrancho wood, the charcoal is quite firm.
As opposed to the low-grade varieties of charcoal on the market, it doesn’t fall apart easily.
Since the coal is designed to burn a long time, it is highly recommended for people seeking the best charcoal for green egg. It also works great for other ceramic cookers.
Are you tired of sparks or smoke? There are lots of cheap coals on the market, but one of their downsides is that they give off a ton of smoke and sparks.
The Harder Charcoal XL Lump Charcoal costs extra, but it doesn’t present any of these. Rather, it burns cleanly and efficiently.
Highlighted features:
Lump Charcoal for Big Green Egg Comparison Table
Name | Weight options (pounds) | Wood used | Maximum temperatures (°F) | Burning time without refilling (hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jealous Devil All Natural Charcoal | 1 to 35 | South American hardwood | 1170 | 20 |
Kamado Joe Charcoal | 20 and 30 | White Quebracho, Guayaibi, Guayaibi, and Mistal | 1100 | 18 |
Fogo Super-Charcoal | 35 | Oak | Oak 900 | 26 |
Cowboy 24220 | 20 | A blend of Hickory, Maple, Oak, and more. | 1000 | 18 |
Rockwood All-Natural Charcoal | 20 | A blend of Maple, Oak, Pecan, etc. | 1100 | -- |
Harder Charcoal | 33 | Quebrancho | 1000 | 25 |
Charcoal for Big Green Egg Buying Guide
When shopping for the best lump charcoal for big green egg, you’d think that as long as you go for lump charcoal, the brand doesn’t matter. But that is far from the truth. Quality differs based on where you source your charcoal.
Here are some of the factors you need to watch out for when looking for the right coals for your BGE.
1. Ingredients
Some manufacturers usually add various chemicals like petroleum to wood to make their coals burn faster. Often, they don’t have access to quality hardwood, and as such, they try to enhance their coals with chemicals.
The problem with charcoal that is sourced that way is that it doesn’t burn efficiently. Rather, it produces a lot of smoke and ash. Moreover, it might add hazardous chemicals and bad flavors to your food.
When searching for quality charcoal, be sure to note the source and the ingredients used. Good coals should be made from quality hardwood such as Oak, Maple, Pecan, and so on.
Such natural hardwood coals that don’t contain any chemical additives burn hot and for long. As such, it cooks efficiently and saves energy. Also, it is safer to use.
2. Flavor
Did you know different woods impart varying types of flavor into your food? For instance, a darker wood like Hickory will add a stronger flavor, which works great when cooking red meat.
On the other hand, if you’re cooking white meat, a lighter wood like Maple would be a better choice. Lighter woods add a sweet but lighter flavor.
If you want a sweet blend of flavors, you can go for a bag that’s composed of a combination of hardwoods as opposed to just one hardwood.
3. Burning time and temperature
One of the major things people check when looking for the right hardwood lump charcoal is the amount of heat it gives out. The reason why heat level matters is quite simple – it determines how long your food will take to cook.
Depending on the type of wood you go for, you will enjoy a particular temperature level.
Note that different woods burn up to certain temperature ranges. For instance, Maple, Oak, and Hickory can burn up to 1200 °F.
4. Size of the lumps
Charcoal lumps are cut in different sizes. They can be large, medium-sized, or small. The large ones are usually 4 inches or more, the medium-sized lumps are about two to three inches long, and the small ones are 1 inch or less.
Why does size matter?
Small lumps are easy to light and they burn rapidly. However, they get finished and turn to ash quickly.
On the other hand, the large lumps are harder to light up. But once they do, they burn slowly, emit high temperatures, and they don’t get diminished quickly. Also, they don’t spark or produce much smoke or ash.
It’s better to have the large lumps only than the small lumps only. However, it is great to have a few small lumps in a coal bag, as these will aid in lighting up the large coal.
Lump Charcoal Vs Briquettes
One of the biggest dilemmas you people face is whether to use briquettes or lump charcoal for grilling and barbecuing.
If you’re on the fence over which one to use, I am going to help you choose. In this section, we’ll look at each of these types of charcoal, including their pros and cons.
1. Lump Charcoal
To make this coal, manufacturers slowly burn wood in a chamber where there’s almost no oxygen. That way, the wood is rid of all the sap, water, and natural chemicals.
This process comes up with high-quality coal that burns hot and for much longer than briquettes.
The coals don’t leave much ash and don’t produce lots of smoke. Moreover, since they don’t contain many chemicals, they’re safer to use.
One of the reasons why people love lump charcoal more than briquettes is that it gives the user control over the heat level. You simply have to adjust the air vents.
If you’re looking for the cleanest way to barbecue meat, you’re better off with lump charcoal as it doesn’t contain fillers or additives.
Pros of Lump Charcoal:
- All-natural – doesn’t contain additives
- Makes it easier to adjust the temperature
- Doesn’t produce much ash
- Lights up quickly
- Burns hotter
Lump Charcoal Cons:
- Some bags come with uneven coal sizes, which can make grilling difficult – but breaking them solves the problem
- Pricier than briquettes
2. Briquettes
The main difference between lump charcoal and briquettes is that while lump charcoal is made from pure wood, briquettes are made from leftover wood and sawdust.
Another difference is that while lump wood is all-natural, briquettes contain additives such as petroleum products.
Briquettes are infused with additives majorly to hold the blocks together into those little round shapes. Also, some additives are meant to help make the blocks easier to light.
One of the main advantages of briquettes over lump wood is that they are cheaper. However, they come with various challenges that make them not so desirable.
Firstly, the additives tamper with the taste and flavor of the food getting cooked. Often, you end up tasting the additives in the food.
Secondly, briquettes do not burn as hot as lump coals. Nor do they last as long as lump charcoal.
Pros of briquettes:
- Cheaper and more affordable than lump charcoal
Cons of briquettes:
- They contain chemical additives, hence not the best option health-wise
- The smell and flavor of the additives get added to the food
- A lot of ash is produced
People Also Asked (FAQs)
How much charcoal do I need when cooking with my egg?
That depends on whether you want to cook quickly or slowly. If you want to cook quickly, ensure you do not fill the bowl. By leaving a good distance between the cooking grate and the lump, you make it easier for air to flow in, which helps the lump burn faster.
On the other hand, if you want to do slow cooking, you can fill up the bowl. That will restrict the airflow, and thus prevent the lump from burning quickly.
Why is the big green egg popular?
The big green egg, also known as kamado, features an ancient Chinese cooker design that was used as far back as 3000 BC. This design is still in use today because of its versatility, effectiveness, and ease of use.
The kamado can accomplish a whole range of cooking tasks. It can bake pizzas, sear meat, and even cook pies.
One of the biggest advantages of the big green egg is that it can hold high temperatures for 16 hours or more without requiring you to add charcoal.
Is it true that lump charcoal produces a better taste than briquettes?
Unlike briquettes, lump charcoal is made from 100 percent natural hardwood such as Oak and Maple. It contains no chemical additives, meaning it will not be transferring any bad flavors to your food. Instead, it imparts a nice smoky aroma. So, yes, food cooked with lump coals tastes better than that cooked with briquettes.
What’s the ideal charcoal for green egg?
The ideal charcoal for big green egg and other ceramic cookers is that which is made from 100 percent hardwood. There’s a wide selection of hardwoods to choose from, including Hickory, Oak, Maple, and more. Such wood burns cleanly and heats up efficiently without producing lots of ash.
Final Word
Do you feel it is time to get your grill on with the best charcoal for big green egg? I hope the review above will come in handy.
As you might have noticed, I only dwelt on lump charcoal. Yes, briquettes are cheaper than lump coals, but they cannot match the quality of the latter.
If you’re tired of excess ash, having to keep refilling the bowl, and enduring bad chemical tastes in your meat, lump coal is exactly what you need.
This kind of charcoal lights up quicker, burns better, and hotter, and helps you to cook meat quicker and more safely.
When deciding on the lump coals to purchase, pay attention to the type of wood used. 100% hardwood will always be the better option because it burns better and for longer. Avoid products that contain additives, and your barbecue moments will always be terrific.
Happy grilling!
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About the Author
Tamara J. Sims
EXECUTE CHEF
As a seasoned kitchen and food writer, Tamara has a remarkable ability to weave words together, transporting readers to the heart of the culinary world. Tamara’s articles are written with an engaging blend of insightful commentary, honesty, and real-world examples based on personal experiences. She has the ability to captivate seasoned food enthusiasts and novice cooks alike.
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