. So we decided to do a little research to help people learn more. This article lays out the interesting details we found during our research.
It probably comes as no surprise to you that the industry in the United States continues to increase and with the recent COVID pandemic, it made a considerable increase and is slated to continue into the near future. One source we found, reports that the market in North America will reach $466.6 million by the year 2030.
What is Hardwood Lump Charcoal?
is like , , maple, walnut or pecan that has been baked, cooked, fired and kiln dried in an extremely hot, oxygen tight environment. As a matter of fact, it is a process that is hot enough to char the but not so hot that it burns the into ashes. All the moisture, sap, tar, hydrogen and other compounds are removed from the during this process.
is the fuel source for the in your or . However, because lump is still in a charred form, you can still get some of the in the .
We prefer using lump over in our Masterbuilt Gravity because it is cleaner, contains no and burns hotter.
Most of the lump listed below are made of renewable hardwoods which means that trees are not harvested to produce the lump . Rather, they are made from scraps left from timber milling.
Our Top 7 Picks of Lump Charcoal
Jealous Devil All
The comes from South American hardwoods and contains no fillers or chemicals. The it adds to is very smooth and mild. The best part is it keeps the natural taste of the intact and adds a mild and aroma to it. The does not spark much and is safe for in any , or kamado that can use . Once started, it burns really hot and really long.
The lump sizes in this bag is very consistent, with very few small pieces. This has become a best-seller with many chefs recently. It comes in a waterproof, re-sealable package and can be purchased in 8, 20 and 35 pound bags. We like to use this brand in our Masterbuilt Gravity as well as our Kamado Joe .
Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Kamado Joe Big Block XL Lump
Too many small pieces of lump can too quickly. This comes in an ideal mix of fairly consistent sizes, from large to medium chunks with hardly any small pieces. It is appropriately named big block for one reason and that is because most of the chunks are big chunks. It gives you the ability to use it for shorter or longer sessions, with the larger chunks helping especially with longer periods of . It lights easily and does not spark, pop or crack when being lit.
It is made from a blend of Argentina hardwoods. So what does that mean to you? Nothing except that it provides a cleaner, hotter for a longer period of time. The adds a unique – to the and is available in 20 and 30 pound bags. This is one of the brands we use in our Kamado Joe .
Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
CHARBLOX Dragon Bamboo Logs
The CHARBLOX Dragon Bamboo Logs are made from recycled sawdust, including bamboo, and are a more eco-friendly option. Each log has a unique block shape that allows it to hotter than the other charcoals for periods up to six hours.
This comes in an 11 pound box with 18-22 logs in each box.
There is a classic option as well and that offers logs that are made from recycled fruitwood sawdust and is also available in an 11 pound box. To see the types of meat that fruitwoods pair best with, you can check out our article on selecting chips.
Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Cowboy All
It is made in Mexico from various types of hardwoods like , walnut, maple and . It is made from a renewable resources and is eco-friendly. It contains no and is suitable for most grills and smokers that use . The burns cleaner, lights quicker and burns for a more extended period of time.
The lump sizes found in each bag vary from large to small pieces. It is commonly used and is available in 8, 14, 18 and 20 pound bags.
Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Royal All
The is 100% all natural and comes from renewable and . It is more of a bargain brand and is best for new chefs who have just started . It is easy to light and produces a hotter, more consistent for a longer period. There are no chemicals or to be concerned about and it can be used in most grills and smokers that use for fuel.
Most of the lump in each bag are consistently larger in size with fewer small pieces. It comes in bags of 8 and 15 pounds and can also be purchased in 2 or 3 packs for greater savings.
Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
FOGO Premium
This is made from with no extra ingredients added. It is natural in its form and adds a pleasant to the . It lights up easily and typically is better for higher in shorter periods of time. You may notice some sparking and crackling if you use a high lighter when lighting this , but it burns well once it is lit.
It comes in two different sizes, some are two to three inches in length, and some are one to two inches in size. There does seem to be a considerable amount of smaller size pieces in this bag.
The comes in 17 and 35 pound bags and can be used in or .
For longer sessions, you’ll want to consider the FOGO Super Premium . It comes in larger pieces of that are usually four inches or more in size that longer. This also burns really well once it is lit, but you may notice some sparking and crackling if you are using high to light this .
It can be purchased in 17 and 35 pound bags too.
Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Rockwood All
It is made from a blend of , and maple hardwoods grown in Missouri. It is an all-natural that contains absolutely no fillers or . It lights quickly, burns cleaner and hotter, but doesn’t create a lot of . It also seems to more quickly than some of the other charcoals. While this burns well after it is started, you may notice some popping and sparking when lighting this with a high lighter.
The lump in each bag are uniquely imperfect and mostly large to medium in size with fewer small pieces. It can be used in any , or kamado and is sold in 20 pound bags. There is also an organic option that is available in a 10 pound size.
Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Why is Lump Expensive?
Lump is generally more expensive because it is more costly to produce. Because it is kiln dried and made using hardwoods, the labor and raw material costs are more costly. Therefore, the manufacturers have to charge a higher price. Sometimes this can be a drawback to consumers.
Even with a higher price, there is a tremendous upside to using lump . We believe lump is the better option for the grills, smokers and because it lights quickly, it is a cleaner because it is made from 100% natural , it lasts longer, and it produces less .
Which is Better – Lump or Briquettes?
While both and briquettes have their advantages and disadvantages, we prefer the lump .
The better lump is made from . It is not made with any , and because of this it burns much hotter and much longer than .
You will find some lump made from softwood, but it generally contains more sap that causes it to create more . It will also produce more and will not last as long.
In contrast, briquettes are made from the ground up lump and have , binders and fillers mixed with it. All of these ingredients are blended together then pressed into uniform pillow-type shapes to create the briquettes. Briquettes take longer to light than the lump .
On the other hand, the lump burns hotter, letting the person use it in a smaller quantity. Some estimate that you will use 25-50% less with lump as compared to briquettes. Because there are no , lump creates less and gives a pure, – that is pleasing to most any chef.
How to Store the Lump ?
This is one of the most critical parts of the process because it your lump gets wet, it will not light. So once you’ve bought your lump , it’s important to keep the bag sealed tightly and stored in a dry place.
While some comes packaged in a waterproof, re-sealable bag, it’s still a good idea to store it in some type of airtight container. You can place it in a storage bin or an empty can, but be sure that the container has a lid that closes properly so that it does not absorb any moisture. Always remember that humidity can cause major problems with .
If lump does get damp or wet, you may or may not be able to dry it out. You can try to dry it by leaving it in the sun for a several days.
Once you think the has dried out, you can attempt to use it by mixing it with some fresh, new, dry so that it gets hot enough for or . Be sure to put the fresh, new, dry on the bottom and the once damp on top, then light the on the bottom.
You will know if the is still damp as it won’t get as hot and will probably more than usual.
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Conclusion
We believe the secret to selecting the right is in finding a consistent mix of large to medium size chunks of lump , with a minimal amount of small pieces mixed in. Small pieces light faster but quicker while larger pieces take a little longer to light but longer. Some companies offer too many of the smaller pieces and not enough of the larger chunks.
is easy to light and burns hotter and longer than . However, because of the irregular sizes with lump , briquettes may tend to more consistent.
We are not sure there is a right or wrong answer to your selection of or even your choice to use briquettes. Instead, it is more about what you prefer and like. You may want to experiment with several different options and you may even find that briquettes work better for you in certain situations.
It is most important to reach the safe minimum internal temperature with your . To achieve this, we have found that having a reliable thermometer is critical and you can find out more about that here in this article.
