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Buying Options. Our pick for all-around briquets suitable for just about any cooking situation is Royal Oak Classic Briquets. Sometimes called Ridge Briquets, these briquets burn almost as hot as—and last longer than—some of the best briquets we tested.
How We Tested Charcoal for Grilling
Hello, Im Jon Chan. Im the senior lab technician at Reviewed, which means I test everything from mens boots to pocket knives.
I should also point out that Im not a pit master or an expert griller. However, I do enjoy a spot of outdoor cooking and have a background in designing experiments.
When it came to testing charcoals, I had a casual griller in mind. People who cook hot dogs and burgers for an occasional summer meal have different concerns than someone who smokes their own meat and has multiple dual-channel probes.
We decided to use volume over mass to test charcoals.
- Step One: Upon opening each bag, we placed enough chunks or briquettes to cover the charcoal grate of a Weber Original Kettle. We then placed the charcoal into a chimney, taking care to place in as much as possible. In the instances not all the charcoal could fit, we set the extra charcoal aside and placed it into the grill on the edges.
- Step Two: We used four sheets of newspaper to light our chimney and left to heat up for no more than 10 minutes. If a contender failed to light properly, we gave it a second chance but made sure to reduce its ranking.
We spread out the charcoal to see how evenly it could heat.
- Step Three: After we poured the red-hot coals into our grill, we gave ourselves no more than 10 seconds to even out the coals a bit. During this time we made note of the smell each charcoal produced while burning.
- Step Four: To test the overall grill temperature, heating evenness, and burn time, we placed three, quarter-pound beef burgers across the fire grate. We inserted a ThermoWorks Pro-Series temperature probe attached to a smoke monitor in each patty.
ThermoWorks is a well-regarded brand when it comes to outdoor cooking, so we trusted it for accurate readings. After placing the probes, we measured how long it took each burger to get to 130°F—the temperature for medium-rare beef.
We used ThermoWorks thermometers because of their accuracy.
Weather plays a role in how a charcoal briquette burns. We made note of the ambient conditions and factored it into our results.
The tests took place on days that were between 42°F and 56°F. There were days of high winds, up to 22 miles per hour. In the event of rain, charcoals were given a mulligan and tested again.
When the burger test finished, we replaced the fire grate and waited. We checked the grill periodically to see if it was still hot. Eventually, when the grills cooled, we measured how much ash they produced.
The final tests revolved around checking out each bag for distribution of the chunk sizes, looking for any defects in the product, and inspecting the bags themselves. A good bag should be easy to store and be durable enough to survive a summer in the garage.
Fogo Super Premium Lump Charcoal
Fogos Super Premium Lump Charcoal comes exclusively with large chunks, which is okay for a variety of grilling, but it does bump up the price point. Read More
- High heat and long burn
- Good versatility
Nothing screams summer more than the smell of a backyard barbecue wafting from the best grilling charcoal. Charcoal grills are a form of cooking dating back to the Stone Age—at least the charcoal part. But a lot has changed. Today, it’s overwhelming how many different brands and styles of grill charcoal are available. There are even charcoal briquettes made from coconut shells from Vietnam and hardwood lumps of wood from Missouri.
To determine which is the best charcoal for grilling for someone who wants to cook up some brats and burgers on the weekend, we gathered up eight highly recommended brands and put them to the test.
We judged each charcoal on a variety of metrics, including how much they cost, how well they cooked, and how well they burned. After weeks of testing, we think the Royal Oak Lump Charcoal (available at Home Depot for $14.97) will serve most people the best. We really like the smell this high-quality bbq charcoal produced, its wide availability, and the distribution of the lump sizes.
We liked the assortment of large and smaller chunks of the Royal Oak Lump. Best Overall Royal Oak Hardwood Lump Charcoal
Royal Oak Lump Charcoal ended up being our favorite. While it didnt win hands-down in every category, we think its the best grilling charcoal for the average griller.
When you open the bag, youll find a fine assortment of chunks. For casual grillers, this is a good thing because you want a mixture of easy-to-light pieces and ones that burn for a long time. Royal Oak Lumps strike a balance between being easy to light and longevity in the kettle.
After lighting the Royal Oak, a sweet and smoky scent greeted us. It was strong enough to be distinct but subtle enough not to overwhelm what we were cooking. From the time of placing the burger on the grill, it took seven minutes until the center burger reached 130°F. Thats on point for only using two pounds of charcoal.
Compared to other lump charcoals, the Royal Oak burned an average amount of time. We found a lower percentage of large chunks. So as time goes, you may find that it burns up real quick. But that isnt a problem if youre making a meal for your family.
Also of note, Royal Oak Lump Charcoal is designed for smokers, so it imparts food with a sweet, smoky flavor that we liked. If youre planning on grilling for more than a few hours at a time, there are better options.
Overall, the price, the well-distributed chunks, and pleasant smell impressed us enough to pick Royal Oak Charcoal Lumps as what wed want in our grills.
- Good assortment of coal
- Sweet and smokey scented
- None that we could find
Kingsford is a known quantity with a fairly high degree of quality control. Best Briquette Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes
Theres a reason that Kingsford has stayed in business for over 100 years. Over the past century, Kingsford has had time to refine their formula. The briquettes have become smaller and more compact. If youre returning to grilling after a long hiatus, youll find that Kingsford briquettes burn hotter and longer due to the denser material.
When the briquettes started to glow inside our chimney, the air filled with a campfire aroma. We found that the average cook time for some quarter-pound beef patties was around nine minutes. Amongst the briquettes we tested, that places it in second place. Kingsford Original was outclassed by the Weber Briquettes in terms of longevity and heat.
However, Kingsford Original always seems to be in stock everywhere and we cant argue with how affordable it is. Kingsford is a known quantity with a fairly high degree of quality control.
- Widely available
- Has a campfire aroma
- None that we could find
KINGSFORD ORIGINAL VS ROYAL OAK CLASSIC Charcoal Review
FAQ
Is Royal Oak charcoal briquettes good?
Is Royal Oak good for smoking?
Does Royal Oak charcoal have chemicals?
Is Royal Oak charcoal hard to light?
Are Royal Oak briquettes good?
Royal Oak Premium Briquette Review While Royal Oak might not be one of the more popular brands out there, their products are constantly rated highly due to excellent quality, versatility, and a nice bang for your buck. This high-quality pack of briquettes is made exclusively using hardwoods.
Are Royal Oak Ridge briquets the best charcoal?
After four years of testing and 115 hours of research, we’ve found that Royal Oak Ridge Briquets are the best charcoal for your grill.
Which charcoal briquet is best?
After much research and testing, we’re convinced that Royal Oak Classic Briquets are the best charcoal for your grill. This charcoal burns hotter, lasts longer, and produces less ash than nearly every other briquet we tested. It’s competitively priced, and it’s available all year from stores such as Home Depot and Walmart.
Are charcoal briquettes healthy?
These briquettes are made from hardwood lump charcoal, such as American oak and hickory, and the ingredients are all-natural. Not only does this make charcoal grilling healthy, but it also produces minimal ash. In my experience, the wood gives off an authentic smoky flavor that enhances the food without overshadowing it.