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The 9 Best Lump Charcoal of 2023 | Reviews

Are you ready to take your grilling game to the next level? Look no further than the best lump charcoal, the secret ingredient that will transform your outdoor cooking into a culinary masterpiece. With its exceptional qualities and unparalleled performance, this is the must-have fuel for every grilling enthusiast.

When it comes to grilling, the fuel you choose can make all the difference in the world. That's why Be Best proudly present the best lump charcoal brand, the ultimate choice for grillmasters who demand excellence in their outdoor cooking experience. Get ready to elevate your grilling game to new heights with the superior quality and unmatched performance of our brand.

BeBest is committed to sourcing only the finest hardwoods to create our lump charcoal. Each piece is hand-selected and meticulously crafted to ensure consistent quality and performance. Experience the pure, natural flavors that come from burning the best charcoal on the market.

Our top picks:

1
Super Premium Oak Restaurant Quality All-Natural
2
Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal
3
Cowboy 24220 Lump Charcoal
4
Kamado Joe Big Block XL Lump Charcoal
5
Rockwood All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal 
6
Royal Oak NAT Lump Charcoal
7
Harder Charcoal 100 Percent Natural
8
Mr. Bar-B-Q Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal
9
Masterbuilt Lump Charcoal

1

Super Premium Oak Restaurant Quality All-Natural

$32.95 AT Amazon

CREDIT: Fogo

Key Specs:

  • Material: Charcoal
  • Brand: FOGO
  • Item Weight: 17.6 Pounds
  • Item Form: Lump Charcoal

Introducing FOGO Super Lump Charcoal, the ultimate choice for anyone who wants to achieve the perfect sear and smoky flavor for their meats and vegetables. 17.6-pound bag of all-natural hardwood lump charcoal is perfect for long cooks, making it ideal for slow-smoking briskets, ribs, and other meats.

FOGO Super Lump Charcoal is specially designed for ceramic-style Kamado grills like Big Green Egg, Primo, Kamado Joe, and more. The large pieces of 4 inches or larger fill at least 80 percent of the bag, ensuring a consistent burn and maximum flavor infusion into your food. The larger pieces also have more surface area, which helps longer burn times, making it perfect for those extended smoking sessions.

Restaurant-quality charcoal makes it easy to reach high searing temperatures, giving you that perfect crust on your steaks, burgers, and other meats. Plus, our charcoal lights fast and burns long, making it perfect for all your grilling and smoking needs.

Pros:

✔️ All-natural hardwood charcoal is free from chemicals, additives, and fillers, making it a healthier choice for cooking

✔️ Large-sized pieces ensure a consistent burn and maximum flavor infusion into your meats and vegetables

✔️ Lights fast and burns long, making it easy to use for all your grilling and smoking needs

✔️ Restaurant-quality charcoal allows you to achieve high searing temperatures for perfect crust on your meats

Cons:

❌ Large-sized pieces may not be suitable for all grills and smokers

2

Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

$39.97 AT Amazon

CREDIT: Jealous Devil Store

Key specs

  • Product Dimensions: 18 x 9 x 29 inches
  • Item Weight: 35 pounds

If you're looking for an all-natural charcoal that delivers superior performance and pure flavor, look no further than our 100% Natural South American Hardwood Lump Charcoal.

Crafted from ultra-dense hardwoods sourced from South America, our charcoal is 100% natural and free from chemicals, fillers, and scrap materials. This means you can cook with confidence, knowing that you're using a pure, high-quality product.

Charcoal is designed to meet the needs of pro chefs and serious home cooks. It burns hotter, longer, and cleaner than other charcoal brands, with no sparking, popping, or excessive ash. This makes it ideal for any grill, smoker, or kamado, and ensures that your food cooks evenly and consistently every time. With twice the cook power (over 7000kcal/g), hotter temperatures (max over 1170F), and far longer burn time (4+ hours open grills / 20+ hours in smokers), our charcoal is the ultimate choice for anyone who wants to achieve perfect results every time.

Pros:

✔️ Made from premium-grade hardwoods, ensuring a pure, all-natural product

✔️ No chemicals, fillers, or additives, making it a healthier and more flavorful choice for cooking

✔️ Burn time of up to 4 hours and an average size of 2-3 inches makes it perfect for grilling, smoking, and searing

✔️ Large 35lb bag ensures you have plenty of charcoal on hand for all your outdoor cooking needs

Cons:

❌ The large 35lb bag may be too heavy for some users to lift and handle easily

3

Cowboy 24220 Lump Charcoal

$41.85 AT Amazon

CREDIT: Cowboy

Key Specs:

  • Outer Material: Wood
  • Brand: Cowboy
  • Flavor: Hickory, Maple
  • Item Weight: 19 Pounds

Looking for a charcoal that delivers on taste, quality, and sustainability? Look no further than our all-natural 100-percent hardwood lump charcoal. Made from the finest renewable resources, our charcoal is designed to burn hot and fast, locking in the natural flavors and juices of your food to deliver a smoky, mouthwatering taste that you won't soon forget. And because it's made from 100-percent natural hardwood, you won't have to worry about any off tastes or flavors from additives used in briquettes.

One of the best things about our charcoal is how easy it is to light. You won't need any lighter fluid or other harmful chemicals - simply use a chimney starter or lighter cubes and you're ready to go. And because it burns clean and hot, you won't have to worry about any harmful emissions or ash buildup.

Charcoal is also environmentally sustainable, made from renewable resources that are responsibly harvested and managed. So not only will you be enjoying great-tasting food, you'll also be doing your part to help protect our planet.

Pros:

✔️ Made of 100% NATURAL

✔️ Superior burn with 7000kcal/g and far longer burn time

✔️ Well-made with pure flavor

Cons:

❌ Some users may find it more expensive than other charcoal options on the market

4

Kamado Joe Big Block XL Lump Charcoal

$29.99 AT Amazon

CREDIT: Kamado Joe Store

Key Specs:

  • Material: charcoal
  • Brand: Kamado Joe
  • Flavor: Natural Wood
  • Item Weight: 20 Pounds

20-pound bag of all-natural lump charcoal is made from a blend of hardwoods, including Guayacan, Guayaibi, Mistal, and White Quebracho, providing superior heat and burn time for all your outdoor cooking needs. And because it's 100-percent natural, you won't have to worry about any chemical additives or off flavors.

Big Block XL Lump Charcoal is perfect for use with Kamado-style grills, providing a consistent, long-lasting heat source that's ideal for slow and low smoking as well as high-temperature grilling. And with its large, uniform-sized chunks, you'll get better airflow and longer burn times than with other types of charcoal.

But what really sets our charcoal apart is its incredible burn time - up to 18 hours! Plus, it's reusable up to three times, making it not only environmentally sustainable but also a great value for your money.

Pros:

✔️ Made from a blend of hardwoods, providing superior heat and burn time for all your outdoor cooking needs

✔️ 100-percent natural, with no chemical additives or off flavors

✔️ Large, uniform-sized chunks that provide better airflow and longer burn times than other types of charcoal

✔️ Can burn up to 18 hours, making it perfect for slow and low smoking as well as high-temperature grilling

✔️ Reusable up to three times, making it environmentally sustainable and a great value for your money

Cons:

❌ Some users may find the large block size difficult to work with, especially if they're used to smaller chunks or briquettes

❌ May produce more ash than other types of charcoal, which can be messy and require more frequent clean-up

5

Rockwood All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal 

Rockwood Store AT Amazon

CREDIT: Rockwood Store

Key Specs:

  • Material: Wood
  • Brand: Rockwood
  • Item Weight: 63 Pounds
  • Flavor: Hickory, Maple

When it comes to grilling, the type of charcoal you use can make all the difference. That's why Rockwood All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal is a top choice for pitmasters and BBQ enthusiasts alike. First and foremost, Rockwood's charcoal is 100% all natural and made in the USA from Missouri-grown Oak, Hickory, Maple, and Pecan. No chemicals or additives have been used in its production, which means there are no harmful chemicals leaching into your food when you use their charcoal.

But don't just take our word for it - chefs approve of it too! Rockwood's charcoal ranks #1 on The Naked Whiz's website, which is dedicated to helping people understand and master all things charcoal. It has held this spot for over 9 years, making it a trusted choice among both BBQ competition teams and pitmasters who cook with charcoal at home.

In addition to its natural and trusted qualities, Rockwood's charcoal is also incredibly convenient to use. It lights easily, heats quickly, and burns boldly for juicier, more flavorful food. It is perfect for any type of grill or smoker and is kilned to higher carbonization to burn cleaner and hotter. This results in less ash left behind, which means less mess to clean up after you're done grilling.

Pros:

✔️ 100% all-natural, with no chemicals or additives used in its production, which means no harmful chemicals leaching into your food when you use it

✔️ Made in the USA from a mix of Missouri Oak, Hickory, Maple, and Pecan woods, giving your food a unique and flavorful taste

✔️ Ranked #1 on The Naked Whiz's website for over 9 years, giving it the approval of BBQ competition teams, pitmasters, and people who use it for cooking on their grills at home

✔️ Slow-burning and ash-minimizing, making it convenient and easy to use for any type of grill or smoker

Cons:

❌ The mix of woods used may not be suitable for everyone's taste preferences, although many people enjoy the unique flavor it adds to their food.

6

Royal Oak NAT Lump Charcoal

$29.92 AT Amazon

CREDIT: Royal Oak

Key Specs:

  • Material: Oak Wood
  • Brand: Royal Oak
  • Item Weight: 15 Pounds
  • Item Form: Chunks

If you're a grilling enthusiast looking for high-quality, all-natural charcoal for your grills and smokers, Royal Oak 195228021 15.4# NAT Lump Charcoal is an excellent option to consider. Here are some of the reasons why:

First and foremost, Royal Oak's lump charcoal is 100% all-natural, made from renewable oak, hickory, maple, and walnut without any chemicals or additives. This means that you can be assured that your food will be free from harmful chemicals that can compromise its taste and quality.Another advantage of this charcoal is that it can be used for all grills and smokers, including kamado and ceramic grills, giving you more versatility in your cooking options.

Whether you're a fan of smoking, grilling, or both, Royal Oak's lump charcoal is an ideal choice for any occasion. Furthermore, Royal Oak's all-natural charcoal is hotter and burns more evenly than other types of charcoal, resulting in consistent grilling every time. This can be particularly useful for those who value precision and control in their cooking, as it ensures that your food is cooked to perfection every time.

Pros:

✔️ 100% all-natural: made from renewable oak, hickory, maple, and walnut with no chemicals or additives

✔️ Suitable for all grills and smokers including kamado and ceramic grills

✔️ Burns hotter and more evenly for consistent grilling results

✔️ Ready to use in about 15 minutes

Cons:

❌ The price point may be higher than some other charcoal options on the market.

7

Harder Charcoal 100 Percent Natural

$32.95 AT Amazon

CREDIT: Harder Charcoal

Key Specs:

  • Material: Charcoal
  • Brand: Harder Charcoal
  • Flavor: Natural Wood

You need charcoal for grilling and smoking, but you want restaurant-quality charcoal. The 100% natural XL restaurant-style charcoal from Harder Charcoal is the only option. The "axe breaker" Quebracho Wood, which is renowned for providing a consistent burn without excessive smoke and sparks, is used to make this distinctive charcoal.

Not only does this charcoal produce consistent heat, but it's also perfect for ceramic Kamado style cookers like Primo, Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe, and more. You can count on this charcoal to give you the perfect flavor and temperature for your favorite foods.

But what sets Harder Charcoal apart is their commitment to sustainability. They source their Quebracho wood from South America and ensure that no living trees are cut down in the process. This means you can enjoy your grilling and smoking knowing that you're making an eco-friendly choice.

Pros:

✔️ Handmade from unique Quebracho wood, giving it a distinct flavor profile

✔️ Produces steady heat without excess smoke and sparks, making it perfect for grilling and smoking

✔️ Designed for extreme long-lasting heat, so you won't have to keep adding more charcoal during a long cook

✔️ Made without cutting down living trees, making it an eco-friendly option

Cons:

❌ Availability may be limited compared to other brands

❌ Due to the unique flavor profile, some people may not prefer the taste of the food cooked with this charcoal

8

Mr. Bar-B-Q Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

$26.36 AT Amazon

CREDIT: Mr. Bar-B-Q Store

Key Specs:

  • Material: 8lb
  • Brand: Mr. Bar-B-Q
  • Flavor: SMOKEY

Mr. Bar-B-Q Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to achieve a perfect cook with a pure smoky flavor. This all-natural hardwood lump charcoal is made from a blend of 100% natural hardwood, ensuring the best quality product for your grilling and smoking needs.

One of the best features of Mr. Bar-B-Q charcoal is its low ash production. With this premium hardwood charcoal, very little ash is produced, resulting in fewer pops, flareups, and less ash buildup. Additionally, it retains heat for longer, which allows for a more perfect cook.

Mr. Bar-B-Q charcoal is also designed to burn hotter, longer, and cleaner than other charcoals. This is achieved through a perfected blend of woods and manufacturing methods, creating one of the most premium grilling charcoals available.

Lighting this all-natural hardwood charcoal is quick and easy. You can dowse it in lighter fluid and then light it, or you can use a fire chimney for best results. Fire chimneys have excellent air flow, allowing you to light up to 2 pounds or more with just a couple of pieces of paper.

Pros:

✔️ Made from 100% natural hardwood blend, ensuring high quality and a pure, smoky flavor

✔️ Burns hotter and longer than other charcoals, allowing for consistent grilling and smoking

✔️ Low ash production, which means less mess to clean up

✔️ Easy and quick to light, making it a convenient choice for outdoor cooking

✔️ Retains heat for longer, resulting in a more perfect cook

Cons:

❌ The natural hardwood blend may be more expensive than other charcoal options on the market

❌ As with any charcoal, it may take some practice and patience to achieve the desired temperature and cooking results

9

Masterbuilt Lump Charcoal

$14.97 AT Amazon

CREDIT: Masterbuilt Store

Key Specs:

  • Material: Wood
  • Brand: Masterbuilt
  • Flavor: Charcoal
  • Item Weight: 16 Pounds

Looking for a high-quality charcoal to elevate your grilling experience? Look no further than Masterbuilt MB20091621 Lump Charcoal. Made from 100% premium hardwood and naturally sourced, this charcoal is fired in artisan style kilns to ensure a consistent, reliable burn.

Perfect for use in Gravity Series grills and other charcoal cooking products, Masterbuilt MB20091621 Lump Charcoal is the ideal blend for all temperature ranges and food types. Whether you're grilling up a juicy steak, slow-smoking some ribs, or searing vegetables to perfection, this charcoal will deliver.

One of the best features of Masterbuilt MB20091621 Lump Charcoal is its clean burn. This ensures optimal charcoal flavor and performance without any added chemicals or artificial flavors. Plus, with 16 pounds of charcoal per bag, you'll have plenty on hand for all your grilling needs.

Pros:

✔️ Made from high quality hardwood, ensuring natural baking flavor and good cooking quality

✔️ Charcoal burns hot and maintains a constant temperature during grilling, helping to achieve uniform cooking results

✔️ This product produces less ash than some other coals, making it easy to clean up after use

✔️ Able to light a fire quickly and easily, saving time and effort

Cons:

❌ With a capacity of 16 pounds (approximately 7.3 kg), this product may not be large enough for large barbecues or large events

Why should you choose the best lump charcoal?

Choosing the best lump charcoal is essential for any grilling or smoking enthusiast who values flavor, performance, and overall cooking experience. Unlike briquettes or lower-quality charcoal options, the best lump charcoal is made from natural hardwood, free from chemicals or additives, and offers several advantages that enhance your cooking results.

Superior Flavor

The best lump charcoal is made from high-quality hardwoods, such as oak, hickory, or maple, which impart a rich and distinct smoky flavor to your food. This enhances the taste and adds complexity to your grilled or smoked dishes.

Clean Burning

High-quality lump charcoal burns cleaner compared to lower-quality alternatives, minimizing the release of smoke, sparks, and unwanted odors. This ensures that your food remains free from any unpleasant flavors or aromas.

Natural and Chemical-Free

The best lump charcoal is made from all-natural hardwood with no added chemicals or fillers. This means you can enjoy your food without worrying about harmful substances leaching into your meals.

Even Heat Distribution

Lump charcoal provides a consistent and even heat distribution, allowing for precise temperature control while grilling or smoking. This helps you achieve optimal cooking results, whether you're searing a steak or slow-cooking ribs.

Longer Burn Time

High-quality lump charcoal burns longer, allowing for extended cooking sessions without the need for frequent refueling. This is particularly beneficial for slow and low cooking methods, such as smoking large cuts of meat.

Less Ash Production

The best lump charcoal generates minimal ash compared to briquettes or lower-quality charcoal. This reduces the need for frequent ash cleanup during your grilling sessions, making overall maintenance easier and more convenient.

Versatility

Lump charcoal is versatile and suitable for various grilling setups, including traditional grills, smokers, ceramic Kamado-style cookers, and more. It can handle different types of meats, vegetables, and even baking, giving you more options for culinary exploration.

Environmentally Friendly

Choosing the best lump charcoal that is sourced sustainably and produced without harming the environment is a responsible choice. Look for options made from renewable hardwood and packaged in eco-friendly materials.

Consistent Performance

The best lump charcoal offers reliable performance, ensuring that it lights quickly, reaches optimal cooking temperatures efficiently, and maintains steady heat throughout your cooking process. This consistency allows you to focus on the cooking process rather than worrying about charcoal-related issues.

How to choose the choose Best lump charcoal?

Choosing the best lump charcoal involves considering several factors to ensure you get a high-quality product that meets your grilling and smoking needs. Here are some guidelines to help you make the right choice.

Quality of Wood

Look for lump charcoal made from high-quality hardwoods, such as oak, hickory, maple, or fruitwoods. These woods provide excellent flavor and consistent heat. Avoid charcoals made from scrap lumber or low-quality woods, as they may produce an inferior taste and uneven burn.

All-Natural and Chemical-Free

Opt for lump charcoal that is 100% natural and free from additives, chemicals, or fillers. This ensures a clean and pure flavor without any unwanted chemical aftertaste.

Size and Consistency

Check the size and consistency of the charcoal pieces. Look for chunks that are uniform in size, as this will result in even heat distribution and easier lighting. Avoid bags with excessive amounts of small chips or dust, as they may ignite too quickly or produce excessive ash.

Low Ash Production

Consider lump charcoal that produces minimal ash. This makes cleaning your grill or smoker easier and allows for longer cooking sessions without the need for frequent ash removal.

Sourcing and Sustainability

Look for lump charcoal that is sourced responsibly and sustainably. Some brands prioritize using wood from renewable sources or utilizing by-products from other industries, reducing environmental impact.

Brand Reputation and Reviews

Consider brands with a good reputation and positive customer reviews. Research and read feedback from other users to get insights into the quality, performance, and overall satisfaction with the product.

Purpose and Grill Type

Take into account the type of grill or smoker you have and ensure the lump charcoal is suitable for it. Some charcoals are specifically designed for certain grill types or cooking methods, so check the manufacturer's recommendations.

Price and Value

Compare prices and consider the value you get for your money. While it's important to stay within your budget, remember that the cheapest option may not always offer the best quality. Aim for a balance between quality, performance, and affordability.

Conclusion

Choosing the best lump charcoal may involve considering factors such as wood quality, absence of chemicals, low ash production, packaging, and personal preferences. By prioritizing these aspects, you can enjoy enhanced flavors, better heat control, and cleaner cooking with your favorite outdoor grilling and smoking recipes.

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