Best Lump Charcoal 2021 | Top Reviews And Buyers’ Guide

Last Updated on October 21, 2021 by

Charcoal is one of the most reliable forms of energy and has been in existence for thousands of years. The latest preferred kind of charcoal for you is lump type. Right quality lumps should be very natural and made of clean and hardwood. Furthermore, it should not only burn better, longer, and leaves less ash, but also has a much-improved impact on the food’s flavor. Also, it should not create a ton of sparks and not have carbon dust.

Cooking is fun and enjoyable when you have the right tools for the job. These lumps offer you the ease and convenience of cooking food in the right way, and they are within your budget. However, choosing the charcoal lumps is not easy because there are many brands in the market which can make you confused.You need to consider the following features when purchasing the pieces; size, naturalness, environmental friendliness, amount of dust, storage, and the wood type.

Conveniently, with our professional assistance, you ought not to think too hard to find the best lump charcoal. To relieve this difficulty, we have researched and highlighted a few top model lumps that are in the market today. We have endeavored to describe them in detail in this article so that you can effortlessly pick one.

Top 6 Lump Charcoal 2021 (Best Picks)

In a hurry? Check the bestseller top Lump Charcoal from Amazon. Just check the product link, the details and price.

What exactly Is Lump Charcoal?

Lump charcoal is wood that has been burned without the presence of oxygen until the moisture and other chemicals have disappeared. The charcoal is additive-free, natural, and maintains its usual shape. However, its quality depends on how pure it is as a carbon. Proper charcoal preparation takes days of blazing volatile compounds like methane, water, and tar and ends soon before it turns into ash.

Benefits Of Lump Charcoal Include:

• ​​​​Authentic Smoky Flavor

They are made from natural hardwood, thus free of chemicals and additives.Most are made of natural hardwood. When you use them for cooking, the food obtains an authentic smoky flavor, which is not possible with fire-starters because they are not entirely natural.

• It’s is all-natural

It is 100% natural with no additives, fillers, or chemicals.  This feature t facilitates the quality of your food.

• Saves time

Charcoal pieces are unproblematic and proficient at setting up for cooking. They get lit in a few seconds and attain the optimum cooking temperature within 20 minutes, which in turn saves a lot of time for you.

• Consistent high temperature

It has an outstanding quality of holding on to high temperatures for hours, making it incredible if you need to cook in such high heat. For that reason, lumps areregularly used in grilling and smoking restaurants.

• Slow cooking

The lumps can maintain temperature for a long time, making it suitable for slow cooking. There are several pieces of charcoal available now that can remain lit at a particular temperature for almost a day.

·  Long and quick-burning

A perfect charcoal lump will burn for a long time and can cook for 7 to 8 hours, but few high-end ones burn for almost 18 hours. The explanation behind is the irregular shapes of these lumps is that it improve the efficiency of packing in the chimney and keeps glowing for a long time

• ​Affordable

Charcoal is inexpensive as compared to gas, making it suitable for grilling. Therefore if you have a tight budget, but you areyearning for an excellent smoked or grilled dish, lump charcoal would be the most exceptional solution for you.

Factors To Consider For Top-Rated Lump Charcoal

The quality matters the most when it comes to charcoal. You ought to buy high-quality lumps at a reasonable price. However, making the right choice of the best quality lump charcoal can be a hectic exercise because there are many brands in the market today. We have created this guide to help you to select the right lump that is natural and made of high-quality hardwood.

Size of pieces 

Choose the lump size depending on the food you want to make and get some knowledge on its process to invest in the lump size it requires. However, many brands put out products that feature large chunks of charcoal. Medium ones are simple to put on the grills, whereas the most significant sizes will burn for a longer duration.

Once you open the bag, check out the large to small pieces ratio. The larger pieces should be as high as possibleas small pieces.

Amount of dust and wood chips 

Choose a good quality that is free from dust and wood chips. A good brand should not have a lot of dust, therefore if you come across a brand or heard of a review that exposes a vast portion of dust in its bag, stay away from it.

Naturalness

Select high-quality lumps of charcoal, which is free from additives, fillers, and chemicals. You should ensure that it is indicated. On top of that, it is made of natural hardwood, look for this type of labels on the packaging.

​Wood Type

​Since most of the products brands offer all-natural hardwood materials, it is wise to pick a brand that mingles the goodness of oak, mesquite, hickory, and other such woods. The mixture of wood types will give a better taste and smell for your food by harmonizing out the smoky traits.

Storage

Make sure that you store your pieces dry and away from the moisture, which is not great because moisture can reduce its burning ability, contract mold, and ruin your food. Advisably, place any unused charcoal into a sealable container that is either a plastic bin, a new bag.

Best Lump Charcoal Reviews

Following the many factors you have to put into consideration when choosing the coal, you can quickly feel frustrated. Therefore, we have done extensive research and have come up with six leading models that will make certain your cooking experience is worthwhile.

Here are our top reviews for the most exceptional products:

1. Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood- Best Lump Charcoal for Grilling

Jealous Devil is 100% natural and is a small thing, but it makes a difference when the fire hits the coal. The lumps come in re-designed waterproof, and re-sealable bag that helps to protects the product better during shipping, so there are larger pieces and less dust and residue.

Besides, its flavor is smooth and mild, plus it sparks less and produces minimal smoke. Thus, charcoal is one of the best options for grilling. The 4 hours burn time is enough to make your steak well prepared with the yummy look. Further, it produces a pure flavor that enhances the aroma of your meals without overdoing it.

Pros

• 100% natural hardwood
• ​High-performance heat
• ​Twice the cooking power
• ​Heavy-duty storage paper bag

Cons

• Doesn’t hold temperature
• ​High price

Here is the summary of some basic specifications

Features
Dimension	(20 x 16 x 7)²
Weight	20.7 Pounds
Material	Charcoal

2. Original Natural Charcoal –Best all Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoals

The charcoal lumps are made from a unique combination of apple, oak, and cherry trees that are 100% natural hardwood. This lovely combination makes it possible for the charcoals to give out a sweet, pleasant, and fruity flavor to poultry, pork, and beef.

​ Additionally, it is fast and easy to light up these lumps with no possibility of smoke or sparks remittances, and ash produced is also minimal. Using it to make barbeques is fantastic as there are no chemicals that can ruin with bad smells and bitter aftertaste. Get a pack and enjoy sizzling grilled dishes right at your home.

Pros

• ​Natural hardwood blend of oak, apple, and cherry
• Fast setup within 5 minutes
• No smoke or spark
• Minimum ash production

Cons

• Can be expensive

Here is the summary of some basic specifications

Features
Dimension	(24 x 24 x 16)²
Weight	18 pounds
Material	Charcoal

3. Royal Oak 195228017 Lump: Best Lump Charcoal for Smoking

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Royal Oak Lump Charcoal is reasonably priced and great for new users who are just getting used to the fuel. This product is made from oak, hickory, maple, and walnut. 

Besides, it iseasier to light and offers clean burn. It also produces very little ash and can be red hot and ready to cook in just 15 minutes; thus,it saves you a lot of time and maintains cold temperatures.The redness is what makes it great for smoking

Pros

• Supports constant high temperatures
• Can burn for 16 to 18 hours
• Minimal ash production
• Affordable at local stores

Cons

• Not suitable for low and slow cooking

Here is the summary of some basic specifications

Features
Dimension	(6.5 x 15 x 27)²
Weight	17.8 pounds
Material	Charcoal

4. Rockwood All-Natural Hardwood Lump:Bestaffordable charcoal

Rockwood All natural lump is consistently highly rated by users and is inexpensive to buy. It can be of great value if you will be doing a lot of grilling or barbecuing since it slowly burns. The coal lights easily, heats quickly, and glows boldly for juicier, more flavorful food and is therefore suitable for grilling or smoking.

Likewise, coal is made from oak and hickory as the majority of the product, thus emitting a rich aroma from woods that gives a desirable flavor in the smoke, adding a sweet taste of beef, chicken, fish, and other foods. Moreover, it is environmentally friendly since it is from renewable, natural resources.

Pros​

• 100% premium Missouri hardwoods
• No tree harmed to produce these
• Free of strong chemical smell
• Minimum ash production

Cons

• ​Doesn’t support long hours of burning

Here is the summary of some basic specifications

Features
Dimension	(7 x 15 x 28)²
Weight	20 Pounds
Material	Charcoal

5. B&B Oak Lump: Best SearingCharcoal

B&B Oak lumpcontents are 100% natural with no additives or fillers.It is everything you want out of the best lump since it burns hot, long, and clean. Moreover, it is easy to use, and the bag comes within a reasonable price range.

Also, the oak is environmentally friendly and emits a versatile flavor that works with just about any type of food. With Texas-style, it is for sure, a pack worth buying.

Pros

• Good price range
• Oak hardwood has a versatile smoke flavor profile
• Burns long, hot, and clean
• Environmental-friendly

Cons

• These bags are prone to having too many small pieces and dust in them
• Coals are harder to light than some other brands

 Here is the summary of some basic specifications

Features
Dimension	(12.5 x 8 x 27.5)²
Weight	20 Pounds
Material	Charcoal

6. Ozark Oak Premium hardwood: Best for Low and Slow Cooking

Ozark Oak charcoal is intended for high and low-temperature cooking and generates very little ash compared to more traditional charcoal briquettes. This hardwood lump charcoal is ideal for conventional smokers, ceramic, and non-ceramic grills.

Furthermore, it comes with a 60 days warranty. This shows assurance of quality.Further, you can use this charcoal forgrilling and cookingribs, burgers, kabobs, hot dogs, and slabs of brisket.

Pros:

• Generates very little ash
• Ideal for traditional smokers, ceramic, and non-ceramic grill
• Warranty of 60 days

Cons

• Prone to having too many small pieces and dust in them

Here is the summary of some basic specifications

Features
Dimension	(24 x 11.4 x 6.8)²
Weight	10.55Pounds
Material	Charcoal

FAQs

​Q.Does charcoal size matter?

​Yes, it does. Several lumps of different sizes gratify to various needs. The larger pieces tend to burn hotter and longer with a constant temperature, thus facilitates you when cooking a large batch.

Medium size charcoal pieces are useful in other situations. On the other hand, tiny ones usually don’t serve much of a purpose because they block the airflow, therefore, extending the cooking time unnecessarily.

Q.How do you know when Lump charcoal is ready?

​ When the lumps are covered in gray ash, and the flames grow upwards, it is an indication that the pieces are ready.Charcoal edges will look grayish when the fluid lighter burns off. Besides, the lumpsfrequentlydo not consume a lot of time to light up and get ready compared to other fire starters or fuels.

Q. What is the history of lump charcoal?

Charcoal is the oldest manufactured product and has been in use for many years;gunpowder, blast furnaces for casting cannons, and in the blacksmithing industry. Today charcoal is the most instrumental andrecommended as part of America’s favorite food-related leisure

Q.Why is lump charcoal better than briquettes?

The lump burns hotter and longer than briquettes because of the absence of the additives, fillers, and binders. It is the purest form of carbon, and it produces a consistent fire and taste, thuspermits you to add smoking woods to control the flavor and intensity. On the other hand, briquettes have additives, fillers, and binders also produce more ash that can clog smokers during low and slow cooks than lump charcoal.

Q.How can you tell the difference between good charcoal and bad charcoal?

The good lump is only prepared using hardwood is kilned and cooled for the right amount of time at the right temperature. This eliminates all the sap, tar, and moisture from the wood, making the charcoal brittle. Moreover, the most excellent quality coal has a metallic sound during lighting and while contacting other pieces or lumps.

On the other hand, lousy coal is made from softwood that has more sap, which won’t burn off completely in the kiln and sounds like wood chunks. This coal does not last long when burnt and emits a lot of smoke and ash during use.

Q. Which types of wood make lump charcoal?

Predominantly lumps are made from blends of multiple kinds of wood since most of the woods are hardwood. Here is a shortlist of some of the most common woods used for charcoal: alder, apple, cherry, chestnut, hickory,maple, oak, walnut,guayacan,guayaibi, mistal, quebracho Blanco.

Amalgamation is beautiful, but the best lump bag will be consisting of woods that burn at a similar heat and rate.

Q.Do different woods have different flavors?

Yes.  The differences in flavor are pretty minor if you are cooking something quick, like a steak, burger, or some fish.

On the other hand, if you’re smoking, the choice of wood might make a difference. Certainly, oak is excellent for smoking and gives a robust, traditional smoky BBQ flavor.

Q. Can I use wood logs or chips with lump charcoal?

Yes, using wood chips for an extra pleasant scent with the best charcoal is allowed. Though you have to experiment, which aroma works best for you and the foods you like to make? Advisably you can add fruitwoods like apple, peach, or cherry to your fire to enhance a sweeter smell to the flavor of my BBQ.

Q.How long does lump charcoal last?

Lumps are very sensitive to airflow as well as venting and will be ready to be used within 15 minutes and will stay hot up to an hour. However, you can add more charcoal if you want the fire prolonged.

Q. How do I extinguish a charcoal fire?

To extinguish coal fire, you need to lock the lid of the smoker or grill and then close all the air vents .subsequently the light should extinguish entirely within two days. Ensure you don’t dispose of off the ash until you are sure that it is completely cooled and extinguished. Moreover, you can reuse the remaining charcoal the next time you grill or barbecue.

However, if you need to put out the fire quickly, sand is the right choice. If a grease fire flares up, use a class B, ABC, or K fire extinguisher. If that doesn’t work, then clear the area and call the fire department.

Note that water is not optional since large amounts can crack or damage your grill. This may also create abundant amounts of steam that pose a burn hazard. Never leave a fire unattended.

Q.How should I start lump charcoal?

There are various ways of starting lump charcoal, and you can use; paraffin fireplace starter blocks, Weber starter cubes, electric starters, propane sticks, weed burners, propane torches, and chimney starters. You should read and follow instructions on the method you choose to start the charcoal.

We add our ceramic barrier and the cold meat, the temperature of the cooker drops significantly, and we can then adjust the heat to the desired low and slow setting we want. You may find that different methods work better for you than others.Also, ensure that the lighter you use does not have any fillers so as not to add taste to your food

Q. Can I use lump charcoal for cooking indoors?

No.Because if you cook indoors using charcoal,It gives off carbon monoxide (CO2), which is odorless. This gas; Carbon monoxide, forms a strong bond with the red blood cellsthat are higher than the bond hemoglobin forms with the free oxygen that the blood conveys to the various parts of the human body. The overall effect on human consciousness is like being pleasantly drunk, followed by unconsciousness, and, if it goes too far, it can result in death due to oxygen starvation of the brain.

Q. How can I get my charcoal to reach maximum temperature?

To reach maximum temperature, you must ensure that the charcoal is extremely dry, and the gas outlet on your appliance is fully open. As a result, the CO 2 that builds up during combustion is let out of the device. Finally, Adjust the distance between your food and the coals since the closer your diet is to your fuels, the hotter it is and the faster it is going to cook. The more temperature you need, the more air you need to let in.

Final Thoughts

Unquestionably, if you cook using any of the best lump charcoal, you will make your cooking activity amusing and pleasing.  Consequently, always choose a high-quality natural product, burns hotter, burns longer, and the best ones are as reliable as they come. 

The quick light up and consistent burn mean you can spend less time messing with your fire and more time grilling.Reaching the desired temperature for cooking a variety of dishes is quite convenient with the charcoal. Therefore, you should buy one of the above models we have discussed for you.

We are confident that this post will aid you in the right direction when purchasing the finest the lumps, so you can promptly choose from the above and enjoy your cooking sessions. 

Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API