Best Lump Charcoal

Jealous Devil is probably the best overall product on this list. The difference here isn't just that the charcoal is superb but the package too.

The bag is waterproof, dustproof, UV-resistant, and resealable. You can always bring it outside without worrying about ruining the contents. It comes equipped with an ergonomic side handle and zip-top closure, making it easy to carry around as well as use the bag multiple times.

That being said, it is all about the charcoal first and foremost. We're dealing with pure, ultra-dense South American hardwoods here. They include no chemicals, fillers, or scrap materials. They do not spark, pop, and produce very little ash, making the charcoal perfect for pretty much any grill, smoker, or kamado.

Compared to your average lump charcoal, the pieces here offer twice the cook power (around 7000kcal/g), hotter temperatures (over 1170F), and considerably longer burn time (over 4 hours with open grills and over 20 hours with smokers).

Finally, the charcoal has a mild flavor-enhancing aroma to it, able to improve the flavor profiles without overpowering them.

All in all, Jealous Devil 20LB is probably the best lump charcoal for grilling. It will be able to impress and/or fit professional pitmasters, grillers, restaurants, and smokehouses. With this charcoal, your meat will taste better than ever. You'll also be able to prepare more at a time, quicker, and easier.

Fogo Super Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal doesn't fail to deliver on the "super premium" premise. We're not saying that it doesn't have its flaws though. Because the pieces here are particularly large, these hand-selected chunks are able to burn for over 4-5 hours in open grills and somewhere around 20 hours in smokers. However, with pieces like that, it isn't necessarily all too shocking that the charcoal can take up to 20 minutes to properly heat up.

Other than that though, we do not really have any complaints. The lump charcoal burns particularly hot, searing the meat and locking in the flavors. Again, more often than not, it is able to last longer than just about any other charcoal you'll find anywhere else.

As it is usually the case, this lump charcoal doesn't include fillers or chemicals. The large chunks do not spark and produce very little smoke, meaning they shouldn't smut the meat. The charcoal has a very mild, mellow flavor to it. It will be able to impart your food with the best flavor and taste without affecting it too much.

All things considered, Fogo Super Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal packs some of the best charcoal you'll be able to find. There are no added ingredients here. The paper bag that the large charcoal chunks come in is resealable and recyclable.

Charcoal is all about the wood behind it. The people at KamadoJoe understand that. The three hardwood blend from Argentina that they've been able to develop packs the densest woods you can find, dubbed "axe breakers" by locals for their remarkable density.

That's why their lump charcoal is able to burn cleaner and longer than the usual deal. You'll be able to reach that steak- searing temperature in no time at all.

What's more, it is perfectly possible to reuse the extra-large chunks up to 3 times. As you'd imagine, that makes the product particularly practical and cost-effective.

But the people at KamadoJoe aren't just packing the largest pieces. What you get is a nice mix of fast-starting small pieces and long-burning large pieces. The former is why you'll be able to reach the desired temperature in a snap, while the latter make it possible to cook low and slow for extended periods of time.

About the only issue we have with the charcoal here is that it leaves lots of ash behind, making cleanup a little more time-consuming.

Apart from that, KamadoJoe 20LB Hardwood Extra Large Lump Charcoal is as great for people who like and know how to cook as it is for customers who don't necessarily spend too much time and effort preparing their meat all that often. The charcoal makes it all easy and pretty much effortless.

With Rockwood 20LB Lump Charcoal, what we like most is probably how good the people behind at are at mixing the right pieces together. First off, the charcoal here is based off Missouri oak, hickory, maple, and pecan wood mix.

On top of that, these people make sure to pack somewhere around 30% large pieces, 45% medium pieces, and 25% small-sized pieces. The mixture is the biggest game changer and what really separates the product from its inferior counterparts.

The smaller pieces allow the lump charcoal to light up quickly and heat up easier, making it possible for you to start cooking in minutes. After that, the medium majority comes into play, supporting the grill/smoker and burning hotter for a juicier, bolder, and more flavorful meat. The larger pieces start acting somewhere around that time too. The difference is that you might be able to reuse these pieces another time or two afterward.

Though the chunks have a slight chemical at first, it is because of the package. There aren't any fillers or additives here. They do not spark and leave less ash for faster cleanup.

Again, Rockwood 20LB Lump Charcoal is all about packing the right mixture. It is about mixing the right woods together and putting together the right pieces. Plus, they're made from timber milling leftovers, meaning that not a single tree has been chopped to make this lump charcoal product.

Big Green Egg with this particular product doesn't necessarily bring anything new to the table. There aren't too many problems we have with this lump charcoal package but there isn't much to highlight either. The pieces come in a resealable and recyclable paper bag, which is always a plus.

They incorporate no additives, another little detail that we like in our lump charcoal. There are no fillers, nitrates, harmful chemicals, anthracite coal, limestone, treated wood, or petroleum products here.

The charcoal interacts perfectly fine with just about any grill cooker or smoker. The American oak and hickory hardwoods that the charcoal is made from are nice and dense. They add a little flavor but not too much to make the food taste too differently.

As far as we're concerned, the only weak link here is the mix. The bag packs 75% large and 25% medium pieces. Without smaller pieces, it usually takes the charcoal more time to light up. What's more, all the pieces here are flat, making them a little less cost-effective and convenient because they burn down a little quicker too.

To sum it all up, Big Green Egg CP Natural Lump Charcoal is pretty good. It doesn't necessarily have the best price-quality ratio but it's not like the charcoal is particularly expensive. Provided other options on the list aren't available one way or the other, this will do nicely.