The best charcoal for grilling this year, according to experts
Not all charcoal is created equal. According to food experts, these are the best charcoal options for grilling.
You can also stack your charcoal inside a Weber Charcoal Starter. The aluminum cylinder helps heat charcoal briquettes faster and lets you distribute the coals evenly on the grill once they’re ready (which typically takes around 15 minutes).
Phan appreciates the quality of this lump charcoal made in Missouri. “The wood they use is mostly oak with some hickory and pecan. It’s all hardwood with no softwood in their charcoal,” he said. “They also carbonize the wood very well. You often don’t find leftover wood inside their charcoal. That’s why Rockwood burns clean with little smoke. It allows you better control of the flavor of your food by adding other smoking woods.”
Phan recommends this family-owned brand, which sources its wood in the U.S. “Their price is affordable and this is the one I use often,” he said. “I’d say Royal Oak is the best ‘bang for your buck’ type of charcoal. It’s actually great for beginners because it’s not considerably expensive — so they can practice with it.”
Dave Anderson, founder of Famous Dave's, has been a fan of this charcoal since the very first time he used it because of how hot it gets and how cleanly it burns. “You can load up your ceramic grill and this charcoal will burn up to four hours, and it’s one of the best lump charcoals for any ceramic grill or even a Weber Kettle type charcoal grill,” he said. “I love this charcoal and highly recommend it.”
When it comes to briquettes, Phan turns to Kingsford’s blue bag of charcoal briquettes because they provide a reliable and consistent heat source. “Every time I cook, I know exactly how much heat I’m going to get so I don’t have to worry about that variable in my cooking,” he said. “My baby back ribs always come out nice and succulent every time I cook with Kingsford Blue. I’d highly recommend this one for people starting out on their charcoal grilling journey.”
This one is for people who might not want to deal with the acrid smell from burning briquettes. They are made with American Oak and Hickory Hardwood and don’t contain any additional ingredients or added chemicals. According to the brand, they also produce less ash than other charcoal on the market.
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