Newcomers typically find charcoal grilling to be daunting. BBQ grills don't come with adjustable knobs or ignition buttons. Moreover, they have charcoal as cooking fuel, another subject that has multiple options and utilities.
Developing a comprehensive understanding of charcoal for BBQ can help overcome these variables. In this blog, we will break down the flame-induced headache, i.e., BBQ charcoal. We will walk you through its fundamental elements and compare lump wood and briquette charcoal.
Additionally, we will discuss the factors you must consider when choosing the best charcoal for BBQ.
Our comprehensive guide will help you beat fuel-related irregularities to become a champion griller. Here we go.
Charcoal for Smoking
The first question every griller has to answer regarding BBQ is their choice of fuel source. Those looking for a simple and relaxed grilling experience may consider using a gas grill. However, if you have the patience and resources, try charcoal. It can get you that delicious smoky flavour.
As your cooking fuel, charcoal has a pivotal role in grilling. People who have never explored the world of BBQ are bound to find this point surprising. The internet is saturated with misinformation about choosing the best charcoal.
We will help you become well-versed in the many varieties of charcoal and how they can serve your grilling purpose. You must determine your need when selecting the best BBQ charcoal for grilling. You may need high heat for a charred flavour. Alternatively, you could be looking for longer cooking time. Having a total grasp of charcoal as a subject will enable you to identify the best charcoal for BBQ.
What Is Coconut Charcoal Briquettes?
Coconut shells promise a clean source of charcoal. The quality of coconut shell barbecue briquettes is greater than that of other materials such as wood, coal, or other carbon-based sources. It also comes with excellent food-grade quality, which means you can consume it orally.
Coconut shell charcoal BBQ briquettes are a popular alternative to regular charcoal due to their excellent food-grade attributes and fast burning. Due to their pleasant fragrance, more and more chefs are finding them useful during barbeque.
Types of Coconut Charcoal for Grilling
Now that you have developed a general idea of charcoal, we must explain its various types. Here are the two main types of charcoal that are widely used for barbeque.
| Feature | Lump Charcoal | Charcoal Briquette |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Irregularly shaped chunks of charred wood | Uniform, pillow-shaped pieces |
| Composition | 100% natural hardwood | Compressed sawdust, additives, and binders |
| Burn temperature | Higher (can exceed 1000°F) | Lower (around 800-900°F) |
| Burn time | Shorter, but intense | Longer, more consistent |
| Ash production | Less ash | More ash |
| Flavor | More intense, smoky flavor | Milder flavor |
| Lighting time | Quicker to light | Takes longer to light |
| Cost | Generally more expensive | Generally less expensive |
| Best Uses | High-heat grilling, searing steaks, pizza ovens | Low and slow cooking, longer grilling sessions |
Charcoal Briquettes
Coconut shell charcoals are a cost-effective and accessible charcoal option that promises a uniform nugget-like shape. Their dense packing and identical structure allow for longer burning and consistent heat for grilling. However, you must also note that they have a high ash production rate with comparatively less heat. Moreover, their additive content could potentially spoil your food when getting grilled.
Lump Charcoal
Lump charcoal is essentially good-quality wood that gets burned until it can be classified as charcoal. It varies in shape and size, has no additives to bind it, and burns hot. Moreover, it creates little ash. Since lumps are formed from either oak or hickory, they produce their distinct, smoky flavour when grilling.Comparing Coconut Shell Charcoal with Lump Charcoal for BBQ
The grilling world is constantly debating the best charcoal BBQ in Australia: briquette or lump. We can admit that the verdict has the potential to convert casual grillers into extremists, so let's dig in.
Pros & Cons of Coconut Shell Charcoal for BBQ
| Charcoal Briquette Pros | Charcoal Briquette Cons |
|---|---|
| Made from repurposed coconut shells, contributing to eco-friendly practices. | Burns quicker than hardwood charcoal, requiring more frequent replenishment. |
| Delivers intense heat for effective grilling. | Best for quick grilling; less effective for slow cooking or smoking. |
| Produces less ash, leading to easier clean-up. | Lacks the intense smoky flavor of other charcoals. |
| Offers a clean taste, allowing natural flavors of ingredients to shine. |
Pros:
Sustainability:
Coconut charcoal briquettes are widely popular for their environmentally friendly traits. As the name implies, it is formed out of coconut shells. When you choose BBQ coconut charcoal, you are making way for the repurposing of agricultural waste. It contributes significantly to environmentally conscious practices.
High Heat Output:
While its eco-friendly origins are well-appreciated, the coconut shell charcoal barbecue briquettes promise brilliant heat output. You can instantly get high heat using coconut charcoal. Therefore, it could be ideal for those who want intensity in their grilling sessions.
Minimal Ash Production:
Apart from the heat, most people prefer coconut charcoal briquettes due to their low ash production. You will be left with minimal mess and quicker clean-up, ensuring a pleasing grilling experience.
Neutral Flavour Profile:
Coconut charcoal briquettes have a neutral flavour profile, which allows the ingredients to produce a natural taste. People who enjoy a cleaner and weaker charcoal flavour in their grilled dishes will enjoy coconut charcoal briquettes.
Cons:
Fast Burn:
Coconut BBQ briquettes have a shorter burning run than hardwood charcoal. They can be suitable for rapid grilling. However, their quick burnout tendency will force you to restock charcoal more frequently during longer cooking sessions.
Limited Flexibility:
Coconut shell BBQ offers little versatility when it comes to facilitating various grilling techniques. You might find using them for quick sears and shorter cooking times beneficial instead of slow cooking or smoking.
Subtle Flavour:
You may want to avoid coconut charcoal briquette if you enjoy the intense and smoky flavour in your grilled dishes. These briquettes promise a neutral taste, which neutralises any scope of strong intensity flavour.
Pros & Cons of Lump Charcoal
| Lump Charcoal Pros | Lump Charcoal Cons |
|---|---|
| Adds a rich, smoky taste to your food, ideal for traditional grilling. | Varies in size and shape, which can affect burn consistency. |
| Great for slow cooking, searing, and smoking. A versatile choice for various grilling techniques. | Typically burns quicker than briquettes, requiring more frequent replenishment. |
| Burns slowly with higher carbon content, perfect for long grilling sessions. | Can produce more ash, requiring additional cleanup. |
| Helps maintain precise cooking temperatures. | More challenging to maintain steady temperatures due to its irregular burning. |
Pros:
Strong Flavour Profile:
Hardwood charcoal adds a rich, smoky flavour to grilled foods. You will find hardwood charcoal helpful if you enjoy your grilled delicacies' traditional, pungent taste.
Versatility in Grilling:
Renowned for its versatility, hardwood charcoal offers smart utility across various grilling applications. It provides the necessary heat for slow cooking, searing, or smoking. It is a must-have choice for many grillers who explore different culinary techniques.
Extended Burn Time:
Hardwood charcoal burns slowly due to its higher carbon content. It is a wise choice if you are engaged in prolonged grilling sessions, as it will assist you in maintaining consistent heat levels throughout the session.
Temperature Control:
Successful grilling is largely dependent on precise temperature control. Lump wood charcoal can effortlessly help regulate and maintain specific cooking temperatures.
Cons:
Expense Point:
Lump wood charcoal can be slightly more expensive than its alternate options. However, enthusiasts believe the rich return in enhanced flavour and performance justifies the higher investment.
Environmental Thoughts:
Although lump wood charcoal is a natural resource, it presents a considerable threat to deforestation and accountable forestry practices. You should get hardwood charcoal only from suppliers who promise to adhere to sustainable harvesting practices.
Choosing the Best Charcoal for BBQ
It's safe to say that determining the best charcoal for BBQ essentially depends on individual taste, budget, ability to hold onto the necessary temperature, and average combustion tenure.
Burn Time:
Lump charcoal is well known for its fast-burning tendencies. They make a fine choice if you are engaging in shorter grilling sessions, but longer cooks will demand frequent charcoal refilling. You will get extended burning tenure if you pick coconut charcoal briquettes. They make perfect sense for extended cooking times.
Heat Intensity
Lump charcoals produce higher heat intensity than coconut briquettes. It makes them a suitable fuelling option for high-heat grilling, searing, and quick cooking. Coconut barbecue briquettes fit perfectly if you are looking for slow and low cooking, where more consistent and prolonged heat is necessary.
Ease of Ignition
Newcomers will find it challenging to ignite and maintain hardwood charcoal. Their irregular shape and varying sizes make it tricky. However, the uniform shape makes briquettes much easier to ignite and control.
Ash Production
Lump charcoal is an acceptable fuel choice if you are done after a day of grilling. It is widely appreciated for producing little ashes, making the clean-up process hassle-free. Alternatively, briquettes have a high ash production rate, which adds a clean-up burden to your shoulder. They also threaten to blow up and dust your food and clothes.
Flavour
Hardwood charcoal is highly suited to hot and fast cooking. You must choose it if your grilled dish can benefit from its ability to impart significant flavour. On the other hand, if you are looking for a low and slow grilling session, you may settle for briquettes. They present subtle flavour, meaning any wood introduced into the fire will get infused in the taste.
Consistency
The irregular shape of lump charcoal complements better airflow and heat distribution. Moreover, their uneven shape prevents them from burning all at once. You must concentrate on the fuel to help the larger chunks ignite or burn correctly during cooking.
Briquettes enjoy a positive impression due to their consistent burn time. Their formation featuring additives and binders allows them to maintain their shape throughout cooking, facilitating consistent burning.
Price
The natural composition of lump charcoal makes it more expensive than charcoal briquettes. The latter is a more cost-effective fuelling option. Plus, it provides more cooking time per refill.
Versatility
Hardwood charcoal is well known for its outstanding ability to work with different cooking and grilling techniques. It can be used for all kinds of grilling or barbequing purposes without compromising the taste and structure of the food.
Charcoal briquettes are a versatile product with many unique properties. In addition to cooking fuel, they can be used to deodorise and preserve food. Their ability to absorb natural odours and moisture is also useful here.
Master the Art of Grilling with MIK COCO
At the end of the blog, we discussed the pros and cons of lump wood charcoal and coconut charcoal for grilling. Lump wood charcoal promises a natural heat source with authentic aromatic flavour to fuel your grilling sessions while improving the taste.
However, BBQ charcoal briquettes have earned their reputation for producing longer combustion periods, superior temperature control, and simple ignition.
Lamp wood charcoal burns out quickly and has an uneven shape. BBQ charcoal briquettes, on the other hand, tend to produce high ash and contain chemical additives.
At MIK COCO, we believe the decision between briquettes and lump charcoal is subjective. Your taste preferences and cooking recipes will dictate the best charcoal for BBQ. We encourage you to explore both options to find the perfect fit.
MIK COCO specialises in sourcing coconut charcoals for your shisha and BBQ experiences. We've supplied charcoals to award-winning chefs, backyard enthusiasts, and food service professionals. With the knowledge gained from our guide, you are well-equipped to elevate your grilling game and create unforgettable barbecue experiences for family and friends.
We hope that you have developed an adequate understanding of charcoal for your next grilling adventure. If you want to expand your knowledge about the best charcoal for BBQ, read our next blog. You may also reach out to us if you need professional assistance.
Here's to more delightful grilling adventures in the future!