Lump charcoal, which is made from hardwood, is considered to be a superior type of charcoal for grilling as it burns hotter and cleaner than briquettes. Additionally, it produces less ash, provides better temperature control, and adds a unique and authentic smoky flavor to your food. Unlike briquettes, which can contain additives and fillers, lump charcoal is made from pure hardwood, making it a healthier option for cooking your food. When it comes to grilling with a ceramic, Kamado style grill like the Big Green Egg, using the right type of charcoal is key to achieving the perfect cook every time.
Lump Charcoal for Big Green Eggs
When looking for fuel for your BGE, you want to make sure that you are using an all natural lump charcoal. The good news is that there are a number of reputable brands that are easily accessible. Each of the ceramic grills have their own versions: Kamado Joe Big Block & Big Green Egg All Natural Lump. While you can’t go wrong buying these brands, also look out for FOGO and Royal Oak.
When selecting your lump charcoal, they also come in a few different variations. Each has their distinct levels of classification, but you’ll typically see premium and super premium.
How much is BGE Lump Charcoal?
Green Egg lump charcoal price can vary from retailer to retail, and also depends on the size of the bag that your purchase. Big Green Egg lump charcoal also comes in a different of varieties. The two most common are Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal, and 100% Natural Oak and Hickory.
- Ace Hardware: 17.6lb bag – $29.95
- Amazon: 20lbs bag – $55.59
As you can see the price for Big Green Egg lump charcoal can vary whether your purchase it online, or in a physical retail store. The cheapest way to buy Big Green Egg lump charcoal will be purchasing it locally at a physical retailer.
What’s the difference between premium and super premium?
The differentiation lies within the size of the lump charcoal itself. Depending on the cook type, you’ll want to choose the right charcoal. While both will work for long or short cooks, you can optimize the cook and your budget by using the right charcoal for each type of cook.
- Premium Charcoal: High heat, short cooks – this is typically grilling burgers, cooking steaks, anything that will take you under 30 minutes
- Super Premium Charcoal: low heat, long cooks, or slow and low for short – this is when you’re smoking meats like a pork shoulder, turkey, brisket, etc. and will have long cook times
The benefits of super premium really start to shine when you are cooking for long durations. These large pieces of lump allow you to go 10+ hours of smoking without having to refill the charcoal basket. The last thing anyone wants to do is to come up and hour or to short of a long cook.
How is lump charcoal made?
Natural lump charcoal is made from hardwoods like oak and hickory. They are turned into charcoal by charring the wood in a closed oxygen-free kiln or pit. After the burn, what you’ll find are pieces of charcoal that are different shapes and sizes, which is what the name “lump” is based off of.
Natural lump charcoal is 100 percent organic. There are no additives or any lighter fluid solutions that help the burn. What you end up getting is the authentic wood smoke flavor, without any additives. This natural process allows lump to burn hotter and cleaner, leaving you with that pure smoke flavor.
Conclusion
The Big Green Egg grill uses lump charcoal, which is a natural hardwood charcoal that is not compressed or made from leftover wood byproducts like charcoal briquettes. It is absolutley imperative that you do not use charcoal briquettes in your Big Green Egg.
Lump charcoal provides consistent heat and burns hotter, longer, and produces less ash than other fuel types. It’s important to use only high-quality lump charcoal in the Big Green Egg to ensure the best cooking results.
There are several brands out there. If you’re on a budget and looking for cheap lump charcoal, shop around, and purchase from a reputable brand you’ll be smoking bbq in no time.
Ran out of lump? Learn what you can do to extend your grill session.