7 Best Charcoals for Smoking Meat in 2022 (Chef-Reviewed)
There are a variety of charcoals sold out there, but we've done the research and found the best ones, with smoking in mind. Our favorite is Jealous Devil's All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal. These are made from one of the densest hardwoods, which burn slowly and consistently, perfect for slow cooking. We also put together a list of 7 of our favorite charcoals and even created a buying guide reviewed by a professional chef to help you pick the perfect charcoals for the next time you smoke some meat.
Quick List - Top Charcoals for Smoking Meat
Royal Oak
Best Versatile Charcoal Briquettes
Jim Quast (JQ) is a lifelong professional restaurant and corporate R&D chef who loves everything food-related and the tools, both big and small, to make those great food memories. He's a super huge BBQ, grill, and kitchen gadget fanatic. JQ has spent the last 30+ years trying to figure out what works to make your kitchen life easier and fun. If you can use it to slice it, dice it, cook it, smoke it, or store it, he's been there checking it out. Food = Life!
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How to Choose a Charcoal for Smoking Meat – Buying Guide
There are two main types of charcoal that are best used for smoking purposes, both of which last long and produce consistent heat. Our buying guide below will get you acquainted with the two, briquettes and lump charcoal, as well as go into detail of a few things to consider when choosing a particular type.
Consider Briquettes if You're a Beginner
Briquettes are little cylindrical or pillow-shaped pieces of charcoal made out compressed fuel, usually wood waste materials like sawdust or paper. Briquettes are a great choice for beginners because they’re regularly shaped, and therefore, it's easy to control their heat output and keep temperatures low and steady.
All-Natural Briquettes Are Preferable
Though briquettes come in a convenient shape, they are sometimes formed and bound together with chemical additives, leading to a toxic smell that seeps into lighter food like fish. With that in mind, we recommend looking for plant-based or natural binding agents like starch, clay, or molasses that burn clean.
It's also worth checking if the briquettes are made of wood. All-natural briquettes not only give you a cleaner taste, but also less ash, meaning an easier cleanup. It's worth nothing, though, that some brands add coal to their briquettes for better and hotter burning. Although coal is not an ideal fuel type for smoking, it doesn't affect flavor much.
Briquettes let you smoke slowly, letting the aroma seep in and giving the collagen in meat time to soften for extra juiciness. If airflow is difficult to control with your smoker, you can arrange the briquettes in a certain way for low and consistent temperatures. The snake method is one type of arrangement, for example.
Avoid Flavored or Self-Lighting Briquettes
Some briquettes are marketed as self-lighting or self-starting. These should be avoided for smoking since they tend to have lighter fluid added in, which means your meats will take on a chemical flavor when the charcoal burns. There are all-natural briquette alternatives that light up easily if this is a feature you appreciate.
Any briquettes that are flavored are best to avoid as well. When you’re smoking, it’s the wood chips, not the charcoal, that should be controlling the flavor profile. The cleaner your charcoal smoke is, the more flexibility you'll have to play around with different kinds of wood and create a smoke that perfectly complements your dish and your taste buds.
Use Lump Charcoal for the Best Results
Lump charcoal is made from hardwood that has been burned and deprived of oxygen until it has become pure carbon. As such, this is a great way to imitate smoking with wood. With lump charcoal, there is no need for binders, meaning you get more all-natural components.
Medium to Large Chunks for Better Control
Lump charcoal, being made from hardwood, produces a more authentic and flavorful smoke. It's also known to burn cleaner and produce less ash than briquettes. In addition, lump charcoal allows you to reach higher temperatures for meats that need a longer and hotter smoking.
However, lump charcoal is irregularly shaped, which can lead to varying heat outputs. Furthermore, gaps in between each lump means more airflow and higher flames. Airflow has its positives, however, as it can allow for better control in achieving low and slow flames.
We recommend going for brands known for consistency in terms of size. If you can, choose ones that generally have medium to large pieces, as large pieces tend to burn longer, which is perfect for low and slow smoking. It's always best, however, to make sure the chunks can fit in your smoker or charcoal chimney first.
Dense Hardwood Mixtures for Clean, Long-Lasting Fire
Most bags of lump charcoal are made up of a mix of different hardwoods. Some contain a mix of American hardwoods like oak, maple, hickory, and pecan. They are known to be reliable for long-lasting burns at consistent temperatures.
Some bags also contain lump charcoal made from woods mostly found in South America, like quebracho blanco and inga wood, both of which are very dense woods. Quebracho blanco's name itself means "ax breaker," which gives repute to its dense nature. Dense woods like those and oak give you a slower cook, which is perfect for smoking. Oak is also great for its neutral flavor and scent.
There are also lump charcoals made with one type of wood, like the aforementioned quebracho blanco. Hickory is another type of hardwood that lump charcoal can be made from, and it even has a strong flavor profile.
7 Best Charcoals for Smoking Meat
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal | | Best Pure Hardwood Lump Charcoal | |
2 | Fogo All Natural Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal | | Best Hand-Selected Large Lump Charcoal | |
3 | Royal Oak Chef's Select Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal Briquettes | | Best Versatile Charcoal Briquettes | |
4 | Duraflame Cowboy All Natural Hardwood Briquets | | Best All-Natural Hardwood Briquettes | |
5 | Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes | | Best Briquettes For a Steady Burn | |
6 | Masterbuilt Lump Charcoal | | Best Naturally Sourced Lump Charcoal | |
7 | Big Green Egg Oak & Hickory Lump Charcoal | | Best Charcoal Made From Premium Carbonized Wood |
Jealous DevilAll Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal
Best Pure Hardwood Lump Charcoal
Pros:
- All-natural with no chemicals, fillers, or scrap metal
- Produces little ash and no sparking or popping
- Made from very dense hardwoods
Cons:
- Has a strong odor, according to some reviews
- Some reports of chunks arriving broken into smaller pieces
This all-natural lump charcoal is made from South American hardwoods called quebracho blanco, known as one of the densest hardwoods, and will give you a long, consistent burn. You don't need to worry about sparks, popping, or excessive smoke and ash as there are zero fillers in the production. Each lump has great density for a hotter and longer burn.
A few reviewers reported the charcoal to have a strong gasoline-like odor, and others reported inconsistent chunk sizes, as they received smaller broken pieces. However, most buyers received medium to large lump charcoal sizes. They were also pleased with how consistent and hot the charcoal burned, and many were surprised that it produced very little ash.
FogoAll Natural Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal
Best Hand-Selected Large Lump Charcoal
Pros:
- Each piece is hand-picked and over four inches long
- Large chunks allow for longer burn time
- Great for ceramic grills
Cons:
- Some reports of the chunks being too large to be effective; charcoal may need to be broken up first
This bag of all-natural charcoal lumps contains only large-sized chunks, perfect for slow cooking over a long period of time. Each piece of charcoal is hand-picked so that the bag contains chunks that are over four inches long. They're also made from a special blend of dense inga wood, with no other added ingredients.
While this bag's main feature is the large size of its lump charcoal, some reviewers found the size of the charcoal to be entirely too large to work effectively in a grill or chimney. However, most reviewers were pleased with the large size, which allowed the charcoals to last a long time. Many appreciated the high temperatures they could achieve, as well as the smoky flavor they added to their food.
Royal OakChef's Select Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal Briquettes
Best Versatile Charcoal Briquettes
Pros:
- Can be used for high- and low-temperature cooking
- Can be used in traditional smokers and ceramic or non-ceramic grills
- Produces little ash
- Has 20 lbs. bag option
Cons:
- Title is misleading; there are no lump charcoals included
- Some reports of the briquettes not lasting long
These charcoal briquettes are made from American oak and hickory hardwood and no other ingredients, allowing for some natural smoky flavor. You'll be able to use them in traditional smokers as well as ceramic or non-ceramic grills, and these briquettes are perfect to use whether you need high temperatures or low temperatures.
A few reviewers found that the briquettes burned far too quickly and still produced quite a bit of ash. However, most reviewers were happy with the briquettes and commented that they burned hot, consistently, and clean. Some reviewers also stated how surprised they were that the briquettes did not have a toxic, chemical smell to them.
Duraflame CowboyAll Natural Hardwood Briquets
Best All-Natural Hardwood Briquettes
Pros:
- Is all-natural and contains 95 percent hardwood charcoal
- Contains no fillers, chemicals, or additives
- Produces comparatively less ash
Cons:
- Not easy to light, according to some reviews
Having the classic pillow shape allow these briquettes to heat evenly, and they last long. Each one is made with all-natural hardwoods and a vegetable binder, with no added coal or fillers, great for adding smoky flavors to your food. You can also use them with all outdoor cooking appliances.
Some reviewers reported that the briquettes were difficult to light up. However, other reviewers commented that they lasted long and gave off great heat. They also appreciated the smoky smell and the flavor it provided.
KingsfordOriginal Charcoal Briquettes
Best Briquettes For a Steady Burn
Pros:
- Lights up quickly
- Made from all-natural ingredients
- One bag is good for at least four uses
Cons:
- Burns out too quickly, according to some reviews
If you mention briquettes, one of the first brands most people will think of is Kingsford. Their briquettes take only a second to light, but they keep a nice, low flame for hours. They're also available and consistent in packaging. The ingredients are all-natural, ranging from sawdust and mineral char to limestone and borax for faster combustion, extra heat, and to hold the charcoal together.
A few reviewers complained that the briquettes burned out too quickly and produced a lot of ash. However, other reviewers felt that they burned for a good amount of time. They were pleased that they burned evenly and were easy to light, and even stated that they use Kingsford briquettes as their go-to!
Best Naturally Sourced Lump Charcoal
Pros:
- 100 percent premium hardwood
- Works in various charcoal-cooking products
- Can achieve low and high temperatures
Cons:
- Some reports of inconsistent charcoal sizes; may contain a sizeable amount of small pieces
- Charcoal creates many sparks, according to some reviews
The hardwood this lump charcoal is made from is naturally sourced and fired in artisan-style kilns. Being made from 100 percent hardwood with no added chemicals, it offers a great charcoal flavor for your food. While it can be used at low temperatures, it also is able to reach those high temperatures.
Some reviewers reported that they received bags with numerous amounts of small pieces or crumbs, and that the charcoal also created several sparks after being lit. On the other hand, other reviewers felt the charcoal was high quality, and they were surprised with how little ash it left behind. They also appreciated its consistent burn.
Best Charcoal Made From Premium Carbonized Wood
Pros:
- 100 percent natural hardwood
- Contains no chemicals, additives, or fillers
- Ready for cooking within a few minutes
- Easy to light and produces less ash
Cons:
- Some reports of inconsistent charcoal sizes
Some reviewers reported the size of the charcoals they received varied from bag to bag, and they would have preferred to receive more larger pieces. However, many other reviewers were pleased with the lump charcoals and stated that they burned well. They also appreciated that they were easy to light, and many found them perfect for low and slow cooking.
Be Sure to Store Your Charcoal Properly
Charcoal can easily become contaminated when not stored in a sealed container or dust-free environment. As such, we recommend placing the charcoal bag in a storage bin or designated container. Close the lid to protect the contents from contaminants, such as liquids, which make charcoal damp and a breeding ground for mold.
Check Out These BBQ Must-Haves
If you're looking to level up your grilling and smoking skills, we have a few more suggestions below to make your barbeque session even more convenient and enjoyable.
Top 5 Charcoals for Smoking Meat
No. 1: Jealous Devil｜All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal
No. 2: Fogo｜All Natural Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal
No. 3: Royal Oak｜Chef's Select Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal Briquettes
No. 4: Duraflame Cowboy｜All Natural Hardwood Briquets
No. 5: Kingsford｜Original Charcoal Briquettes
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.