Saveur says these are best lump charcoals

[WillTravelForFood]

but are they right?

• Best Overall: Jealous Devil Lump Charcoal
• Best Value: Rockwood Hardwood All Natural Lump Charcoal
• Best for Smoking: The Good Charcoal Company
• Best for Flavor: Fogo Super Premium Lump Charcoal
• Best Long Lasting: Kamado Joe Big Block XL Lump Charcoal

source: https://www.saveur.com/shop/best-lump-charcoals/

[labbq]

Thanks for sharing! So far I do like JD and Fogo with a personal preference for JD. Need to try the others mentioned.

[hoovarmin]

My preference is for JD only because Fogo SP often has log sized chunks that have to be broken down. But I think they got it right when they said Fogo SP for taste.

[Mosca]

Yep, it’s all I use now, too! I got that info from FOGO. I haven’t noticed any difference. I do notice an ammonia-like smell from the tan bag lump when it it coming to temp, is that what you’re referring to? It goes away at about 200°? I’ve always wondered what that was.

[hoovarmin]

Mosca I guess that must be the same thing but I'm not sure. I could swear I smell a menthol like fragrance when it's burning (and I really like it, but I'm not crazy about ammonia)

[Mosca]

That’s just me trying to describe it, we’re probably referring to the same thing.

[Jim White]

I find that Publix Greenwise is an excellent value and higher quality than the name brands.

[hoovarmin]

I'll try a bag of that

[Bkhuna]

Never even considered getting it there. I will next trip.
Thanks.

[STEbbq]

Those all seem decent choices. I will see if I can find Good charcoal as maybe Ace’s has it sometimes. It does have Rockwood regularly as well as Blue’s Hog lump.

Naked Whiz would agree as well with these recommendations generally ( http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumprankdata.htm?name )

[hoovarmin]

In my experience, Rockwood is aptly named. Every time I've used it there are rocks in the bag.

[Histrix]

hoovarmin - my experience with Rockwood is just the opposite. I've gone thru dozens of bags and have never had a single rock. Nor any pebbles.

[smokin fool]

I've only used JD and Fogo from that list, but agree whole heartedly with JD being number one.

[hoovarmin]

My Home Depot sells Jealous Devil 20 lb bags for $24

[Spinaker]

Had them on sale the other day for $10 a bag! Snapped up quite a few of them!

[Andrrr]

$10/bag???? Wow. That would have been a quick $100 spent for me

[BBQandLove]

but are they right?

• Best Overall: Jealous Devil Lump Charcoal
• Best Value: Rockwood Hardwood All Natural Lump Charcoal
• Best for Smoking: The Good Charcoal Company
• Best for Flavor: Fogo Super Premium Lump Charcoal
• Best Long Lasting: Kamado Joe Big Block XL Lump Charcoal

source: https://www.saveur.com/shop/best-lump-charcoals/

I’ve used 3 of the 5. Good stuff. Have not used Rockwood or The Good Charcoal company. The article is pretty much useless fluff written just to generate "content". They sat behind a desk and researched online, plus spoke with a chef, before they wrote the article.

Speaking of charcoal, I found some lump that is amazing. Small chunks too. I’ll make a post about it…

[WillTravelForFood]

Well, if you're approving 3 out of the 5, then the content wasn't entirely fluff.

[Northern lights smoke]

I really like the good charcoal. It's smaller, burns hotter and for me longer. It's acai wood and all natural with no chemicals. That's what the bag says. You can order from Home Depot or get a bag at Sam's Club. It's all I use in my Bronco.

[Murdy]

Available at Sam's for $12 a bag:

https://www.samsclub.com/p/the-good-charcoal-lump-charcoal-15-4-lbs/prod26001682?pid=PS_Goog_Eng_AP_df_JISB_FY23JulyISB_df_12454793986&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=502016475346&wl4=pla-1039845324899&wl5=9021516&wl6=&wl7=&wl15=119919972673&wl16=&wl17=&wl18=&wl19=&wl20=Cj0KCQjw8uOWBhDXARIsAOxKJ2GpAwYMxLA9aq8CSAd_6k4vBCZC4a74gnzrDTTPT41ELxcsEYZMvmAaAjWXEALw_wcB&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8uOWBhDXARIsAOxKJ2GpAwYMxLA9aq8CSAd_6k4vBCZC4a74gnzrDTTPT41ELxcsEYZMvmAaAjWXEALw_wcB

[JoeSousa]

Can't say I disagree with that list.

Here is a quick rundown of the lumps I have used and would use again and the ones I wouldn't use again:

Would use again (in no particular order):

Fogo (black bag)
Jealous Devil - This has been my favorite recently
B&B
Blues Hog
Rockwood
Kamado Joe Big Block XL

Would not use again:

Cowboy

[hoovarmin]

I agree. Cowboy sucks.

[Bkhuna]

You mean Cowboy Dust? That stuff stinks.

[Bogy]

Now that I have added three charcoal cookers this summer, this is much more relevant to me. I picked up assorted flavors of B&B from my son's store to start with, looked at the JD and didn't buy any then, but I'll be back at the store this Saturday. I'm smoking 3 briskets for his employees. Maybe I can work a deal where he reimburses me in charcoal instead of cash.

[Hulagn1971]

Jealous Devil is what I use. Excellent product.

[Spinaker]

$10 at Home depot the other day! Grabbed 10 bags!

[Attjack]

I find B&B to be a better value than Rockwood.

[Spinaker]

Never had real good luck with Rockwood.

I love FOGO, B&B and Kamado Joe XL

[STEbbq]

If you like Kamado Joe lump, you may want to give Masterbuilt lump a shot at $16 a bag as it is made by the same firm now.

[Spinaker]

Oh, good to know! Thanks!

[grantgallagher]

I tried the good charcoal company and i was very impressed. My local shoprite has it and it def burns for a long time. At 20 bucks for 15lbs its not bad. If i was using it for only long smokes i could probably get 2 bags of KBB worth of cook time out of it. I wouldnt bother firing it up for quicker cooks, more than happy to burn through KBB or something cheap for that.