If not cooking outdoors, I am cooking on the stovetop with my 14" carbon steel wok, 12" CI skillet, or in the oven with my two Lodge CI pizza pans, or two dutch ovens. I've also got a nifty Lodge carbon steel grill pan that rocks for veggies outdoors.
Well, for me it's a question of price and quality. For me right now, I get B&B briquettes for $9.99 per 17.6 lb bag, and B&B lump for $14.99 per 20 lb bag, at the local Academy. While I can sometimes get KBB for say $17 for 2 bags on sale, for me, it just doesn't perform as well.
A year ago I was paying $7.99 and $12.99 for the same bags at Academy, but they are still cheaper than other places for the same charcoal, for me.
I've burned cheaper lump and cheaper briquettes, for example Cowboy or Royal Oak, but they burned dirtier (more ash) or quicker (less cook time), and were not a good deal in my opinion.
I have switched to all B&B also. In the balance of quality vs price it’s the winner. I used Kamado Joe Big block and Rockwood lump until the prices went over $30.00 a bag. I’m completely happy with B&B.
I've also made the switch over to B&B briquettes. No noxious fumes when lighting mean a cleaner enclosed patio and happier neighbors. Plus, the smell when it's burning is wonderful.
Bkhuna its funny, but I think I've not found any other charcoal - briquettes or otherwise - that smells as chemically as Kingsford does when lighting it up. Even the cheap Royal Oak briquettes smelled much better.
I would load up on B&B at $10 per 17# bag. Next best price I could find was Rural King at $13. Ace, where I usually shop, is $16 (and I'd still buy it if I were out of charcoal). I used Kingsford Pro for a long time, which is ok and available at Costco, but I prefer B&B.
I noted below that I try to pay attention to price per lb as well.
Around me, $0.60 to $0.70 per pound is closer to the normal price point for me, for the brands I like
My baseline price is $20 for two 20 lb bags of KBB at Home Depot. I'm noticing these are becoming scarcer and the price of $18 for two 17 lb bags are more common.
I look for the brands I like to be on sale and stock up.
I also tend to look at in terms of price per lb.
Kingsford original is currently &17.98 for 2 16# bags. (0.56 per lb) Going price for a decent product.
Walmart has Cowboy briquettes 2 20# bags for $17.60. (0.44 per lB) very good price for a good product.
I've also been using B&B briquettes which I get at Ace Hardware (no Academy Sports near me). I stock up on these when they have a sale... current regular price is $15.99 for a 17.6 lb bag (0.90 per lb). I bought the my last load on sale for $10.99 for that same 17.6 lb bag (0.62 per lb)
Regular price for B&B is a bit steep for me, but the sale price is reasonable for an excellent product.
I haven't used lump for awhile, but generally speaking it will be more expensive than briqs, especially when looking at products that most people consider to be good quality...
Nothing ever seems to go on sale up here in the sticks, if I see a price I can live with I just go with it.
Our Walmart brings in one skid of charcoal for the season so its almost sold out now.
I gotta better chance of marrying a Kardashian than Home Depot or Lowes having a sale.
Canadian Tire may mark some charcoals down but by a buck or so.
There used to be a site that’d ship all kinds of lump charcoal for free if you spent over $100. I tried all kinds of great brands but they’ve gone out of business. So for me it’s whatever is available. In my neck of the woods the selection is somewhat limited. Cowboy, Royal Oak are everywhere and they’re perfectly fine. To be honest, I just grab whatever’s cheapest. The only issue is that there tends to be a lot of smaller pieces. Now whenever I shop at this Brazilian market near me I grab a Brazilian brand…Brasero(I think is the name). Strangely it’s the cheapest even though it come from Brazil AND it has nice big chunks which I prefer for longer cooks.
I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t overthink it. It’s more about understanding your cooker than the charcoal.
Our local home Hardware used to sell Jealous Devil brand charcoal and I had been disappointed with other brands as they were mostly small pieces, Home Hardware was discontinuing the Jealous Devil brand and I bought four bags at our local store for $30/bag ($1.5/#)and I am very happy with this product. It works good in my Primo and it allows the Primo to get hot to cook pizzas. With the old charcoal being so small I think I lacked good air flow to get it hot enough for pizza. When my supply is gone I am not sure what I will buy, I have made my own as well.
Check Canadian Tire, our local Meadowvale store has brought in Jealous Devil lump this season. Don't know if every store is stocking JD and may be available online too.
Same price as BBQ Galore, $41 and change for the large bag.
Found Jealous Devil at Walmart online with free shipping if your a Walmart+ member. Some of our local Home Depots have it in the stores now too. Jealous Devil is my favorite lump when using my Weber Summit Kamado
Thanks, I was in CTC yesterday and did not see any, the crappy lump charcoal I had before was made in Quebec and I bought it at CTC. I am OK for a while I have two bags left yet.
Gear includes: Char-Griller's Grand Champ off set stick burner/smoker, SnS Kamado Deluxe, Weber 22, PBC, Victory gasser, Victory 36 griddle, Smoke Hollow electric smoker. ThermoWorks Thermapen Mk4, Smoke, Signals, and RFX4, Meater+, SNS-500, roti fits 22 n gasser, Emeril countertop TO, InkBird Sous Vide, Potane Vac/Sealer. Fire&Ice griddle/cooler ensemble.
3-pkg of Collapsible Prep Tubs
Junior, Original, Xtra Lg. SS D. Norcross
Complete set (Tx PJ!) Wusthof Knives n block.
Dalstrong:
Phantom Series Paring knife
Shogun SeriesX 6" Chef knife
Gladiator Series 12"Cleaver knife
Just got into charcoal Dec ‘21 (PBC)
fav is brisky. Love Turkey on PBC. also Turkey in the glass,(any nice bourbon)
Bud has always been my barley pop.
Been smoking a handful of years, just got serious in the last two or three years. Thanks to AR n @glemn picked up an SnS Kamado for appx 1/3 price of new. I dont think he used it twice. Love AR! keep calm n smoke on! Miss you Bonesy.
Seems to me, Wally had a sale for online purch. B&B close to $.60 lb. I had six bags del. Then Cost a'lot had six bag max of KBB Professional, appx $.55 lb and I got the six bag max. Plus I got a #34 bag o Cowboy lump in the low $20's and a Forty pound bag o pellets for smoke tubes in the gasser, $12-$13. I am set for a bit.
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