I use Kingsford only for fast cooks and searing chops/steaks, and I do some of that on the gas grill depending on circumstances, so a bag lasts me some while. Exclusively B&B for anything low and slow, as PJ said he does as well. I have not seen Cowboy brand, but I don't generally shop at Walmart and the only nearby Costco is in a super busy area and has a small parking lot, it was a hassle the one time we went there. That was in The Before Time though, right after moving here to the DC burbs, so we should probably try again...
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Been burning cowboy for a while now. Actually tested it in Mt masterbuild gravity digital. Runs just as long on the same amount of brickettes as KBB. I tried the offhand Brookshires charcoal, and it only maintained temp for 65% of the time that cowboy and kbb did. You gonna be fine.Comment
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I could have written this post myself. I've also watched those 2x 20 lbs bags of KBB disappear and be replaced with the 2x 16 lbs bags for now the same price! I've been eyeing those Cowboy briquets for a while now.
Only reason I haven't jumped is that I have my KBB/PBC charcoal situation locked in.
I have four bags of KBB in the garage.....I think I will keep that for the PBC for now and give Cowboy a try for the Weber Kettle/direct grilling.
If I order four bags, Walmart will deliver them to my door the next day at no extra cost. Life is good, as they say.
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Michael, I would go in the store to get them if I were you. There were MANY complaints at Walmart online that people were only getting ONE bag of the charcoal when they ordered the 2 pack online. Then they had to call Walmart for a refund or to fix the problem.Last edited by Panhead John; September 24, 2024, 06:00 PM. -
Panhead John Michael_in_TX, I've had that issue twice with Walmart. Recently when I purchased the B&B 2 wood blend. Ordered 2 got 1. Canceled the order and 3 days later it was delivered. Credit had already been applied. Same stuff when I ordered Cowboy. I got the same result, free bag. But I'm done ordering online with them.
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I just noticed that Cowboy is made by Duraflame, the fire log company. Not that it makes the product better, but it does associate it with a brand mfg. I know.Comment
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I've been very pleased with Cowboy brand briquettes. Have also talked to several who said their lump wasn't very good. I use Jealous Devil for lump.Comment
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I have 1.75 bags of Costco, 1 bag of B&B so I will also try Cowboy once my supply is gone. Good to see positive reviews.Comment
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You are not alone. We have noticed increased prices for less product content.
Companies have been doing that for years. Ice Cream usee to be 1/2 gallons and 1.5 quarts.Comment
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Thankfully, some things are still sacred.Originally posted by bbqLuv View Post
(Of course, this now costs $8.65 sigh....)Comment
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Steve R. I think maybe Blue Bell has been coasting along for several years on their reputation….and other ice cream makers have caught up. I actually like Kroger’s Private Selection Cookies and Cream better than Blue Bell’s. And even though Blue Bell is still a 1/2 gallon, most of its competitors are still cheaper. -
Panhead John, the Private Selection stuff in general tends to be good. I don't know if the Kroger stores down there carry it, but the Homemade brand (based in Cincinnati, OH) is my go-to grocery store ice cream.
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Add me to the list of satisfied Cowboy users.
I use it for both grilling and low n slow.
great price and performanceComment
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The shrinking products frustrate me too. A year or so ago I bought several Kingsford 2 packs on sale at Home Depot, then figured out only after I got them home that they'd shrunk to 16 lbs. Damn!
Sam's Club still has the 20 lbs bags, and on sale I can still get them near or below $20 for a 2 pack.
I may have to try the Cowboy briquettes some day.Comment
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I'll have to try it out. I have been a KBB user for years - like 40 years. But I am tired of the prices too. I kept holding out, sure that the sales would come back.
I hate Cowboy l didn't even know they made briquettes. When i see the logo i ignore the bag. But i will look and check it out. Especially since I don't have any charcoal right now.Comment
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Yup, if you've been using their lump, I can see why you hate it. Or I should say, I understand. I've been told it sparks a LOT. Also told it was the same manufacturer as another one, can't remember which - Royal Oak, maybe? I'd believe that, as the time I bought that, it was like a 4th of July sparkler.
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Ok, go ahead and add me to the list of satisfied Cowboy briquette users also, very satisfied! This was my first and only time using them so far, but here’s my initial impressions. When I first lit them in my chimney, there was a lot less dirty smoke when compared to KBB, a noticeable difference. Also, the smell in the beginning was more pleasant than the KBB’s off putting smell.
This is about half the smoke KBB normally puts out for me
I don’t know if it makes a difference or not, but the Cowboy charcoal seemed to be a little larger than the KBB and has a smooth rounded surface with no indentions or grooves in them.
The Cowboy definitely gets as hot as the KBB, I’ve measured them both now. The last time I measured the KBB temps at the coals, they were right around the same as the Cowboy, just a little less than 1,000*…
Temps in the vortex were the same as in the chimney, about 980* or so, with KBB or Cowboy
One thing I noticed when pouring the hot coals from my chimney into the vortex was how much bigger and “well held together” the Cowboy coals were vs KBB. In the past, when pouring the KBB into the kettle or vortex, a lot of the bottom half of the coals seemed to crumble into smaller pieces and not maintain their shape. After I finished my steak cook tonight, I noticed the Cowboy leftover coals were still closer to their original size than the KBB.
So…were the Cowboy briquettes night and day better than KBB? No, Kingsford is still a good charcoal to use of course. But for my money, I found the Cowboy to be a little better and a decent amount of money cheaper. I’m gonna stick with Cowboy from here on out.
Last edited by Panhead John; September 25, 2024, 06:03 AM.Comment
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Great review. And Great steak. Thanks...Comment
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I'm a novice at grilling. I've used cowboy lump but not the briquettes . I will check it out.Comment
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