I’m Done With Kingsford

[Panhead John]

Why? For the last several years I’ve gotten sick and tired of Mfgr’s. shrinking their product size and charging us even more for less product. Kingsford is just one example of this. It wasn’t that long ago we could catch summer holiday sales at HD and Lowe’s for 2 20lb. bags for $10-$15. They’ve all but eliminated any kind of sale on Kingsford, or at the very least, drastically reduced those sales. Occasionally Costco has a sale on the 2 pack of Kingsford Pro, but that’s not very often and they’re only 18lb. bags. And most of the big box stores are only selling single 16lb. bags for $10.92 or [2] 16lb bags of KBB for $19.98 right now, Walmart and Home Depot are two examples.

When I find another product that’s just as good as the big name brands, or better and cheaper, I have no problem switching to save a few bucks. Costco’s Kirkland brand charcoal briquettes and Cowboy Charcoal Briquettes are what I’m buying from here on out. [still using B & B for low n’ slow] I’ve used the Kirkland brand briquettes before and they’re every bit as good as KBB and cheaper. Today I was at Walmart needing to pick up some charcoal and saw the Cowboy brand…[2] 20lb. bags for $17.92. [2] 16lb. bags of KBB was $19.92. I picked up a 2 pack of Cowboy…$2.00 less for 8 more pounds of charcoal! While this will be my first time using Cowboy, the feedback from several members here who use it, plus the rave reviews on Walmart.com have me convinced I’m gonna love it also. Hello Cowboy and bye bye Kingsford.

Just to clarify, all the products I mention are for briquettes, not lump.

[Jfrosty27]

I’m anxious to hear how you like the Cowboy. I’m almost out of Charcoal and feel the same way you do.

[Panhead John]

I’ll be using it tonight Jim, I’ll post back here with my initial thoughts and tag you.

[Spinaker]

I would say 20lbs*. Every time I get a bag of lump Cowboy, there are big and small rocks in it. That stuff is fine for grilling, but I have never had good luck with low and slow with that junk. Good thing you are still using B&B for that.

You get what you pay for here. $17.92 is a great price for that much charcoal, especially if you are just using it for grilling. I am still a fan of Kingsford because I love the consistency. I always know what I am getting. Cowboy? Not so much. All the bags I get from them at Costco have a few big pieces, but the bottom 1/3 of the bag is dust, rocks and tiny pieces. I hope you have a better experience that I do every time I get Cowboy. Again, I get what I pay for, it's cheap, and the contents of the bag reflect that.

[Johnny Booth]

Panhead John - please also tell us about the integrity of the briquettes. Nothing more useless than a bag full of broken checks and dust. 🧐

[Panhead John]

Johnny Booth I opened one of the new Cowboy bags and emptied it into my Kingsford Charcoal caddy. All the briquettes I saw or handled were perfectly fine and not chipped or had chunks broken off. After emptying the bag I was really surprised at the small amount of dust left in the bag. I actually thought to myself “Wow, this is probably one of the cleanest bags I’ve ever opened.”

[Johnny Booth]

Thanks PJ. I will look for next time. I like the KF Pro, but we only get it for a couple months a year. I will try this out for sure.

[synodog]

I’ll have to look for this brand next time I’m in there.

[tstalafuse]

The only issue I have with the Kirkland brand charcoal, at least at our Costco, is they only carry it for 2-3 months of the year (same for their wood pellets), but I cook year round. For the most part, I just use B&B for all cooks (charcoal or pellet).

[Panhead John]

Yep, our Costco’s here don’t carry it but 3-4 months out of the year also.

[Bkhuna]

Costco corporate is under the impression the there is a "grilling season" and when pumpkin spice hits the streets, it's time to stop carrying charcoal and pellets.

[PGH_RAM]

Bkhuna Maybe we need to start a letter writing campaign. Or flood their customer service line with requests.

[captainlee]

Down sizing and up charging is the norm now unfortunately. Glad that you got an alternative.

[Steve R.]

I grabbed a bag of Kingsford 100% Natural Hardwood Briquettes in a pinch at Dollar General not long ago. Comparable to B&B, but smaller briquettes and a lot more expensive per lb.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

I've only used the cowboy lump, it's better than Royal Oak but is a little spark happy and leaves a bit more ash, but it's significantly cheaper than the other stuff at the store. I might try their charcoal on the work grill.

[DaveD]

"Better than Royal Oak" is a bar set mighty, mighty low.

[Panhead John]

😂😂

[Hulagn1971]

Let us know how you like the Cowboy brand briquettes. I switched over to B&B orange bag briquettes a few years ago and never went back. Would like a comparison.

[Panhead John]

Will do!

[Davek8282]

Just be thankful you have some choices. Where I am everyone carries Kingsford and Royal Oak. Never been a fan of Royal Oak so Kingsford it is. Never seen the Costco briquettes, I have tried the Costco lump and it is predominately very small pieces, won't be getting that again. The Costco pellets are fine so I try to stock up when they have them. Next time I go to the big city I plan of looking for a few different brands to try. The online retailers in Canada won't normally ship charcoal. Too much weight for the price point.

[Bkhuna]

I've had very good experiences buying through Amazon and Walmart.

[Davek8282]

Bkhuna. Walmart locally has nothing but Royal Oak and Amazon Canada is way too expensive. Amazon is shipping from the US with duty and taxes twice as much the already expensive Kingsford

[Whiskeyman53]

I switched over to Cowboy briquettes last year after stores around here stopped carrying Royal Oak. I am very pleased with how they perform. Excellent with a rotisserie as well as low and slow. Works well for hot and fast grilling . I like their pillow not ridge style.

[Panhead John]

Good to hear, thanks!

[ecowper]

I've been using Cowboy briquettes for a while now. It's good stuff, burns very clean and pound for pound lasts me longer than the comparable weight of KBB. I don't think you'll be sorry.

[Huskee]

Never was a Cowboy fan, but it's been many years and might be worth a revisit. Price increases are a part of life and happen more and more often lately, on everything, as we all well know. If I gave up on everything going up in price and/or shrinkflating, I'd also have to give up bourbon and coffee and pizza.

[ecowper]

I don’t like, and won’t use, Cowboy lump. Their briquettes are a different story. Super solid stuff in my opinion.

[klflowers]

Man that avatar is fire as the youngsters say

[Huskee]

Panhead John Oh yeah I get it, the things we like we continue to pay for regardless. It sounds like Cowboy briqs are good stuff, and I'd have never known that. I can't remember what of theirs I tried and didn't care for, might've been lump, but I wasn't planning to try any more before reading this. Once you find a suitable replacement for something rising in price then we're fools not to jump. I buy and use much less Kford than in years past and it's good to know there's a suitable replacement.

[RichieB]

I've gone away from Kingsford. It's been Cowboy Briquettes since late last summer. I find less smoke on start up, burns hotter and last longer, oh as you said Panhead John, cheaper. IMO, its a win/win. I hope you like it. And if not mistaken, KBB has fillers. None here.

[Panhead John]

Sounds like I will like it Richie! I’ll be using it tonight on a porterhouse.

[RichieB]

I'm ready to fire up the Kettle for pork country style ribs with a chunk of cherry. Meathead recipe. Let us know your opinion.

[RichieB]

To clarify on the smoke at start up in the chimney. There is a good amount when I light the cubes. It dissipates much faster than KBB. I'm sitting here now after 5 minute lift off and I look now and no smoke.

[Spinaker]

Wow, lotta people have made this switch. I will have to hunt some down and check it out.

[ecowper]

My local Johnson’s, about a mile from my house, carries Cowboy briquettes. That’s where I first grabbed a bag and said “what the heck, if it sucks I’m only out $14”

[Spinaker]

Yep, that is a good call. Now I gotta track one down. ecowper