Saw some El Diablo lump charcoal in about 20 lb bags at Costco recently, at what seemed to be fair price though I don't remember exactly. Anyway, anybody ever use this stuff, I never heard of it.
Thanks
Al
Thanks
Al
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I have not tried this brand yet. All my local Costco sells is Cowboy. -
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Hi Al:
The El Diablo corporate office is off Grand Avenue on the west side of Phoenix. They market all over Arizona, but I'm not sure where else.
The charcoal is made in Mexico and it is definitely mesquite wood.
I've used it here and there for decades in my Weber Kettle. Produces extremely hot fire, and for grilling steaks it used to put a lot of flavor on the meat. I've never found any foreign materials in the bags.
In the last year, I've used a few bags of it in my Kamado Joe. It burns well, and I don't end up with any flavoring from the charcoal if I use it for a low and slow (i.e. deflectors in place).
Mostly big chunks of charcoal, although lots of them are strangely shaped (it's a mesquite tree). Not much dust, and a really great price.
Costco sells 40lb bags for $12.49, $12.99, or $14.29. Those are the prices I've seen in the last year.
I've seen it at Walmart stores, occasionally at grocery stores, and sometimes even hardware stores. Best price is generally Costco.
So, if you're cooking in a Kamado, go for it. It works well and is really inexpensive.
Best regards,
JimComment
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I really think that no vendor of charcoal starts out with bags full of dust. I think it's a function of how it's handled from the point of manufacture to the ultimate point of sale.
Over the years, even if I bought Kingsford Blue Bag, if I purchased at a small store, I would end up with a lot of dust in the bottom of the bag. Probably because the bags were being individually handled to get them into the store and out for the display.
Stores like Costco are moving so much volume that no one ever handles the product. It's moved on a pallet with a fork lift. Without the bumping and shaking, the charcoal stays a lot more intact.
One product that definitely benefits from the big box store environment and high volume sales.
As we discussed before Breadhead, the Wild West stuff you get may actually be the same product, or at least come from the same origin in Mexico. It just costs less in Arizona. Less taxes, less environmental stuff, who knows? Maybe the mesquite is closer so the shipping charges are less.
I always get a kick out of finding out why mesquite trees are all over the southwestern US, even though they were only native to a small area in Texas. The cattle drives of the 19th century. Cattle eat the seeds, cattle are herded towards the destination, cattle poop the seeds, already fertilized. Up come mesquite trees everywhere the cattle went.
JimComment
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Not sure of the quality but seems like it is of the DEVIL!!Comment
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Thanks, everyone! Maybe I will buy some to try in the winter when its harder to keeps temps up.
AlComment
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You just made my upcoming trip to Costco more exciting. Hope my local Costco carries this brand I've been using FOGO great stuff but expensive.Comment
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