Best charcoal for smokers

Of all the types best charcoal for smokers charcoal, lump charcoal has its share of fans. There are several reasons you might want to spend a little or a lot! The main difference between lump charcoal and formed charcoal briquettes is that lump is whole pieces of wood that have been exposed to high temperatures, which drives out volatile chemicals and leaves only the carbon.

Good charcoal for smoking lasts a long time and produces a steady high heat. Purists use hardwood logs, but most people use charcoal to give food its smoky flavor. Of course, not all charcoals are created equal. Learn the difference between briquettes and lump charcoal and which kinds are best. Charcoal should be as basic and as clean as possible. If you are buying inexpensive charcoal, look for one with no additives. Avoid self-starting charcoals that have lighter fluid additives to get them burning.

Best charcoal for smokers

Apart from your smoker itself, the fire is the base of your barbecue. But, with a huge number of different types and brands of charcoals out there, choosing a fuel for smoking can get confusing really fast! Forget trial and error. This list of the best charcoal for smoking is designed to make your life easy. You can literally choose any of these options and be confident that they will perform just as they should, every time you light up. Burning Brisket is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read our affiliate policy to learn more. Each and every one of the products recommended here has been carefully tested and selected. After all, your food is being doused in the stuff for hours on end so you want it to be as clean as possible. Often people do forget that charcoal is just charred wood and the type of wood used to make the charcoal can have a huge impact on how the food tastes. Although lump charcoal is often thought of as the premium option at the moment, both of these types of charcoals have their advantages and disadvantages. Try both and use whichever one you prefer. If you want to read more on the lump charcoal vs briquettes debate, click here.

Jared Brown. Quick Links. Straight to the Point The best lump charcoal is quick to light, burns steadily, and produces minimal ash.

It should light easily, burn steadily, and add a pleasantly smoky flavor. Rochelle Bilow is the commerce editor for Serious Eats, as well as a novelist. Based in Vermont, Rochelle specializes in stories about home cooking, techniques, tools, and equipment. She has been writing about food professionally for over a decade. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

SmokedBBQSource is supported by its readers. We may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you i f you buy through a link on this page. Learn more. A well-built charcoal smoker can hold a steady temperature for hours without much attention. After testing a range of charcoal smokers, we recommend the Weber Smokey Mountain.

Best charcoal for smokers

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? For many years, grilling had a reputation as a difficult hobby, demanding expensive devices and mastery of the flame. Grills and smokers are easier to use than ever, even if you're a novice griller without much experience. While investing in a charcoal smoker can seem intimidating, many popular models are only slightly more complex than a traditional oven. If you're willing to learn the basics of charcoal smoking, you'll be able to produce a juicy brisket or pork shoulder in no time. Whether you're looking for a top-of-the-line charcoal smoker that can handle any temperature or something more forgiving for a beginner, we've got you covered. New technology, like digital control systems to manage temperature and airflow, can help shorten the learning curve to produce excellent smoked foods with little experience.

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List of Partners vendors. The grill depends on on-hand electricity. Any top-loading model will require you to reach inside to load or remove your food, which is not a con, just worth considering. Lump Charcoal Briquettes are faster-lighting and burn longer, but while they burn longer, they don't burn as hot as lump. List of Partners vendors. Quick Links. You may or may not see things in the same way. Use a charcoal chimney or an electric charcoal starter. Do you? Either way, consider what you're cooking and what flavor the charcoal brings before purchasing. For those with more heat-management experience, the Pit Barrel Cooker Classic Package is an equally good option and offers more portability. Greg Baker is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and food writer with four decades of experience in the food industry. After all that, the charcoal served well in our low-and-slow testing, with long burn times and very little ash to clean up. Table of Contents. The burn time and the amount of heat lump charcoal puts out vary by brand, so you will have to see how each kind works in your smoker.

Not all lump charcoal for smoking is created equal, and some of it even has the potential to harm your health with dangerous chemical additives. We like how it doesn't give out sparks, pops, or snaps when lighting.

Everything was easy to clean, though the glass in the door required more scrubbing to remove smoke residue. Mix a few small chunks of smoking wood in the unlit charcoal to add smokey flavor to your food. Great flavor. Based in Vermont, Rochelle specializes in stories about home cooking, techniques, tools, and equipment. When you've determined your favorite, see if the qualities it has are consistent from bag to bag. Apart from your smoker itself, the fire is the base of your barbecue. Best for Flavor. Cons: Outside of the more controlled environment of a ceramic grill, the charcoal took a bit more babying for our low-and-slow test. Good flavor More affordable More dust. Our aim is to share our passion with you, spreading the joy of outdoor cooking so that you too can create fantastic meals that help people slow down and really connect. Best Overall. Measure advertising performance.