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!

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.

Best charcoal for smokers

Of all the types of 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. With briquettes, that carbon is processed further. It's ground up, mixed with various fillers, and compressed into standard shapes. Good quality lump is very clean burning fuel. It also burns hotter than briquettes if it's allowed to get lots of oxygen. But if it's used in a grill or smoker that has good ventilation control, the burn rate of the lump can be controlled, which regulates the cooking temperature. Since there are no additives or fillers, there is very little ash remaining after the coals burn. This is a big plus and makes cleanup after grilling or smoking easier.

You may accept or manage your choices by best charcoal for smokers below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. After 50 hours of testing 13 charcoal smokers, we found four favorites. We put each charcoal through a high-heat and low-heat cooking test to see how much and how strongly the charcoal flavored the foods, how much ash was left after cooking, best charcoal for smokers, and how long it took to burn out after cutting off the air supply to the grill.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. When the smoke cleared, we found the best briquettes and lump charcoal. Jump to a Section. Wood burned in a low-oxygen environment yields charcoal, which burns hotter and longer than its original component. Without it, the smelting of metals that brought us into the Bronze and Iron Ages probably would have taken much longer to achieve.

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. If you want to try something a little different, the Pit Barrel Cooker is worth checking out. Depending on what your needs are, there are a few other good options so be sure to read through our full list of the best charcoal smokers across a variety of price points. Read our full Weber Smokey Mountain review.

Best charcoal for smokers

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.

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If you want to grill for a long time, have plenty of fuel on hand and steadily feed the fire to keep it hot. The Pit Barrel smoker was a significant step up in complexity of use. You can always use lighter fluid, but allow it to burn off completely before adding food. Lump charcoal is made by heating hardwood near degrees Fahrenheit in a low-oxygen environment. Of course, charcoal must be kept completely dry. Latest Posts. Factors to Consider Briquettes vs. This mixed hardwood charcoal imparted chicken with a definite smoky flavor without overwhelming — more like a campfire flavor than heavy smoke. We have burned a considerable amount of charcoal in our test kitchens, however, and we currently recommend Cowboy Hardwood Lump Charcoal Amazon for smoking, though you may prefer a different type or blend of woods for flavor. When you've determined your favorite, see if the qualities it has are consistent from bag to bag.

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Factors to Consider. It also popped and smoked a bit upon lighting. Briquettes are a good choice for your smoker , provided you get the cleanest versions possible. The chicken was flavorful and moist, not rubbery. The Masterbuilt is very easy to use and the app connectivity makes it even more beginner-friendly, while still appealing to more experienced smokers. Lump charcoal is also more available these days and can typically be found in places that sell smokers and outdoor cooking equipment. Our testing mimicked the consumer experience as much as possible by working through the steps the average person would take upon buying the product. We also observed very little ash, and what was produced seemed to evaporate with a light breeze—it made cleanup especially efficient. In addition to taking observations about the packaging—including directions for use, explanations, safety warnings, and notes about water-resistant qualities, we completed two tests with all of the lump charcoal varieties. Try different brands. Use limited data to select advertising.