Who Makes The Best BBQ Charcoal?

You're excited to get the grill out and barbecue but before you get started you need to make sure that you have charcoal on-hand. I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, Kingsford charcoal was the brand that I saw at everyone's cookout.
However, these days you are likely to see a number of charcoal brands to choose from at your local hardware store and you might be wondering which one is the best.
I've done the hard work of comparing the briquets made by 5 popular brands so that you don't have to!
I looked at 4 factors:
• Cost
• Duration
• Temperature
• How Long To Get Clean Smoke
Watch the video to see which brand came out on top, the winner might surprise you!
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[@phamos73]

As a 51 year old cooking fan, and using charcoal for the first time since I was a kid, this is some of the best advice I've seen so far. It's been very trial and error so far but getting better at judging heat methods. My only wonder is what type of brick to use. Living in Canada, I haven't seen Fogo or Max available but could be location and will certainly try Kingsford and Royal Oak. Thank you for a fantastic take on the best way to bbq. Cheers!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I’m glad that you found the video to be helpful.

[@lowellkimberley]

I have to wonder if Royal Oak is different in Canada or maybe I have just got bad bags. I have found Royal Oak to smoke more and longer than Kingsford. The Royal Oak also sparked a lot and would “snap crackle pop” the whole time in the chimney starter.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

@lowellkimberley “Snap, crackle, and pop”….. it sounds like you’re describing lump charcoal. Are your bags of Royal Oak based on lump charcoal or briquettes?

[@lowellkimberley]

@@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ They were the Royal Oak original briquettes.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

@lowellkimberley That’s very odd as briquettes shouldn’t react that way after they are lit. I have never experienced anything like that.

[@terrysommer3592]

Does anyone else love his voice?

[@p00ch28]

His voice is oozing with wisdom.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you 😊

[@MarkTrades__]

lol yeah man has satisfying voice forsure. Good intro too

[@DavidHernandez-oc1oz]

He'd be a great DJ

[@johnnyk4551]

I found myself wanting to nap. He should read night time audio books.

[@BeardedBBQ]

B&B orange bag is my go to

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

The more I use B&B, the more I like it too.

[@philmartin4863]

I love b&b. I use the green bag when I’m doing a bunch of pizza. Keeps its temp n lasts a long time

[@bbqman5285]

I use to use B&B but it left a huge mess of ash behind, so I went back to Kingsford.

[@BeardedBBQ]

@@bbqman5285 see it’s opposite for me kingsford was always leaving so much ash that if I was doing a long cook like pull pork or brisket I would have to shovel it out as I went to help with air flow

[@larrytucker1945]

I like B&B but ash goes everywhere just opening the grill lid. I’m loving Blue Hog briquettes.

[@Jeff-mo5gc]

As soon as I saw this guy, I knew he had good advice, then listening to him just relaxed me. His tempo of speech is like watching a campfire. He is the Pit Master.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks Jeff, I appreciate it.

[@kjohnson3177]

Wow!!! That was an excellent designed experiment coming from someone who does Design of Experiments for a living. I would have liked if you considered ash accumulation along with burnout after 2 hrs. I find Kingsford produces much more ash than Band B along with burning out faster. I would have given Band B second with Royal being the winner. You are among my favorite BBQ teachers...I hope you continue to educate the masses.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for your feedback and your great suggestion about ash build-up….. I wish I had seen your suggestion sooner because I just finished filming another experiment with lump charcoal (it still needs to be edited). That’s a great point.

[@Falcon-xk6lb]

Very well done and a pleasure to watch. Thank you!

[@qconard]

Thank you for this video comparison. My go to has always been Kingsford! I have tried different lump charcoal in the past but have never had any issues with the King. I do miss the old 2x20lb for 9.99 sales at Lowes! Couldn't ever pass that up. I got so much from them that o still have some from those days, lol! Unfortunately with this day comes cost so I will be seeing what else is out there. Thank you again!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it!

[@Engineer_Heathen]

I've tried nearly all of these, and i must say that cowboy all natural briquettes are better than all of them, and a good price too. They taste better, are less brittle, last longer, and can be reused on multiple cooks because they hold together so well.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for sharing your experience with Cowboy.

[@primer50]

Cowboy briquets and lump is what I use. I've found the quality of both are far superior to Royal oak and Kingsford. I've found barrel bands and rocks in with lump with Kingsford and Royal oak .

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

@primer50 I like Cowboy lump. I need to try their briquettes.

[@LowFast23]

Another great and interesting video! Thank you! You are a professional.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks, I appreciate your kind words.

[@stevec.8095]

Excellent video, Kenyatta! You used very fair comparisons and provided meaningful results! I bbq/grill almost every night and have used each of the brands you tested. The durability and re-usability of the briquettes is very important to me, and I have found B&B to be much more useful for a second cook than the other brands. Other cooks may value a different quality in their briquettes! Thank-You for this very informative video!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks Steve for sharing your insights about B&B..... that's good to know!

[@jackbauer4612]

Wanted to see what was available for charcoal now. My dad used it when I was younger. I've cooked on the grill all year long for as long as I've been with my own family. Finally broke down and got a charcoal grill. My dad used Kingsford and that's what I've been using for the last couple of weeks. But is was good to see how the others compared. Will probably still with what's been around forever. Thanks.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Kingsford is tried & true..... nothing wrong with sticking with it.

[@teamturner3933]

B&B for competition. Kingsford for backyard, parties, and catering. Thanks for the breakdown!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for weighing in!

[@gusramos0]

I switched to Royal Oak after doing some research. I am very pleased with Royl. Oak

[@jeremyjones8663]

Kenyatta, thanks for the video. I wish in high school there was a BBQ class because if YOU were the teacher I would have signed up!! Going to try Royal Oak.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks Jeremy!

[@polsok44]

Great video! Would love to see a similar video with lump i know hard to narrow it down so many brands these days. For briquettes I like to use the webber ones good bang for my buck

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for letting me know that you'd like to see something similar with lump charcoal. I will put one together.

[@draino8986]

Great reviews! Will be switching over to Royal Oak once I finish this Kingsford combo deal. Longer lasting higher heat is an easy win for me. Thanks again!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I’m glad the video was useful. Kingsford is still a great value & works perfectly fine but the alternatives like Royal Oak & B&B are worth checking out.

[@draino8986]

Saw your other vid using the KAB on the PK. Are there downsides to using the KAB without the charcoal grate? Does it damage the aluminum grill?

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

@draino8986 No, you won’t damage the PK if you don’t use a KAB. I use the KAB because it makes it easier to have a tight, contained pile of coals that burns more efficiently.

[@kevincameron8437]

This is an awesome video that was done pretty fairly and equally. I've been a Kingsford guy for ages and I have tried B/B and RO a few times. But, I keep coming back to Kingsford because it's consistent, and I can find it at SAMS. But you're correct, there's nothing wrong with any of these you've tested. Thanks again for your time and efforts on such a long test.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks Kevin

[@michaelelias1016]

Thanks for the video. I like B&B most of the time but will add a little lump in the bottom of the LSG management basket and then pour 1/2 of a lighted chimney of B&B on top, 10 minutes later the wood goes on top and burns nice and clean. Seems to get the offset going pretty well.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for sharing.... I always use lump to get the fire started in my LSG. I've been using Fogo Super Premium the most but I'm going to do a similar test with other brands, including B&B's lump.

[@crazymonkey9611]

Great video. Love how u tested them all. I too get the kingsford from Costco. Does what I need it to do so I’ve been happy with it.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks brother! Kingsford's deal at Costco looks like a runaway winner 😀

[@bluracer766]

I just got four 14 pound bags of Royal Oak briquets for $8.99 a bag at Smart & Final. Nice!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Nice score!

[@richardg4817]

I normally use Kingsford Professional, mainly because I can get them on sale at Costco certain times of the year. They light easily, but I suspect they don’t last as long as the original.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Hi Richard, I also get Kingsford Professional occasionally from Costco. It's also my understanding that they are supposed to burn hotter than Kingsford original. I also think that they don't last as long as the original but I haven't verified it in a test.

[@redstone5149]

I load up on Kingsford professional as well when Costco has a deal on it. My Costco only carries it during spring and summer.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

That’s another good approach

[@gusbarnesiii8210]

Give B&B a try. You may like it better..

[@gusbarnesiii8210]

No way B&B is coming in 3rd place. That taste is unbeatable

[@JimDog794]

Very nice comparison video. Your parameters for the tests were very professional and the results were interesting. I've been grilling on a 22" Weber kettle for over 45 years and have predominantly used Kingsford due to it's price and it's widespread availability.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you, I appreciate your feedback.

[@elmerolion2424]

The bnb no good with pit barrel needs a lot air flow then gets too hot , I love the cowboy brand the lump and briquettes they easier to control . Can’t never go wrong with the og blue tho

[@michaellochmoeller4520]

My Walmart just started carrying Royal oak all natural briquets and also the super size briquets. I plan on trying both of them. Lately I have been using Cowboy briquets, which are pretty good I think. I also like Kingsford original. I am curious to try royal oak after seeing this video.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Sounds good, I think Royal Oak is a solid economic alternative.

[@bigfoot818]

Wich did you like best?

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

@@bigfoot818 The one that is cheapest lol. Lately I’ve been leaning more towards B&B but I won’t overlook anything that is reputable and on sale.

[@CineG]

Thank you for the video! When I was cooking on Weber kettle I went with Kingsford Original. Then I updated to Oklahoma Joe barrel grill and found the Kingsford burned too fast. Now I see it's not just me. I've since upgraded to Kingsford Professional (from Costco) and it is better for low and slow cooking. Though, I'm moving out of my comfort zone to lump.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I always thought that Kingsford Professional burned hotter than Original. I’m surprised to hear that you use Professional for low & slow.

[@edpritchard3001]

Great video!! Thank you for the information..

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks Ed, glad it was helpful!

[@tombauer7330]

Excellent video! Really good editing to cram hours of burning into 26 minutes. Good method. The best TASTING briquets are Kingsford Professional, when you can find them on sale, IMHO. A marked difference in flavor. I could smell it right away after lighting off the cook. I have always used briquets in my Weber Performer but not in the KJ. After your video, I'm going to give it a shot in the KJ. You opened my mind up a little. Thanks again.

[@ashantedula5696]

In my experience the Kingsford Profesional make more ash. Something to consider on long cooks like briskets.

[@dirtymerc1512]

Thank you for this! I like your rating method and objectivity. I just found your channel and you earned my subscription.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you for subscribing! Much appreciated!

[@Moshbearpig]

So I bet Kingsford would be the best best for high temp, short cook times like ribeye and NY strip. Well done video

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you, I agree…. Kingsford is a great value pick for short high temp cooks & a solid choice all around.

[@JumboRelic]

When you remake this, can you use The Good Charcoal Company Super Briquettes? They surprised me and are my new favorite.

[@ogrodrillo]

Thank you for your service sir 🫡

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you 😊

[@prestonlopez9608]

This was a very fun video to watch. I use a lot of Jealous Devil and Kingsford when needed. I wasn't surprised with the results of the JD vs. Kingsford considering we can fit so much more Kingsford in a single chimney whereas JD's briquettes are the size of a baseball

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

That’s a good point about the size of the JD briquettes. Thanks for watching & commenting.

[@mrthomas7511]

This was a fun video to watch. Reminds me a lot of the guy who has the channel called project farm

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you

[@johnnyjohnz1992]

Amazing video i definitely appreciate your time and dedication.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you!

[@terrencecescon102]

Good analysis. Great video pre presentation. You got talent! Keep it up.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you, I appreciate your kind words.

[@cdfitts]

Great informational video! thank you!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you

[@narrowjay0]

That is very good to know. Thank you

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ashantedula5696]

Your video edits are A1. Great science project the only think missing was the the tri-fold presentation board 😂😂😂😂

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you!

[@renehansen8971]

Thank You sir. I love it. Questions I think we all have but never would have gone through the process and I thank you. Also feels like one BBQ bro having a friendly conversation with another BBQ bro.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you, that is how I hope that everyone feels after watching one of my videos. I appreciate your kind words

[@renehansen8971]

@@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ subscripted 😁

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

@@renehansen8971 Thanks 😊

[@dannyg402012]

Royal Oak ! They are the best I agree !!! Kingsford, I used to buy when it was on sale. It burns way too fast for me. I quit buying it 3 years ago. I put enough on the grill to get it to 350 or 375, threw chicken leg quarters or chicken on the grill, and before the chicken was done after about 45 minutes the grill was about 250 degrees. I had to add more charcoal and bring it back up and it took too much time. Royal Oak I get a constant temperature for about an hour to an hour and a half easily.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for sharing your positive experience with RO.

[@charlamullen8793]

Thank you for the comparisons. I normally use B&B and as noted below there's always some left for a second burn. I recently tried Royal Oak when I found it at a big box store. I can't say it was bad, but I noticed the smoke coming off it at the initial lighting was excessive compared to any others I've used like Blues Hog, Jealous Devil, B&B and Kingsford.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for sharing your experience with the different brands.

[@conureron3792]

Good to know you can’t go wrong with Kingsford. Have you done anything similar with BBQ’ing with different “flavored” woods with the briquettes?

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Not yet. I’m not totally convinced that they aren’t anything more than gimmicks but it is worth considering. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@BlackBlur_Vash]

Thank you so.much all that money just to test and post for us thank you again

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Very welcome, glad it was helpful.

[@ssei2001]

Great video, I love using Kingsford charcoal.

[@Anwar-Mian]

Excellent. Thank you for the experiment. It was well worth.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BostLabs]

Thanks for the video! My go to charcoal is Kingsford. Mainly because my Daddy used it. 😎 I'm just getting back into backyard BBQ so I would grab what my Daddy used. I was pleased to see that it came in second.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Kingsford was the only charcoal brand that I ever saw while growing up. It’s still an all around great choice.

[@yellowlt6]

Great video. Once I used B&B everything else was history.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you.... I'm liking B&B more too.

[@ajlnewman87]

Listened to this video on the way to town yesterday to get briquettes for my gravity smoker. Went with the royal oak, and when I woke up this morning my temp had nosedived, I couldn’t figure out why. Hopper was still half full, fan was blowing hard. Turns out the royal oak was clogging up the grate with large clumps of ash. I’ve been having to baby sit it and really give the grate a hard shake every half hour or so when the temp starts to dive. Will def be going back to B&B or even good ol blue. Never had that issue with either of those.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for sharing your experience. B&B and Kingsford are both solid & reliable brands. Sorry to hear that your experience with RO didn’t go well.

[@mattokeefe691]

I am buying a Costco offering here in Canada. Charcoal called extra. Very hot and clean smoke

[@luvyesmusici4886]

Great and comprehensive video, as always I believe many of us are in the same boat with Kingsford and their professional briquettes, esp. if you do a lot of grilling and slow cooks, and are a suburbanite. I get some occasional broken or torn bags of briquettes and lump at work as well, at times, for a substantial discount. After working Memorial Day my wife made me drive to Lowes where she had seen some briquettes on sale. They had Royal Oak Super Size in ten pound bags for $5. I had to scoup up a bunch because I don’t always have to be super picky with the different things I cook on my grill and smoker. I have only used the Royal Oak once because I discovered I still had an open bag of Kingsford Professional. And unless I have doing a slows snake method, I use a cheap weed burner to get my charcoal going. Cheap weld on the weed burner so I had broken off halo piece that helps spread the flame. Sometimes I don’t get a great flame which was the case when using the Royal Oak, and it was harder to light/ get the big briquettes going. Their lump is excellent, and I had read the Royal Oak briquettes were I bit dirty burning compared to the Kingsford, and it certainly seemed the case getting them going. They burned along time before I had to cut all the air. Might be a bit better having a dirtier burn this winter when everyone else will be inside, but at 50 cents a pound for long burning charcoal, and not having to cook high temp pizzas, these will do just fine.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for the tip about Royal Oak's lump. I will try it as part of my lump charcoal test. I also use Kingsford Professional..... looks like I should have included it in the briquette test.

[@luvyesmusici4886]

@@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ Too be honest, we all know the K. Professional burns quicker and hotter, so it would have been in a different class to the others. Having used other lump and watched a ton of lump videos, I was most impressed with the consistently big pieces of lump with the Royal Oak, and how they burned. Probably the best burning product I have used, but to be honest, others have tried more brands than I have. Cheers! Keep up the great work, and more importantly, stay the happy and positive person that I can tell you are. Ah, the change is seasons.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you so much…. Enjoy the Fall season and smoke on!

[@aceswild1960]

I like the cowboy brand charcoal, as well

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Another vote for Cowboy….. thanks for weighing in.

[@williamcarter7315]

Always Royal Oak, Kingsford if not with the knowledge that I have to use more because it burns out much faster. After all the Years of grilling experience Royal Oak is the best in my opinion keep grilling!!

[@wadeburton121]

I've been with Kingsford for a long time, but I have noticed that they seem to be burning out quicker of late. I assume that's related to the lower density (30 Kingsfords in the chimney weighed less than the Fogo 30 briquettes - I wonder if their formula has changed since 2020). I've been leery about switching though as the other brands were unknown to me (again, nothing but Kingsford for years and years), but will be giving B&B and Royal Oak a test run soon! Video and experiment very nicely done!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you 😊

[@vernhanna4399]

My go to is Kingsford, great video.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks Vern!

[@gregorydrake5656]

Loved the review! Surprised by the results.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you! Which brand did you expect to come out on top?

[@gregorydrake5656]

@@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ Kingsford based on the low cost. Will definitely be checking out Royal Oak. (Now watching your lump charcoal review.)

[@docclabo6350]

Great video! Thanks. I was wondering if you counted how many Royal Oak briquets fit in your chimney and how much that weighed. I've found that, here in Wisconsin, Royal Oak is far more cost-effective than Kingsford. For instance, Kingsford is on sale for $11.99 for a 16-lb bag ($0.75/lb), while Royal Oak's normal price is $8.49 for a 15.4-lb bag ($0.55/lb).

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for your feedback. Unfortunately, I no longer have the specific notes that I took when I made the video (it was around 6 months ago). I recall that I tried fill up the chimney as best I could with each brand's briquettes. The briquettes differ in size by brand, so I knew that going strictly by the number of briquettes would not yield an apples to apples comparison. On hindsight, I should have put the briquettes in a bag for weighing as that would have allowed me to more evenly compare them by weight. I'm sure that the method that I used caused the weights to be off by a number of ounces from brand to brand. The environment wasn't controlled as the temperature outside and wind speed was slightly different for each head-to-head test so the results of my one test run definitely shouldn't be considered scientific but hopefully it helps give some points to consider when comparing brands. Ultimately, they all satisfy the #1 criteria which is to provide heat, therefore I think cost should be the main deciding factor. Not including sales prices, I think Royal Oak is consistently priced less than Kingsford.

[@scarney29]

Great video, thank you!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@anthonyclarke860]

FOGO is slow burning and more dense in thickness, and burns at a lower temp better for smoking, Kingsford reaction indicates chemical additives, I usually use Royal oak that temp check was told me slot, Never heard of FOGO before. But if I see it it will be in the shopping cart, Royal Oak last long, but the temperature whoa.... Thanks for the this compare side by side.

[@williamcarter7315]

I'd love to try Fogo simply for what it's made from.

[@celvera09]

The weights are in accurate because the chimneys are not fully on the scale. But it’s still great comparison video.

[@joeduttry5248]

So if I stand on 1 foot on a scale, I'll weigh less? 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@bbqman5285]

It should have been mentioned that Fogo was made from coconut shells which is not a traditional hard wood. Also, I find that B&B is a good burning charcoal however, it leaves a lot of ash behind more so that Kingsford. I would have like to have seen a category for how much ash was left over. Besides that, I enjoyed the video. Thanks for doing this. ..JJ

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks, I have since learned that the FOGO is made from coconut shells. I didn’t realize that at the time.

[@yellowlt6]

B&B for me produces about half the ash of kingsford. I stopped using kingsford for that very reason. Too much ash clean up.

[@wakeywarrior]

Unfortunately we do not have as good a choice in the UK, so as you have seen I tend to stick to Weber which are v good. I like Heat Beads but they are v difficult to light.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I haven’t gotten around to trying Weber’s briquettes and I had not heard of Heat Beads before. Thanks for sharing!

[@ps31871]

you can find kingsford profecional charcoal two 18 lb bags for 18 at costco and those charcoal is natural and burns strong

[@MrPanthers23]

Great video. Ive been a B&B guy for charcoal and lump. Kingsford for me stays so smokey for so long, so ive strayed away from them. Also, random thought. Lately my weber charcoal starter rusts out quicker and quicker. Im tired of replacing the charcoal starter. I bit the bullet and bought a TMG starter basket, that has a lifetime warranty. Hasnt arrvied yet, but looking forward to it.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for the tip. I had to replace one of my Weber chimneys too. Now I have three of them. If they go bad quickly, then I will also look at alternatives.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Nice tip!

[@joesanchez3640]

Awesome video. You did a fantastic job. New subscriber here!!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for your feedback & for subscribing, I appreciate it.

[@EricShreve]

I have watched a ton of these reviews because i find them very interesting. And each one just reinforces my choice to just stick with Kingsford original. It lights fast, burns hot and long, and is cheap compared to everything else.

[@64samsky]

Thank you! I subscribed.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you

[@Steven-nb7nm]

I think B&B and jealous devil are a close tie. But I think those briquettes are better for a low and slow cook. When you just need clean heat. But for hot and fast cooks like steak or hamburgers. I like using Kingsford Harewood briquettes. The little pieces of wood inside the briquettes gives it alittle more smokey flavor. But that type of Kingsford is only seasonal unfortunately.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jamesmccabe3050]

Just picked up two 20lb bags of Kingsford for $11 at my local mom and pop shop for Memorial Day 💪

[@martybkc]

B&b briquettes only cost about $10 a bag at academy Sports. FYI. Ace hardware routinely sells the same product for $5 a bag more across almost the entire line.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

The prices cited in the video were from awhile ago..... my local Ace in the Bay Area has it for $17.99 for 17.6 lb bag. I have never seen it for $5/bag..... wow.

[@jp4751]

I use to go with Kingsford OG and catch those sales, but nowadays, I usually run B&B comp oak or JD the most. I still do like OG Kingsford for smoking turkey, chicken, etc. I think that OG Kingsford with some apple chunks doesn't overpower the meat. When I use B&B comp oak, I think I get a pretty strong smoke flavor even on quick cooks like grilling chickien, links, etc.

[@956Sparkys]

Biggest factor that differentiates the brands and the inconsistency from this experiment, is weight. Keep in mind that weight will cause the charcoal to die out. I think that kingsford was a little over half of pound. Definitely causing to extinguish faster, not running as long as other brands that weight 2 pounds or close to the 2 pound mark. Also the last test was not weighted, not knowing how much was placed on the chimney. Best test would be more efficient with weight test. That would be more accurate how much would it take for a pound of briquettes take to be ready and so on and so forth.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks for your feedback

[@nealsummerlin9594]

Royal Oak for me!

[@RobFerrellDrumStudio]

Thank you for the video sir!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I’m glad you found it useful.

[@masterxiong7368]

Kingsford works just fine for my use. Im cheap so i buy whats affordable and available in my area

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Absolutely agree with that approach!

[@MrMmorgan30]

Great vid thanks

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you 😊

[@randalljames1]

and I rate charcoals for flavor... I am desert southwest raised so mesquite wood is my preferred media... No longer have property with mesquite...

[@solano760]

Kingsford professional its a wrap👍🍻

[@hervinebanks641]

Great video! but about taste a steak?

[@donnaluke4103]

Very nice presentation,

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you 😊

[@josephkee1298]

B&B and kingsferd

[@JL-xn3zy]

Great video!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks! 😊

[@novitrix9671]

Am wondering on difference in: 1. Scent. 2. Composition. Is there any noticeable differences in these? Wasn't mentioned unless I missed it.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Great questions..... I wasn't actively trying to notice a difference in scent but I now know that Fogo is made with coconut shells so it would likely stand apart from the others. They held up pretty well in terms of composition but I'd say that Royal Oak was probably the brand that put the least effort into it if that makes sense. That being said, it didn't negative effect Royal Oak's performance.

[@RJ-ex9on]

I love Royal Oak,it’s the best!!

[@tpires3024]

Great Video. Question for everyone: I've tried several bags of B&B Orange Bag Oak, and for whatever reason it seems to give the food a weird taste. It's not necessarily bad, but it just taste weird to me. Anyone else experience this? I love B&B lump charcoal, but the briquettes taste weird to me... Never experienced this with Kingsford or Lump. Idk, got a bag of Royal Oak to try for the weekend at the lake.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I have not noticed a funny taste but I’m curious to learn if others have.

[@jasonknotts5001]

I use B&B orange bag and I've never noticed a weird taste. Maybe you're not letting them ash over completely.

[@M98747]

I need help guys. Weber Kettle, SNS Kettle, or PK300? I'm seeing vastly different opinions on reviews. It's my first charcoal grill, but I buy things for the long haul, so I plan to use it for decades.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

All 3 are high quality and should last if you take care of them. If you plan to keep the grill under a cover and keep them relatively clean, then I would say the differentiators are price and cooking area. Ifyou’re not planning on keeping them covered and expose them more to the elements, then I would lean towards the PK. Otherwise, I’d go with the one that best matches your price tolerance and desired cooking area. Hope that helps!

[@M98747]

@@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ Thanks for the information! Fantastic videos btw!

[@drjones633]

Great video, but you should have measured out 0.5 lbs of each brand and seen how long the same weight would burn. Great video none the less! Thanks!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Good point

[@hamedd3396]

thanks for the info, did you ever try coconut shell briquettes, if yes does it give bad taste?

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

No, I don’t recall ever seeing coconut shell briquettes. Sounds interesting 🤔

[@docclabo6350]

Fogo briquets are made from coconut shells (2:07).

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

@@docclabo6350 Wow, I didn’t know that! That’s pretty interesting.

[@tombauer7330]

I recently bought some Kirkland briquettes at Costco at $18.99 for 2 - 20lb bags. Just used it last night and was impressed. Wondering who makes it for Kirkland, my suspicion is that it is Royal Oak. It burns hot, smokes a little longer and looks the same as what you reviewed in this video. When I shut down my Weber Performer, there was a lot of fuel left. If Kirkland is Royal Oak, I'm happy with the Kirkland. Any insights?

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I haven’t seen a definitive answer but most signs point to Kingsford. Many users say that it performs similar to Kingsford and Kirkland is known for rebranding popular brands. Costco has been carrying Kingsford charcoal for a long time so it wouldn’t be surprising if they expanded their relationship to include a rebrand.

[@tombauer7330]

Agree but I’d be surprised if Kingsford retooled for Costco. The briquettes have that Royal Oak dog bone shape. Not pillow like Kingsford.

[@ernestpaul6444]

I already know Royal Oak makes charcoal for a lot of other brands and stores.. They make charcoal for green egg, Walmart, Kroger, etc. Embers charcoal is also from Royal Oak. So I did some googling and found out they also make the charcoal for Kirkland brand. I'll definitely be stocking up next time I visit Costco.

[@tombauer7330]

Kenyatta - Wow! Glad you were able to verify the Costco/Royal Oak connection. I'm impressed with this product and plan to buy more next trip to Costco. Thanks again for verifying. You got the wheels turning with your review video. Otherwise, Royal Oak would not have been on my radar. Thank you so much for doing that test.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

@@ernestpaul6444 Thanks for sharing that. Great info!

[@cory8791]

Did you guys see that 50 dollar bill with Royal oak on it? Just kidding great vid!

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I wish 😂, buying all of that charcoal was expensive.

[@BeamerTime354]

Have tried all of these but once I tried B&B I haven’t bothered with any other brand.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

B&B is becoming my favorite too

[@Kyle-zy7ny]

I really like jealous devil xl.

[@shahidmatin363]

Sir if you don't mind/if you know can you tell me the chemical uses for making these briquettes??

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I don’t know 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@WoodyJr27]

Hey, I didn't see any blues hog charcoal in this lineup unless I missed something

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

You’re right, Blues Hog was not in this video.

[@novitrix9671]

Very well produced 👌

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thank you!

[@gsharppianocovers7157]

B&B hands down

[@yellowlt6]

That's all I use now. It lasts longer, especially great for long cooks and less ash to clean up when I'm done.

[@Langhorstiness]

Interesting - briquets and charcoal aren't the same thing so it sucks that Jealous Devil and Fogo can make great lump charcoal but just botch their briquets. On my kamado grill/smoker, I use only Jealous Devil big lump and it is fantastic.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Hopefully JD & Fogo will improve their briquettes over time. I was also surprised that they didn't perform well in my tests.

[@MissMyMusicAddiction]

any difference in taste?

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Generally speaking, there shouldn’t be a difference in taste. Charcoal produces heat while smoke from wood provides flavor.

[@Papag53]

🏆 great video sir.

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

Thanks

[@robinjohnson2749]

Have you heard anything about people who eat charcoal and is it safe to eat people who are addicted to it can you give your honest opinion just curious is all

[@BackyardSmokeMasterBBQ]

I don’t have an opinion on that.