Thanks to our charcoal kamado grilling friends at Big Green Egg for allowing us to share this charcoal guide and celebrate the charcoal selection at your local Barbecues Galore.
So, you got a new Big Green Egg, which ignited your interest in charcoal grilling as a whole, right? Now you’re probably wondering what you need to go inside the Egg to make the most of your live fire experience. What’s the best charcoal for the Big Green Egg, and what does lump charcoal do for the flavour profiles of the meals you want to cook, anyway?
If this sounds like you, you’ll want to save this Big Green Egg charcoal guide to return to time and time again.
OUR SECRET INGREDIENT FOR LIVE-FIRE COOKING
We offer premium lump charcoal to ensure you have the best live-fire cooking experience possible. When you use Big Green Egg charcoal, you’ll get a better flavour profile and grill performance with confidence that you’ll experience total compatibility with your Egg every time.
Big Green Egg lump charcoal is 100% natural and free of additives, chemicals, and petroleum. They burn hotter, cleaner, and with minimal ash and are perfect for elevating the flavours of your food.
LUMP CHARCOAL FLAVOUR PROFILES
But first, how does the type of lump charcoal change your food's flavour profile? There’s a lot of science behind it. The charcoal gives a neutral smoke flavour from the type of wood used while also providing specific mild flavours that enhance the kind of food you’re cooking.
Smoke infuses flavour. Because each type of wood gives off a different flavour profile, the aromatic smoke from the chips (or chunks) delicately adds flavour to the food as it’s grilled.
BIG GREEN EGG LUMP CHARCOAL FLAVOUR PROFILE
When choosing the best charcoal for the Big Green Egg, start with the 100% Natural Oak and Hickory.
100% NATURAL OAK AND HICKORY - $39.99 17.6 lbs. bag
Our Oak and Hickory premium lump charcoal is (what we consider) our “workhorse” and most popular charcoal. It offers a bold, distinctive live-fire taste that BBQ pitmasters and grillers love, using two of the most popular smoking woods (oak and hickory). Its flavour profile is moderate, so you can still taste the natural flavours of the food you’re cooking, making it an excellent pairing with a versatile range of meals like beef, pork, and chicken. For a classic, but delicious meal made with Natural Oak and Hickory, try it on this Crown Royal Smokey Wings recipe.
- Flavour Profile: Moderate
- Best For: Beef, pork, and chicken
To represent the charcoal product category, below are a few other brands to consider. Remember, variety is the spice of life, so when you try changing the charcoal, you change the flavour profiles. Go ahead and experiment.
BLUES HOG CHARCOAL BRIQUETTES - 15.4 lbs bag. $27.99*
Blues Hog Charcoal Briquettes are the fuel source of champions. It offers 100% natural hardwood, which offers a long and hot burn. Made with sweet Southern hickory for authentic smoky flavour. Pairs well with Blues Hog BBQ Sauces & Rubs!
Note: Prices are current as of the date this article was published. They are subject to change at any time.
BIG BOY 100% NATURAL HARDWOOD CHARCOAL - 22 lbs bag. $34.99
If you love smoking but hate little chunks of charcoal, then give Big Boy a try. Nothing is worse than leaving your food to smoke low and slow, only to come back and find out your charcoal was likely used up hours too early. Now, you can rest easy knowing the Big Boy Lump Charcoal is a premium grade extra large lump charcoal, so you'll get the most out of every cook. Each bag contains 2 more lbs. than most other brands.
JEALOUS DEVIL CHUNX XL LUMP CHARCOAL - 20 lbs bag. $33.99
Slightly Smaller than the flagship Jealous Devil XL Lump Charcoal, this still grades out as a larger lump and is designed for smaller grills and backyard charcoal BBQs. Made with 100% South American hardwood, this charcoal burns long and hot!
BUFFALO LUMP CHARCOAL – MESQUITE – 20 lbs bag. $29.99
Grill yourself a steak or some thick burgers over this 100% mesquite charcoal and enjoy the bold tastes of mesquite. It burns HOT with the subtle southwestern aroma that we love. Smells SO good, you’ll be tempted to eat the charcoal itself.
WHY CHOOSE BIG GREEN EGG LUMP CHARCOAL?
Grilling with Big Green Egg lump charcoal will enhance your cooking experience and the flavour profile of your foods. Big Green Egg Lump Charcoal is eco-friendly. Each type of Big Green Egg lump charcoal is made from premium hardwoods. It’s never made with fillers, chemicals, or petroleum by-products. Our Eucalyptus Natural Hardwood Charcoal uses only sustainably grown wood, using soil and water preservation techniques without deforestation.
Big Green Egg Lump Charcoal offers efficient performance. Our lump charcoal varieties light quickly, burn hotter and longer, and produce less ash for minimal cleanup. This makes cooking (and cleaning up) easier and quicker.
Big Green Egg Lump Charcoal enhances flavour. You may have heard your favourite chef call the Big Green Egg charcoal the “secret ingredient.” It enhances all Egg-made meals, giving them the signature Big Green Egg flavour and juiciness.
You can pick up Big Green Egg charcoal online and at your local Barbecues Galore retail store.
Be sure to join the Ember Members loyalty program and get rewards towards free charcoal! Barbecues Galore customers on the program save $25 When They Spend $250 on Charcoal and Pellets.
