The Best Charcoal for Grilling [2024]

Charcoal is essential for grilling because it provides a high, consistent heat that is ideal for cooking food evenly and imparting a distinctive smoky flavor. The high heat generated by burning charcoal helps to sear meat quickly, creating a delicious crust that locks in juices and enhances flavor. This searing effect is harder to achieve with other fuels, making charcoal a preferred choice for grilling enthusiasts. Additionally, the smoky aroma from the burning charcoal infuses the food, giving it a rich, distinctive taste that is difficult to replicate with gas or electric grills.

Moreover, charcoal grilling offers a traditional and authentic grilling experience. The process of lighting the charcoal, waiting for it to reach the right temperature, and managing the heat throughout the cooking process can be a rewarding ritual. This hands-on approach allows for greater control over the cooking environment, enabling grillers to adjust the heat by moving coals or adjusting vents. This control can result in perfectly cooked meals with a range of textures and flavors, making charcoal grilling a favorite among purists and food enthusiasts who appreciate the artistry and science of outdoor cooking.

Our Recommendations

After looking into many options, we’ve picked out the best Charcoal for Grilling for 2024 based on what works well and gives great results.

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Kamado Joe All-Natural Hardwood Charcoal

Official Product Description: Kamado Joe 100% Natural Lump Charcoal is made from real trees so it burns clean and gives you a robust wood-fire flavor. Some other brands are made from scrap furniture or processed wood. This means less wood-fire flavor. Burns hotter for moister meats.
Kamado Joe 100% Natural Lump Charcoal burns longer thanks to the hardwood used to make it. Also, you’ll get the right mix of fast-starting small pieces and long-burning large pieces that will allow you to cook low and slow for extended periods of time. Other lump charcoals offer too many cheaper small pieces and not enough larger pieces.

Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes

Official Product Description: REThese BBQ briquettes have more edges for faster lighting, so they’re ready in about 15 minutes for a consistent burn time and reliable performance; pack may vary.
Charcoal briquettes made with 100% natural ingredients and real wood; each 16 pound bag of original charcoal briquettes generates about 4 uses.
This charcoal for grilling has more edges to catch the flame quickly with grooves that provide air channels for fast lighting.

Jealous Devil All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal

Official Product Description: Mild flavor-enhancing aroma enhances flavor profiles without overpowering them, whether you’re cooking whitefish or brisket – use alone or blend with your favorite wood.
No sparking, no popping, and low ash – ideal for any grill, smoker, or kamado.
Pure, ultra-dense South American hardwoods – no chemicals, fillers, or scrap material.

Masterbuilt Hardwood Lump Charcoal

Official Product Description: Masterbuilt Lump Charcoal delivers a delicious charcoal flavor for low temperature cooking and it also has the ability to reach high temperatures quickly & consistently.

The Best Charcoal for Grilling [2024]