What are the differences between hardwood charcoal and briquettes? Find out which one to use for your grill today.
Want to discover the main difference between charcoal and briquettes? There’s a lot of talk about what makes a better heat source, and to be fair all arguments are valid. Lighting the grill and throwing food at it has evolved dramatically. It still looks different from country to country.
The main difference between charcoal lumps and briquettes, especially when grilling, is that charcoal lumps are not uniform in size and therefore burn at different rates. But burns is hotter. The briquettes are industrially produced and have a uniform size and shape. In the article, we examine the simple differences between the two.
How is lump coal made?
Lump charcoal and briquettes are different but also similar. Both are the starting point for a great barbecue or grilling experience. However, they are made differently. One could say that they are derived from each other. Briquettes are convenient, easy and quick to use.
To make charcoal, the wood must be heated without oxygen. This can be achieved by burning the wood in an airtight space. In the process, the sap, moisture and other natural chemicals in the wood evaporate and are completely removed from the wood, leaving only pure carbon. Virtually any wood can be used to make charcoal, so you don’t know what flavor each bag will have.
What is lump coal made of?
Charcoal has a high carbon content. This gives the substance a large amount of potential energy, more than you would find in wood. Lump charcoal is basically made from any leftover wood. It is a more realistic option compared to briquettes.
Advantages
- Is burning hot
- It is a natural fuel, so better for the environment.
- You can easily change the temperature.
- Less has ash
- They burn cleaner
- The lumps vary in size, which also means that the bag is generally lighter than briquettes. Because the irregular shape means there is more air in the bag.
Disadvantages
- Charcoal comes in different sizes, making it difficult to grill, which also means it burns at different rates.
- it’s yours
- It’s not easy to find
- it burns faster
How are briquettes made?
Briquettes are the tamer version of the two. They are often made from wood by-products and mixed with various additives. The by-product can be evenly piled sawdust. The process uses chemicals to obtain a condensed form of the wood by-product.
Sawdust or whatever by-product YOU use that works great includes charcoal, biomass, and charcoal. Then you need to use an accelerator if you need it to burn. The accelerator is necessary for the briquettes to burn effectively. The lack of oxygen in the individual pieces means that it has to support the process.
What are the briquettes?
Briquettes are made from by-products of wood. They are then pressed with chemical additives to cut them into the briquette shapes you know and can buy at the store. Companies use different recipes for making briquettes. These include charcoal dust/fines, sodium nitrate, sodium borate, calcium carbonate/whitish and wheat starch.
Advantage
- They are easy to find
- They Burn Slower
- They are to be expected
- They have a constant and constant temperature.
- They burn long.
- They are easy to use
Disadvantages
- Sometimes it creates a chemical odor that can be unpleasant in food.
- They don’t burn much
- Sometimes they take longer to continue
What should you choose for grilling and roasting?
Both briquettes and lumps have their pros and cons. Understand what each gives you an advantage. Lump coal naturally starts quicker, but it also finishes quicker. Briquettes take longer to start up and last longer. The difference, however, is that briquettes do not burn as hot as lump charcoal.
Grilling and smoking seem to be the same thing, but they are different. Grilling requires a shorter time at high heat. That’s why grilling food doesn’t take as long as cooking it on the stove.
Given that grilling requires high heat, it’s obvious that YOU need the type of charcoal that burns the most. This makes lump charcoal the best option. It burns hotter and also absorbs the wood’s natural aroma. Briquettes miss that natural wood taste. In addition, lumpy charcoal burns cleanly and for a shorter time. These are exactly the conditions needed for grilling.
Grilling, on the other hand, does not require high temperatures. It is the opposite. Grilling requires low and constant stable heat. It also takes longer to smoke the meat. Briquettes take longer to ignite, but they burn even longer. They are the best way to smoke meat.
Briquettes also burn constantly, they need a stable source with lower heat. Grilling requires low and constant heat rather than an open flame.
One last thing
Both briquettes and lump charcoal work well when used for the right purpose. Lump coal has many benefits that you will appreciate, especially if you are looking for a lot of heat. The most common lesson is that it’s the more natural of the two. Although briquettes look nice and have a uniform shape, they are not as organic as lump charcoal.
Lump charcoal can be harder to find, but that’s because it IS NOT made through chemical processes like briquetting. Cooking food on an outdoor grill has its advantages. We like lump charcoal for cooking outdoors, mainly because it’s clean and has a lower carbon footprint than chemically-made briquettes.
Lump charcoal is pure, and that’s one of the main reasons it’s a better choice. Think about what type of food you want to cook with the heat source and this will help you decide on a preference.
Writer & content creator. BBQ fanatic!
