Kingsford/Royal Oak?

[Al]

I have been noticing the debate about the two of these? Why is it that some people like Royal Oak over Kingsford?

I am genuinely interested because I have been using Kingsford for years and would like to know the difference.

[Roo-B-Q'N]

It boils down to personal preference. I have tried them both and find that I like Kingsford much better for several reasons. From the very least issue of the R.O. bags bleeding and leaving my hands, pants shirt ect red with offset ink to the longer burn time I feel I get from Kingsford.
For as many people that will chime in there will be a different answer. But for me there is a reason Kingsford starts with King. (OK that was dorky, I am going to my room)

[pat]

Originally Posted by Roo-B-Q'N

But for me there is a reason Kingsford starts with King. (OK that was dorky, I am going to my room)

Uuhhhhh yeah

[big brother smoke]

I simply do not like the smell of Kingsford!

Roo you have 10 more minutes before you are allowed to come out of your room!

[CaptGrumpy]

I represent the lump side of this debate and Kingsford does not burn nearly as well as Royal Oak's Hardwood Lump. The Naked Whiz has done product reviews for lump including Kingsford's Lump when it came onto the market two years ago. The review gave it marginal ratings.
I primarily burn Lazzari Hardwood Lump and use Royal Oak as well when I am awaiting a load of Lazzari (a buddy used to pick it up and bring it to me but now it's less expensive to order $200 worth of lump and have it delivered to the house).
As for briquettes, you guys can have them. I am stickly a hardwood lump burner.

[The Pickled Pig]

Any good discussion on lump or briqs should at least include a mention of Wicked Good Charcoal. I converted to WGC from Kingsford and am very happy with it. If I recall correctly, the Naked Whiz likes WGC too.

[CaptGrumpy]

WGC is great if you want to spent that kind of money. I pay less than $17 for a 40 pound bag of Lazzari or just under $10 for the 20 pound bag. I like the 20 pound bags because they are easier to store but the price of a 40 pounder can't be beat. BBQ Galore sells BGE, WGC and Lazzari here and the BGE is the most expensive followed closely by WGC and then a couple dollar drop and the Lazzari. I can not tell the difference between the three. So I choose to get 40 pounders for less than the 20 pound bags that are over $20. If I could find a great priced source, I might consider the WGC.

[Al]

Okay, what's the difference between lump and charcoal? I have seen it in the stores, but I do not know what the differences are between the two so I have always used what I already know.

[Vince RnQ]

"Lump Charcoal" is real wood chunks that have been burned down to charcoal.

"Charcoal Briquettes" are, well, you need a Wikipedia page to explain it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal

[CaptGrumpy]

Briquettes:

Raw Materials

Charcoal briquettes are made of two primary ingredients (comprising about 90% of the final product) and several minor ones. One of the primary ingredients, known as char, is basically the traditional charcoal, as described above. It is responsible for the briquette's ability to light easily and to produce the desired wood-smoke flavor. The most desirable raw material for this component is hardwoods such as beech, birch, hard maple, hickory, and oak. Some manufacturers also use softwoods like pine, or other organic materials like fruit pits and nut shells.
The other primary ingredient, used to produce a high-temperature, long-lasting fire, is coal. Various types of coal may be used, ranging from sub-bituminous lignite to anthracite.
Minor ingredients include a binding agent (typically starch made from corn, milo, or wheat), an accelerant (such as nitrate), and an ash-whitening agent (such as lime) to let the backyard barbecuer know when the briquettes are ready to cook over.

Briquetting

• 4 Charcoal, and minor ingredients such as the starch binder are fed in the proper proportions into a paddle mixer, where they are thoroughly blended. At this point, the material has about a 35% moisture content, giving it a consistency somewhat like damp topsoil.
• 5 The blended material is dropped into a press consisting of two opposing rollers containing briquette-sized indentations. Because of the moisture content, the binding agent, the temperature(about 105° F or 40° C), and the pressure from the rollers, the briquettes hold their shape as they drop out the bottom of the press.
• 6 The briquettes drop onto a conveyor, which carries them through a single-pass dryer that heats them to about 275° F (135° C) for three to four hours, reducing their moisture content to around 5%. Briquettes can be produced at a rate of 2,200-20,000 lb (1-9 metric tons) per hour. The briquettes are either bagged immediately or stored in silos to await the next scheduled packaging run.

[Brauma]

I saw Alton Brown mention Organic, or natural briquettes the other night on his Dutch oven episode. No chemical binders. They instead used baking soda (or something natural) to hold charwood in the briquette shape.

My question is, where do you find all this stuff? Richmond sucks. We're pretty much limited to Kingsford and Royal Oak. Oh, I have seen Cowboy lump in Lowes. Thats it.

I would like to try a lot of the products mentioned on Naked Whiz but I'm not going to pay for shipping. Again, Richmond sucks.

[mbshop]

i had a long response to this at the wsm site but i'll keep it short. this applies to briquettes only. when they changed the stuff, it didn't burn as well, stunk, and had a really gritty ash like sand and still had a huge amount of ash. also the bags got smaller and the price went up. this was years ago and has only got worse. ro is just better all the way around. now my biggest peeve is that they got great marketing folks who happen to be selling this junk to everyone and is pushing out any choice i have or had. so yea, i hate 'em. folks, not everyone has a choice in what is available. wicked good is basically nonobtanium in the west so lets keep it to what is available to all. also naked whiz has some tests on kingsford and has nothing nice to say. wanna know how i feel ?

[ssbbqguy]

has anyone ever looked at the ingredients of Kingsford? I believe around 76% Cedar,12% Alderwood, then fillers and binders. People have used it from marketing much more than taste in my opinion. Royal oak lump for the offsets, briquettes for the barrels and dutch ovens. I like and use Ozark Lump when possible. Also,I saw a charcoal rating site the other day, I do not remember the name. Maybe someone has that?

[Professor Salt]

Originally Posted by Brauma

I saw Alton Brown mention Organic, or natural briquettes the other night on his Dutch oven episode. No chemical binders. They instead used baking soda (or something natural) to hold charwood in the briquette shape.

That describes the Rancher briquettes that are no longer available. They used a starch binder (cassava paste, I believe). I am a big fan of this now unavailable product.

Cowboy Charcoal makes a similar briquette product and private labels them for a number of other companies. Stubbs BBQ is rolling out their Cowboy-made briquettes on a national scale. Ask around at your local places that sell the Stubbs sauce.

Cowboy also manufactures an oversized briquette for a marketing company called Big Briq. I talked to the guy that owns the Big Briq name, and got the impression he's an entrepeneur that's still trying to get his company off the ground. His website is still pretty shaky.

I know some people loathe Cowboy lump with a passion. Has anyone tried the Cowboy briquettes?

[CajunSmoker]

Originally Posted by big brother smoke

I simply do not like the smell of Kingsford!

Roo you have 10 more minutes before you are allowed to come out of your room!

What he ^^^^^^ said and Kingsford seems to burn real hot and fast and not last as long as Royal Oak IMHO. I'm a briquette guy though so Lump may be entirely different.