Ormskirk Kamado, searching for good lumpwood charcoal

[Kamadochris]

Hi from Ormskirk. 4 months in with new kamado BBQ, classic joe. Loving it, averaging 2 bbq's a week! That's quite a switch from twice a year. I can see Xmas Turkey getting cooked in the thing at this rate...

Still trialling the different lumpwood charcoals. Any recommendations from the more seasoned members for a relative newbie on the best to buy?

I thought restaurant quality Big K looked to have positive reviews, but was quite let down on how small the pieces were. Maybe an odd batch? Fuel Express pieces were big but a much smokier cook.

I'm now mulling over Big K shisha charcoal next as Big K said this was there best, but if anyone knows better then please shout!

Cheers
Chris

[JEC]

Hello and welcome from a fellow kamado cook. I really rate the BigK stuff, the 15kg bags have the biggest pieces, code ACH15, the shesha charcoal is smaller pieces, probably smaller than the RCH12. I use both RCH12 and ACH15, I often mix a combination to get a nice size spread but for low and slow I only ever use ACH15. The ACH12 burns hot and long but is a little slower to light

[JamsCowbell]

The Big K ACH15 is the chunkiest I've had and it was very good. Last time I went to order they were out of stock so I got two bags of RCH15 (the restaurant grade shisha pipe stuff) and 2 bags of the RCH12. I would say the ACH15 is definitely chunkier stuff, the RCH15 is, as Big K told me before I ordered, is more stick like. the RCH12 is just like bog standard lumpwood charcoal as far as I can tell, there are a few chunkier bits in there but nothing like the ACH15.

I'll probably top up with a couple of bags of ACH15 once I've sorted out my charcoal storage, just because I like it, the other two do seem to burn for as long and light as easily in my chimney starter but the chunks are often a lot smaller.

[GuyB]

Not tried the Big-K but I use the restaurant grade lumpwood from Booker - £15 for 2x12kg often a little broken up but still a lot of big pieces (which I tend to break up a bit for the KJ...). I usually crack out 3-4 cooks a week on the Joe and get at least 1.5 weeks per bag. With a bit of creativity anyone can get a booker card!

[UKEgger]

I use Big K ACH15 and have always been happy with the size, sometimes you can get unlucky as from my last delivery one bag looked like someone had been using it as a rugby tackle bag and the it was pretty smashed up.

It wasn't a problem for me as i generally empty the bags and re sort them into 3 different bags ordered by size as I'm anal when building my fire for smokes and getting the right fire built.

I have also ordered from woof fuels, their lump was good and from local managed woods in Dorset.

Also John Lewis will order Big Green Eggs own lump in for you, it can be picked up from your local Waitrose if needed.

[Kamadochris]

Thanks for the responses all, and glad to hear I'm not the only one sorting my charcoal into 3 sizes UKEgger!!!!

I think I must have been unlucky with the last ACH15 batch of 4 bags I bought from Big K... I've done a few cooks with the fuel express now and can say for me the taste / cook is far superior with the Big K. I'll get some more ACH15 in next order, along with a bag of shisha RCH15 as am intrigued as big k told me this was their best quality if size of brick is not a concern.

I'll try out the booker and woof fuels charcoal and see how that works but seems big k is a pretty solid choice.


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[CHokKA]

Hi

If you're after decent restaurant grade charcoal and the BigK stuff is out of stock, have a look at http://www.creativegardenideas.co.uk/cg ... arcoal-bbq and give that a go. If you spend more than £30 on the charcoal delivery is free, and it'll arrive within a few days. I recently ordered almost 50kg of charcoal from them and the service was great

[Kamadochris]

Thanks chokka, will check that out next time I plan on ordering some blue bag charcoal. Free delivery is pretty good incentive...


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