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Kingsford Charcoal Briquettes
Kingsford makes some of the best charcoal briquettes on the North American market.
They are made from charcoal, coal, sawdust, and sodium nitrate with a special type of starch binder.
This creates a briquette that lights quickly, burns hot, offers superior heat control, and can burn for up to 3.5 to 4 hours in a charcoal grill with the dampers set on low. When those same dampers are turned wide open and the charcoal is allowed to develop a strong coalbed, Kingsford’s classic briquettes can get u to 500 degrees or more.
Kingsford’s charcoal briquettes are also a relatively good value for their overall performance. You can usually get a 16-pound bag for around $10.99 at most major retailers.
Around major grilling holidays, you can sometimes find double 16 and 20-pound bags on sale for as little as $20 to $25. This is a great deal for stocking up on charcoal briquettes that can store safely for up to two years.
You can buy Kingsford briquettes online through vendors like Amazon.
Though the price per pound is typically higher, as markup costs or shipping and handling fees usually apply.
If Kingsford has a blind spot in their charcoal lineup, it’s that they don’t offer any type of authentic jumbo lump charcoal. Their so-called “Lump Briquettes” aren’t considered by most to be real lump charcoal, and are often double the price of the competitor’s bag of jumbo lump.
What Are Kingsford Charcoal Briquettes Made Of?
The base ingredients in Kingsford’s charcoal briquettes include charcoal, coal, and sawdust.
Sodium nitrate is added to help accelerate the burn without the use of petroleum products, then everything is pressed into the iconic charcoal briquette shape and firmed-up with a special starch binder.
How Long Do Kingsford Charcoal Briquettes Burn For?
When you set a typical charcoal grill up with the dampers almost completely closed, you can get Kingsford charcoal briquettes to burn for roughly 3.5 to 4 hours. This will give you an average temperature range of around 225 to 275 degrees.
If you set the same charcoal grill up with the dampers wide open to maximize the airflow, Kingsford briquettes will burn away most of their heat potential in 60 to 90 minutes. Though this can give you a flame with a temperature exceeding 500 degrees.
How Hot Do Kingsford Charcoal Briquettes Burn?
Kingsford charcoal briquettes can burn up to 500 degrees or more. Though you’ll need to open up the dampers on your grill all the way and make sure to establish a strong coal bed to hold this temperature for more than 60 to 90 minutes.
Which Is Better Charcoal or Briquettes?
Charcoal briquettes like Kingsford’s classic original are considered the best type of charcoal by most outdoor chefs. They offer a great flame-kissed smoky flavor and good heat control.
Though a lot of those same backyard chefs will tell you that jumbo lump charcoal offers slightly higher maximum temperatures, as well as a more smoky flavor.
The tradeoff with lump charcoal is that it tends to burn away quicker, and it’s more likely to cause flareups. This lesser heat control and shorter burn times make high-quality charcoal briquettes like Kingsford more popular than jumbo lump with most backyard grillers.
Is Kingsford a Good Charcoal?
Kingsford’s classic original charcoal briquettes are some of the best if not the best briquettes sold in North America. Their briquettes with accent woods like hickory and mesquite are also good for adding classic barbecue smoke to a wide range of foods.
Should You Buy Kingsford Charcoal Briquettes?
If you prefer to use charcoal briquettes in your backyard grill, then Kingsford deserves to be at the top of your list. While some of the competitors have a slightly lower price per pound, Kingsford still stands as the fastest lighting, longest-burning charcoal you can buy.
However, their so-called “Lump Briquettes” aren’t really authentic lump charcoal and are considered by most experienced backyard chefs to be very overpriced. In some cases, it is double the price per pound, compared to the competitors who are selling traditional jumbo lump charcoal.
Where Can You Buy Kingsford Charcoal Briquettes?
You can buy Kingsford charcoal briquettes at a lot of major retailers like Lowe’s, Home Depot, Walmart, and Target. It’s also available in a lot of grocery stores and regional retailers like Scheels, Ace Hardware, Runnings, and Tractor Supply.
Kingsford charcoal briquettes are also sold online through popular vendors like Amazon. While the price per bag is comparable, you usually end up having to pay shipping and handling or some other type of markup cost.
How Much Are Kingsford Charcoal Briquettes
Major retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Target typically sell a 16-pound bag of Kingsford Charcoal for around $10 to $12.
Around major grilling holidays like Memorial Weekend, the Fourth of July, and Father’s Day, you might be able to find 20-pound double bag promotions for as little as $20 to $25.
There are also several online vendors like Amazon, and retail stores that sell their products online that can deliver Kingsford charcoal briquettes to your door. Though there tend to be markup costs, or shipping and handling fees tacked on.
Ultimately, your best price per pound for Kingsford charcoal is to buy it at a brick-and-mortar retail store. The double bag promotion lets you stock up for cheap, and the briquettes will last for up to 2 years with proper storage.
Robert is a certified Pitmaster, with over a decade of experience in smoking the best meats you’ll ever feast upon. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. When he’s not researching technical topics, he’s most likely barbecuing in his backyard.