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Charcoal

Charcoal Types: Briquettes vs. Hardwood Lump

Charcoal is used by many developed countries as a fuel for cooking and heating. It is the most popular barbecue fuel used throughout the world. But how does it stack up as an emergency fuel should the electricity go out? While charcoal can only be burned outside, it is worthy of serious consideration as one of your stored fuels. There are potential health risks, however, associated with using charcoal frequently (due to the production of carbon monoxide and other pollutants), so be sure to store other forms of fuel as well.

There are two main types of charcoal - briquettes and hardwood lump - and the debate rages as to which kind is better. Both have their pros and cons, but it just comes down to personal preference.

Types of Charcoal

Charcoal Briquettes

Charcoal briquettes are what most of us probably grew up with. They are uniform sized bricks made from coal dust, charcoal dust, and wood by-products like sawdust, and wood chips. They also contain binders and additives designed to make them easier to light and to burn longer.

Briquettes burn more evenly than hardwood lump since they’re all uniform in size. However, some briquettes include fillers, chemicals, and even lighter fluid, so it’s important to check the ingredients before purchasing.

When compared to actual firewood, briquettes burn longer, are easier to start, and are easier to dispose of.

PROS
  • Readily available and easy to find
  • Less expensive
  • Uniform shape makes them easy to use
  • Maintains a steady temperature and burn
  • Burns longer
CONS
  • Contains fillers and binders
  • Not made from pure wood
  • Does not reach extremely high temperatures
  • Leaves behind a large amount of ash
  • Does not burn as hot as hardwood lump

Brands include Kingsford Charcoal, Royal Oak Premium Charcoal Briquets

Hardwood Lump Charcoal

Hardwood lump charcoal is just charcoal made from chunks of hardwood, usually oak, and pecan. With no fillers/additives to burn down, hardwood lump produces significantly less ash than charcoal briquettes. It burns hotter and faster but more unevenly. The key advantage is the authentic wood smoke that imparts a distinctive smoky flavor.

Interestingly, even though lump charcoal comes from pure wood, it is generally considered superior for cooking compared to using raw firewood. Because of its high carbon content, charcoal has more potential energy, and when burned, it provides cooking heat that burns hotter, more steadily, and cleaner than dried wood.

PROS
  • Made from pure wood
  • Contains no fillers or additives
  • Produces authentic wood smoke that enhances flavor
  • Reaches extremely high temperatures
  • Produces less ash
CONS
  • Inconsistent shapes and sizes can make handling challenging
  • Burns unevenly, which may require more attention to control the heat
  • Typically costs more than briquettes
  • Burns faster, reducing overall cooking time
  • Some users find that certain lump pieces are too small for practical use

Brands include Royal Oak Ultra 100, Royal Oak Hardwood Lump, Rockwood, Fogo

How much do I need?

If you choose to use charcoal as one of your main cooking fuels, the amount needed is easy to calculate. For example: a 1-month supply at 3 meals per day would require around 120 pounds of charcoal. This equals approximately fifteen 20-pound bags of charcoal to cook one hot meal a day for one year.

(Note: These estimates are general guidelines; actual needs will vary depending on the type of charcoal used and cooking methods.)

Check these stores for availability. hardware stores
grocery Stores
superstores
gas stations
online
Use Requirements

Charcoal produces dangerous carbon monoxide gas and must be used outdoors only. People have died during power outages because of carbon monoxide poisoning from indoor charcoal fires.

Storage Conditions
  • Charcoal can be stored inside your home, garage, or shed.
  • It should be kept in a cool, dry environment and protected from moisture.
Storage Suggestions

For additional protection against moisture, you can try the following:

  • Place the original bag inside a larger plastic bag and store inside another container such as a bin or covered metal trash can.
  • Alternatively, transfer your charcoal into a plastic-lined 5-gallon container and seal it with an airtight lid for easy stacking
Shelf Life

Charcoal can be stored indefinitely if the right storage conditions are met.

Using Lighter Fluid

Lighter fluid is a petroleum-based liquid (most often naphtha or mineral spirits) designed to make lighting charcoal faster and easier. While it is not addressed here as a primary cooking fuel, it serves as a great charcoal igniter so is worth storing if you are planning to rely on charcoal as one of your emergency fuels during a power outage.

Lighter fluid can also help ignite charcoal in damp or windy conditions. A small bottle can be a useful backup for camp cooking or evacuation scenarios so consider adding it to your family's food & cooking kit.

How to Use

  • Arrange your charcoal in a pile or pyramid shape to concentrate heat.
  • Apply lighter fluid evenly across the charcoal, using only the recommended amount.
  • Wait 30–60 seconds to allow the fluid to soak in.
  • Ignite the charcoal with a match or lighter.
  • Allow the coals to burn until fully ashed over before placing food on the grill.

Safety Tips

  • Never spray lighter fluid on lit or hot coals—this can cause dangerous flare-ups.
  • Store in a cool, dry place, tightly sealed to prevent evaporation and fumes.
  • Do not substitute with gasoline, kerosene, or other fuels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about using charcoal as emergency fuel.