What is a hotter charcoal than K

[VAis4BBQers]

Looking to find some opinions on charcoal. I have always used Kingsford blue. But, now I'm not finding it to be hot enough. What could I look for that is higher temp?

[1buckie]

Here's a good running disscussion with folks & brands from all over.....

http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/what-charcoal-do-you-like-and-why/

[VAis4BBQers]

thanks @1buckie  I'll look into them.

[1buckie]

If want REALLY hot, get Wicked Good....it is Wicked Good.....expensive, but Wicked Good.....

[OoPEZoO]

The hottest I have used is Coshell. The stuff screams. Great for getting crispy chicken wings

[austin87]

I am a huge fan of Kingsford Competition. It burns much hotter with significantly less ash and has less white chemical smoke, but should be a relatively easy switch from Kingsford Blue. I was able to get 2 x 18.8 lb packs at Costco for about $17 in March and stocked up, so the price was right. I'm not sure what it costs when not on sale.

[addicted-to-smoke]

Any lump has the potential to be hotter than briquets but you may need to re-ad it during the cook because it won't stay hot for as long (at any temp.)

What and how are you trying to cook where you're running into lack of heat? Let's address that first, since many people get along fine with just regular charcoal.

[VAis4BBQers]

@addicted-to-smoke steaks. So basically a high temp for a short amount of time. Usually my temps are not as high as I would like at the grate with regular kingsford.

[Winz]

@addicted-to-smoke steaks. So basically a high temp for a short amount of time. Usually my temps are not as high as I would like at the grate with regular kingsford.

Go with Lump!  I use it exclusively for grilling steaks.  It gets ripping hot, but does not last as long, and is not as consistent as KBB.  Royal Oak is a good place to start.  As a bonus, you will really notice the smokey smell of lump verses using briquets


Winz

[addicted-to-smoke]

Oh yeah lump all the way there. And some way to corral the charcoal hels build heat as well. Either Weber's char baskets or a Vortex.

[Johnpv]

It depends on the lump how long it stays hot for.  Lump coming from wood that's not very dense is going to burn out faster than lump coming from wood that is much denser.  For example, Wicked Good and specially Japanese Binchotan are denser lumps and they'll last longer than you're average lump.  The Binchotan more so, that stuff is so dense when you knock 2 pieces together they ring like a piece of metal.   Wicked Good probably lands some where in the middle of average lump and Binchotan.  Though I have had a few pieces of Wicked Good that give the metal ring when struck.

[1buckie]

.....get Wicked Good..............

[1911Ron]

.....get Wicked Good..............

So let me get this straight I should get Wicked good?   

[Metal Mike]

KBB will get higher temps in the kettle if you scatter them out (once ignited)  as opposed to one big pile.