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Cooking & Food Talk => Charcoal Grilling & BBQ => Topic started by: mojo1254 on May 03, 2021, 01:52:17 PM

Title: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: mojo1254 on May 03, 2021, 01:52:17 PM
I really like royal oak charcoal, but lately the pieces have been super small and they fall threw the grates and don't burn well. I was wondering if anyone has been experiencing this

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: Foster Dahlet on May 03, 2021, 04:24:19 PM
I find the occasional rock in mine.  But other than that, no issues.  But, I never use lump directly on my grate, but in my SnS which had a grate welded onto the bottom and catches any small pieces.

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Title: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: sonofabutcher on May 03, 2021, 05:07:26 PM
3 of my buddies are sponsored by RO. The lump that's sent on a pallet to them is decent size pieces because it's not being handled as much and left stacked on the pallet. Think from shipping, the store employees unloading them , then stocking it causes it to be handled roughly and crumbles it up. That's just my opinion based on my experience. I've bought quite of few crumbly bags at big box stores .


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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: kettlebb on May 03, 2021, 08:34:44 PM
Put another charcoal grate in the kettle and place it perpendicular to the current grate.  This will make small squares in the coal grate setup which will help you keep more lump in your kettle.  Or, just use charcoal baskets or a SnS.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: SMOKE FREAK on May 04, 2021, 06:07:09 PM
Or buy a better quality lump such as B&B.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: TXFlyGuy on May 10, 2021, 12:27:07 PM
Quote from: SMOKE FREAK on May 04, 2021, 06:07:09 PM
Or buy a better quality lump such as B&B.

Burnt through a couple bags of B&B...same problem. Small pieces falling through the grate. A piece of SS screen will fix that.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: SMOKE FREAK on May 10, 2021, 06:33:25 PM
Personally I think that Royal Oak has lowered their standards across the board. Lump and briqs have both gone to sh!t...
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: KettleMaster on May 17, 2021, 01:20:53 PM
I also have noticed RO briquettes either taking forever to get a full chimmeny hot along with heavier then normal smoke  ....i thought it was a bad batch then noticed the same thing again with new bags.Also sometimes they dont stay hot long

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: TXFlyGuy on May 17, 2021, 02:13:01 PM
I know people rag on Kingsford all the time. But it is the fastest lighting, and good solid burning of any charcoal. And I have used B&B, Cowboy, Royal Oak.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: KettleMaster on May 17, 2021, 03:32:49 PM
Quote from: TXFlyGuy on May 17, 2021, 02:13:01 PM
I know people rag on Kingsford all the time. But it is the fastest lighting, and good solid burning of any charcoal. And I have used B&B, Cowboy, Royal Oak.
I will try Kingsford out again

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: mojo1254 on May 30, 2021, 08:01:18 AM
I'm glad it's not just happening to me

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: SMOKE FREAK on May 30, 2021, 10:04:27 AM
Quote from: KettleMaster on May 17, 2021, 03:32:49 PM
Quote from: TXFlyGuy on May 17, 2021, 02:13:01 PM
I know people rag on Kingsford all the time. But it is the fastest lighting, and good solid burning of any charcoal. And I have used B&B, Cowboy, Royal Oak.
I will try Kingsford out again

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I'm back to KBB...
I prefer B&B briqs but too hard to find around here.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: 1MoreFord on June 06, 2021, 08:53:10 PM
Quote from: TXFlyGuy on May 17, 2021, 02:13:01 PM
I know people rag on Kingsford all the time. But it is the fastest lighting, and good solid burning of any charcoal. And I have used B&B, Cowboy, Royal Oak.

It also stinks like chit and produces prodigious amounts of ash that clogs everything.  I can walk into a BBQ comp and smell this chit as long as I'm down wind of it.  There are much better offerings.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: TXFlyGuy on June 07, 2021, 08:30:52 AM
B&B...that's the ticket.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: mojo1254 on June 07, 2021, 01:58:40 PM
Definitely not a fan of the smell of Kingsford

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: mojo1254 on June 07, 2021, 02:02:34 PM
Update on this issue I just got a bag and its completely fine but I did get atleast 3 in a row that wasn't

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: HoosierKettle on June 07, 2021, 03:42:53 PM
Kingsford pro is a good deal at Costco. Kbb is very reliable and I've never noticed any extraordinary smells. I guess that's subjective.


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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: mojo1254 on June 07, 2021, 03:54:13 PM
I'll give Kingsford pro a shot, I'm not against trying new things

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: TXFlyGuy on June 08, 2021, 03:57:03 AM
Trying new things is wise with BBQ. That's why we tried B&B, and stopped using Kingsford. We are 100% sold on B&B products. And they are a Texan company.

There are some who use Royal Oak all the time, Malcolm Reed or one.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: michaelmilitello on June 08, 2021, 04:34:28 AM
Quote from: TXFlyGuy on June 08, 2021, 03:57:03 AM
Trying new things is wise with BBQ. That's why we tried B&B, and stopped using Kingsford. We are 100% sold on B&B products. And they are a Texan company.

There are some who use Royal Oak all the time, Malcolm Reed or one.
I wish b&b had better distribution.   I can get the lump at Ace but the closest place that has briquettes is 70 miles away at Academy. 


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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: TXFlyGuy on June 08, 2021, 12:58:51 PM
Quote from: michaelmilitello on June 08, 2021, 04:34:28 AM
Quote from: TXFlyGuy on June 08, 2021, 03:57:03 AM
Trying new things is wise with BBQ. That's why we tried B&B, and stopped using Kingsford. We are 100% sold on B&B products. And they are a Texan company.

There are some who use Royal Oak all the time, Malcolm Reed or one.
I wish b&b had better distribution.   I can get the lump at Ace but the closest place that has briquettes is 70 miles away at Academy. 

Ace carries it here, as does Kroger. Easy to find. $12.95 for 18 lb pound bag.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: mojo1254 on June 09, 2021, 01:55:19 PM
Another bad bag.... I used to love this stuff but I'm not going to keep buying it

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: MikekiM on June 17, 2021, 07:25:54 PM
I have the same experience with RO. I try to grab the bags that are still on the pallet and don't appear to have been stacked, but still there are many small pieces. Not too much of a concern in the kettle because I use the SnS almost all the time, but so much of the lump falls through the chimney grate.


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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: TXFlyGuy on June 18, 2021, 01:59:56 AM
Okay...it would appear this is an easy issue to remedy. Simply use a double charcoal grate setup, two grates at 90 degree angles. Or purchase a piece of stainless steel screen and cut it to fit your charcoal basket or make it the size of the charcoal grate. That will prevent any and all small pieces from falling through. Get it on Amazon.

With lump coal, it's the nature of the beast to have irregular sizes with smaller pieces. Makes no difference what brand you use.

See photo here of dual stainless grates:
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/005342726106/media/1701053003759900/medium/1622250615/enhance)

And here, standard Weber grates:
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/005342726106/media/1700826296353558/medium/1622034459/enhance)
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: 22ket~tle on June 18, 2021, 06:27:57 AM
how'd ya get em so clean?


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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: TXFlyGuy on June 19, 2021, 07:15:45 PM
Quote from: 22ket~tle on June 18, 2021, 06:27:57 AM
how'd ya get em so clean?


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Well...Dawn dish detergent, a Brillo Pad, and a steel bristle brush. They clean up so nice I think they will remain in my cooking rotation.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: brucemcclure on June 20, 2021, 01:17:31 AM
Quote from: TXFlyGuy on June 19, 2021, 07:15:45 PM
Well...Dawn dish detergent, a Brillo Pad, and a steel bristle brush. They clean up so nice I think they will remain in my cooking rotation.

I'm in furniture sales and recommend the original blue Dawn Dish Detergent for getting stains out of upholstery. I would imagine that product would be great for grills, too. I was given a bottle of Citrusafe for cleaning my grates, but have used a bucket of warm water with a good amount of Dawn for general cleaning.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: DougWilsonsSlapper on June 20, 2021, 04:01:26 AM
This is great, but getting the small pieces to sit in a chimney is also an issue. Is there a remedy?

Quote from: TXFlyGuy on June 18, 2021, 01:59:56 AM
Okay...it would appear this is an easy issue to remedy. Simply use a double charcoal grate setup, two grates at 90 degree angles. Or purchase a piece of stainless steel screen and cut it to fit your charcoal basket or make it the size of the charcoal grate. That will prevent any and all small pieces from falling through. Get it on Amazon.

With lump coal, it's the nature of the beast to have irregular sizes with smaller pieces. Makes no difference what brand you use.

See photo here of dual stainless grates:
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/005342726106/media/1701053003759900/medium/1622250615/enhance)

And here, standard Weber grates:
(https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/005342726106/media/1700826296353558/medium/1622034459/enhance)

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: Mr.CPHo on June 20, 2021, 04:36:36 AM

Quote from: DougWilsonsSlapper on June 20, 2021, 04:01:26 AM
This is great, but getting the small pieces to sit in a chimney is also an issue. Is there a remedy?
I switched over to lump 100% and changed my lighting process slightly by using Stump Chunks in the bottom of my chimneys which I've modified by inverting the wire cone to face down.   The layer of Stump Chunks keeps the small pieces from falling through and lights pretty quickly.  https://www.stumpchunks.com
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: TXFlyGuy on June 20, 2021, 04:54:58 AM
Not a problem for me...I don't use a chimney.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: DougWilsonsSlapper on June 20, 2021, 06:22:33 AM
Go on..... Looft lighter?
Quote from: TXFlyGuy on June 20, 2021, 04:54:58 AM
Not a problem for me...I don't use a chimney.

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: MikekiM on June 20, 2021, 10:57:59 AM
So, maybe a half dozen briquettes in the bottom of the chimney, and then load the lump on top of that. Nothing says you can't mix the two


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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: DougWilsonsSlapper on June 20, 2021, 10:58:51 AM
Yeah.  That makes sense.  Especially with natural briquettes.

Quote from: MikekiM on June 20, 2021, 10:57:59 AM
So, maybe a half dozen briquettes in the bottom of the chimney, and then load the lump on top of that. Nothing says you can't mix the two


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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: MikekiM on June 21, 2021, 04:25:51 AM
Tried this yesterday..  had only a few KBB briquettes that didn't entirely cover the bottom of the chimney and it did prevent most of the smaller lump pieces from falling through..


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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: TXFlyGuy on June 21, 2021, 01:27:37 PM
Quote from: DougWilsonsSlapper on June 20, 2021, 06:22:33 AM
Go on..... Looft lighter?
Quote from: TXFlyGuy on June 20, 2021, 04:54:58 AM
Not a problem for me...I don't use a chimney.

Charcoal basket, and Kingsford liquid lighter fluid! Been doing this for many decades.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: bamakettles on June 23, 2021, 09:56:57 AM
Lunchtime score!  My Ace Hardware guy finally came through....


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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: AZ2FL on June 23, 2021, 10:03:34 AM
Quote from: bamakettles on June 23, 2021, 09:56:57 AM
Lunchtime score!  My Ace Hardware guy finally came through....


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Nice score Greg, now you'll have B&B for your July SGI trip.
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: bamakettles on June 23, 2021, 10:18:54 AM
Quote from: AZ2FL on June 23, 2021, 10:03:34 AM
Quote from: bamakettles on June 23, 2021, 09:56:57 AM
Lunchtime score!  My Ace Hardware guy finally came through....


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Nice score Greg, now you'll have B&B for your July SGI trip.

That was my worry....also having a lot of family over on the 9th - around 15 - 20 people.  Gunna BBQ my a$$ off in July!
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: TXFlyGuy on June 23, 2021, 03:08:03 PM
Good move, and good charcoal!
Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: mojo1254 on June 25, 2021, 02:06:38 PM
I'm going to try the cheap Walmart brand that's not much cheaper $14 for 30lbs I'll let you know how It turns out

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: mojo1254 on June 25, 2021, 02:24:29 PM
Looks very nice

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Title: Re: Royal Oak charcoal
Post by: P0234 on June 26, 2021, 04:52:45 PM
Quote from: mojo1254 on June 25, 2021, 02:06:38 PM
I'm going to try the cheap Walmart brand that's not much cheaper $14 for 30lbs I'll let you know how It turns out

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The smaller bag I got was even worse than RO. It was like gravel size chunks.