The Good Charcoal Company Review: Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal for Your Next Cook

We have done a lot of cooking on Gear Diary, but we rarely have used charcoal. Sometimes burgers are just better cooked over some hot coals. Last night I fired up the grill using The Good Charcoal Company’s Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal for the first time. How did The Good Charcoal perform?

The Good Charcoal Company produces 100% chemical-free lump charcoal from Acacia wood; it is the first FSC-approved charcoal in the US and is sourced from the Namibian bush in Africa. Acacia is denser than oak and hickory, which burns hotter, cleaner, and more evenly. In theory, you will need to use less charcoal.

The first thing I liked about this charcoal is the different-sized pieces. The coals get going much quicker when some smaller pieces are mixed in and seem to last longer once the cook starts with the larger pieces.

When cooking with charcoal, I never recommend using lighter fluid. It never fails to give a slight flavor to your meats.

I always use a chimney to get the coals started, then pour the red hot coals on a small bed in the pit; this will light the coal bed slowly and create an even cook that lasts for hours. This method will cook a bit faster than using a pellet grill, but the results are always mouth-watering.

I cheat and use a small torch to light the bottom of the chimney, then let the coals get red hot.

The Good Charcoal Company product gets hot fast and burned really clean.

When charcoal first starts, you can tell the difference in quality pretty quickly. I loved how this lump charcoal burned really hot and clean. Just a thin blue smoke and very little popping or sparks. Once it was red hot, I poured the chimney onto the bed of coals and let it sit.

My only mistake during this cook is using too many coals. We were up to temp, and it burned for a couple of hours even though the burgers were done fairly quickly.

When the company says the product burns longer and hotter, so you need less, they are correct. This 15.4-pound bag will last through several cooks. The thin, blue smoke was the perfect amount and added a great flavor to the meat. My oldest told me I should cook burgers like that more often.

The Good Charcoal Company puts out a great premium lump charcoal that is sustainably harvested and burns hot and clean. I plan to continue using this charcoal since it is chemical-free and less is needed for a nice, hot fire.

My family loved the burgers we cooked last night; the smoke flavor was light but noticeable. I should have thawed more meat out and kept cooking since an hour in, and the fire seemed to be at its peak yet still burned for quite some time.

If you are looking for a good option for your next cookout, give The Good Charcoal Company a try. The bags are priced right and should be easy to find or order.

The Good Charcoal Company Premium Lump Charcoal retails for $19.99 for a 15.4-pound bag and $14.99 for an 8-pound bag; it is available directly from The Home Depot.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Burns clean and hot; Chemical free; Coals last a long time; Provided great flavor

What Needs Improvement: Nothing