At Stones Boatyard in Salcombe, we use Big Green Egg charcoal ourselves and regularly help customers choose the right fuel for pizzas, low-and-slow cooks, fish, roasts, desserts and everyday grilling.
In fact, one of the most common questions from new Big Green Egg owners is which charcoal they should use in their EGG. It’s a great question, because the right charcoal makes a big difference to flavour, temperature control and how confidently your EGG cooks. We’re always happy to chat charcoal, so let’s get into it.
You can also browse our full range of Big Green Egg fuel, including lumpwood charcoal, fire starters and useful fuel storage accessories.
What exactly is lumpwood charcoal?
Lumpwood charcoal is whole pieces of natural hardwood that has gone through a process called carbonisation – the wood is heated at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen resulting in a dense charcoal that burns hotter and longer than other fuels.
Why lumpwood charcoal Matters
The type of charcoal you choose for your EGG will impact the flavour profile of your food – smoke infuses flavour and each type of wood offers a different flavour profile – so it’s worth thinking about before you fire up your EGG.
We always, always recommend using quality charcoal for your EGG. Excellent quality charcoal has been produced with care, has no impurities and will burn efficiently. There are lots of lumpwoods available out there, but for us personally, we would always choose a Big Green Egg charcoal. They are 100% natural, free of additives, petroleum and chemicals. They light quickly and burn longer and cleaner. The guys at Big Green Egg know what they’re doing, they’ve spent years perfecting a hot consistent burn – so why not use the charcoal that has been specifically designed for your EGG?
PLUS, let’s not forget the huge added benefit of using all natural lumpwood…the ability to dirty cook! (Throwing your steak straight onto the charcoal.) It’s always a crowd pleaser, not to mention saving on the washing up!
Is Big Green Egg lumpwood charcoal eco-friendly?
Deforestation, habitat destruction and air quality are all valid concerns when it comes to cooking with lumpwood charcoal. Assessing the environmental impact of cooking with charcoal is a whole other topic for a future blog, but we do know this. Big Green Egg source all their lumpwood from responsibly managed forests and suppliers they trust.
Whilst charcoal grilling does release CO2, charcoal is a biomass fuel and the carbon released during your cook will likely be roughly equivalent to the carbon absorbed by the wood during its growth. Electric might seem a more environmentally friendly method of cooking, but if the electric is sourced from coal or natural gas, the emissions could be higher.
Compared to briquettes, the Big Green Egg lumpwood doesn’t contain any chemicals that can be harmful when burned, and it also burns slower and produces minimal ash making it more environmentally friendly. The Big Green Egg itself retains heat effectively and reduces fuel use, making it one of the most efficient BBQs you can buy. It will also last a lifetime, making it a much more sustainable choice than cheaper alternatives that need replacing more often.
Which Big Green Egg charcoal is best for which cook?
Big Green Egg Oak & Hickory Natural Lump Charcoal
Our ‘go to’ charcoal. It’s our bestseller by far. It gives just the right level of smokiness and makes it super easy to control the temperature of your EGG. This is the charcoal we use for most of our EGG cooking, it’s a great all-rounder for everything from chicken wings to cakes. It’s made from 100% hardwood that has been sourced from sustainable plantations – just one of the many reasons we love it.
But don’t just take it from us, The Independent wrote an article ‘Best BBQ charcoal for 2026’ and here’s what they had to say about the Oak and Hickory:
"Because you want good flavour infused in your ceramic, you want to use great quality charcoal – and that’s where this Big Green Egg’s stalwart comes in. It’s made from varied chunks of American oak and hickory hardwood, giving you characterful taste without toxins or accelerants. We love how easily this charcoal lights – and also how long it can burn for (we’ve done countless slow-cooked pork shoulders or lamb legs on just a few large handfuls of the stuff)."
Big Green Egg Canadian Maple Natural Lump Charcoal
As with all the Big Green Egg lumpwoods, the Canadian Maple is 100% natural with absolutely no nasties. This charcoal gives off a sweeter smoke which is perfect for desserts or a honey glazed ham.
Again The Independent had their own say on the Canadian Maple:
"It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why, but on balance, of all of Big Green Egg’s excellent fuel offerings, it’s our favourite. Perhaps it’s the large, easy-to-light chunks – sourced only from trusted plantations – or that the charcoal truly burns for ages. Or maybe it’s that it produces minimal ash, making for less clean-up when the barbecue session is over. Whatever the reason, it’s an option not to be overlooked."
Big Green Egg Eucalyptus Natural Lump Charcoal
As always, sustainably sourced with no toxins, the eucalyptus has a mild flavour profile which works well with delicate fish or pork. You can combine it with some of our smoking chips and chunks to add greater depth of flavour.
How much charcoal should you use?
As a rule, loading to where the fire bowl meets the fire ring is spot on, no matter how long you intend to cook for. The EGG will keep burning on this amount of charcoal at 180 degrees for around 24 hours in one go – so it should be plenty, even on low and slow or for something like pizzas where you want to be burning hot.
We love that all the Big Green Egg charcoals have some nice big lumps alongside the smaller pieces of charcoal, those larger lumps are going to offer better airflow and longer burn time.
Cost per cook
An 8kg bag of any of the Big Green Egg Premium Lump charcoal will set you back £29.
It’s hard to say how long a bag of charcoal will last because it obviously depends on how often you’re using your EGG and the type of cooking you are doing (low and slow or just a few burgers for a mid-week meal.)
We can tell you from our experience, cooking on our EGG around 4 or 5 nights a week with a mixture of fast, hot cooks such as pizza and some lower slower meals like a tagine, a bag of lump wood will last us at least 2 weeks.
The Big Green Egg is highly efficient and burns charcoal sparingly, and it’s absolutely fine to reuse your charcoal for the next cook. Just give the old charcoal a good stir to remove the smaller bits and scoop out the ash with your ash tool and pan – and then top up with fresh. Give them a stir together with the ash tool and you’re good to go!
How to store Big Green Egg charcoal
Keep it dry!! A cool, dry dark location such as your garage is perfect. Basically, you want to avoid moisture absorption. The Big Green Egg Charcoal Storage Bag is weatherproof and is ideal if you want to keep your charcoal out by your EGG for ease of use.
Common charcoal mistakes
- Never use briquettes! Whether you go with a Big Green Egg lumpwood or another brand, avoid charcoal ‘briquettes’ which are essentially charcoal dust that has been recompressed. These will fill your EGG with dust and create unpleasant flavours that will hang around like an unwanted guest.
- Never use Lighter fluid! Using lighter fluid can leave a nasty chemical residue which can taint the ceramic of your EGG and can leave a lingering toxic flavour to your EGG cooked dishes. It’s really not necessary with the Big Green Egg lumpwood which lights quickly and easily with a Big Green Egg Natural Fire Starter. You also run the risk of voiding your warranty – avoid at all costs!
- Never use standard firelighters! It sounds obvious, but don’t ever be tempted to use the firelighters you buy for your woodstove. They will often contain chemicals which you really want to avoid in your EGG.
For ash tools, storage, gloves and other useful extras, explore our Big Green Egg accessories.
Our charcoal loyalty scheme
Ready to stock up? Browse our Big Green Egg fuel, including lumpwood charcoal and natural firestarters, or call Stones Boatyard on 01548 844122 if you’d like help choosing the right charcoal for your next cook.
We can send out charcoal next working day delivery if you get your order into us before 2pm. You’ll get a bag free from us with every 5 bags that you buy. (In store only.)
Now you’re armed with charcoal knowledge, go forth and cook up a clean, flavourful feast!
If you’re still getting used to lighting and temperature control, our Big Green Egg setup guide walks through the basics for new owners.
Looking for something simple to cook first? Our what to cook first on your Big Green Egg guide has beginner-friendly cooking ideas.