Skip to Content

Kiss the Briquettes Goodbye! Use These 5 Best Alternative Grilling Fuels Instead

Kiss the Briquettes Goodbye! Use These 5 Best Alternative Grilling Fuels Instead

Share this post:

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

You’re likely most familiar with briquettes for grilling. Grocery stores and hardware shops sell pallets of these pillow-shaped charcoal pieces every spring.

But what if they’re unavailable?

Well, you aren’t out of options yet. There are many choices out there that work just as great, sometimes even better, than grilling with briquette charcoal.

Save your BBQ night with these five briquette alternatives!

1 – Lump Charcoal

Unlike briquette, lump charcoal is 100% natural. It doesn’t have additives and binders most briquettes have, such as limestone, starch, or sawdust.

It’s simply wood, burned down in an oxygen-free environment until it turns into pure carbon. You don’t have to worry about additives or chemicals altering your food.

One of the benefits of using lump charcoal is the natural, smoky flavor it lends to grilled meat. I, for one, prefer the smokiness of food cooked over this grilling fuel.

Beyond its natural qualities, lump charcoal is also easier to light. It burns hotter than briquettes and doesn’t leave as much ash, which can be difficult to clean up.

Lump charcoal is easier to control because it’s more responsive to oxygen.

However, one hitch with this alternative grilling fuel is its higher price. Natural coal also comes in irregular sizes and may include unusable pieces.

2 – Wood Pellets

Are briquettes in shortage in your area? Or maybe you don’t like using these additive-rich fuels for your grilled meat?

Then consider getting wood pellets, the fuel typically used when cooking in a wood pellet grill.

Wood pellets are, like lump charcoal, made from natural wooden fibers, such as shavings, chips, slabs, sawdust, and other wooden materials.

They’re pulverized, grounded, or broken down until you get fine grainy particles. One powdered, they’re compressed into pellet sizes for easier handling and burning.

Most wood pellets use wood material from cherry, maple, or mesquite trees.

Given their miniature sizes, wooden pellets are lighter than briquette charcoal. They also take significantly less space in the grill.

Here’s a pro tip:

There are two types of wood pellets, one for grilling and the other for providing heat. Only use food-safe wood pellets for grilling food by checking if the ones you buy are intended for food.

3 – Hardwood

Hardwood is a superb fuel choice if you prefer to grill the traditional way.

Think of pecan, mesquite, cherry, hickory, or oak. You can use any of these hardwood trees to make the tastiest grill.

As you likely know, charcoal provides little to no flavor to your food. Hardwood, on the other hand, creates a richer and more flavorful meal.

See, hardwood releases organic compounds through its smoke when burned. These compounds get absorbed into the food, lending a unique flavor to the final product.

Oak, for instance, is preferred by many for slow, long-period cooking due to its mild flavor. Pecan provides a distinct aroma with a slight sweetness.

Wood from fruit trees, such as cherry and apple, is commonly used to add a distinctive sweet flavor to food.

However, you’ll want to manage the fire closely when grilling with wood. Unlike charcoal, logs and wood chunks are more prone to flare-ups that may ruin your dish.

When used correctly, though? Hardwood imparts an unmistakable flavor many grill enthusiasts (as I’m sure you will) crave.

4 – Natural Gas

Of course, if you’re tired of maintaining the fire or controlling temperature, you can use natural gas instead of briquettes when grilling. The same goes if you dislike food with smoky flavors.

You’ll need a gas grill, but it’s simple and consistent, without the clutter of typical charcoal or wood grilling.

These grills connect to your area’s main gas line and heat up like your gas oven.

There are plenty of advantages to having a gas grill instead of charcoal. It’s more sustainable and conveniently user-friendly, making it an excellent choice for cooking many dishes.

One feature I particularly love about gas grills is their precise temperature control. They’re less smoky, too, so they’re more environmentally friendly than charcoal.

But the best part? They’re easier to clean, without the soot, ash, or dust of a traditional grill.

5 – Propane Gas

Like natural gas, propane is an excellent grilling companion that doesn’t make your food taste or smell smoky.

Setting food flavor aside, I’d say convenience is the best selling point of using propane instead of charcoal or wood logs.

Operating a propane grill requires a propane tank. These things are commonly used so they’re usually easy to find regardless of where you are.

Busy dinner? No worries.

Unlike a charcoal barbeque that could take a good chunk of time to start, propane gas lights instantly with a flick of a switch. Simply turn the dial and you’re ready for cooking.

Many propane grills also include accessories that let you expand your cooking station.

Controlling temperature is easy, too. A propane BBQ grill can typically reach full temperature within 15 minutes, which you can effortlessly increase or decrease with a convenient dial knob.

In short, no more guesswork of a briquette grill’s air dampers to control heat!

Final Thoughts

Charcoal briquettes are like the fast foods of grill fuels. They’re typically cheaper than other options, easier to burn, and highly available.

However, you also don’t know what’s really inside them. So, it’s a good thing there’s plenty of briquette alternatives.

Whether you prefer traditional options like wood or lump charcoal or opt for the convenience of natural and propane gas, you can certainly make the tastiest BBQ you and your family can enjoy.

--

If you want more backyard tips including recipes, how-tos and more, make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel

Share this post: