Pros and Cons of Using Briquettes in Grilling

October 20, 2017

There's something about firing up the grill on a nice day that is so intrinsically relaxing. Grabbing a cold drink, a few friends, and a great cut of meat will only make your relaxation even better. However, even with all of these good vibes going, you are still going to need to make an important decision: what fuel are you going to use for your grill? Some people believe in gas while others believe in lump charcoal. We're here to talk to you about a different option entirely: briquettes.

Briquette Breakdown

Briquettes for grilling are a composite of coal dust and other materials such as charcoal, peat, wood chips or sawdust. Briquettes are known for being compact and well held together which means they won't break apart like your traditional lump charcoal. There are a variety of differences with the way that briquettes actually burn and those are what we are going to focus on today.

Pros & Cons of Briquettes

Alright, so we know what briquettes are made of. Now let's dig a little deeper and look at why they are good AND bad for your grilling needs. We'll keep this brief and get you back to grilling in no time.

Pros

1. Steady Temperature - Briquettes don't burn as hot as traditional charcoal nor do they break apart and lose their temperature, either. With briquettes, you will get a long, steady burn at a controlled temperature. No big peaks and no big valleys.
2. Affordability - Briquettes are comprised of recyclable materials and as such are much more affordable. If you plan to grill quite a bit in the coming months then you might as well save a little bit of money along the way.
3. Longevity - As we said above in the temperature field, briquettes burn at a steadier rate and they last longer as a result. Combining this aspect with how affordable they are means that you won't be spending your entire budget on fuel and can save some money for the actual meat!

Cons

1. Ash Production - Briquettes form of a decent amount of ash which can be a little bit of a pain when you are cleaning out your grill. While this isn't a huge con, it still fits on the list.
2. Harder to Light - Briquettes are going to take a little more work to light in comparison to your charcoal or gas grills.
3. Chemical Smell - Some people with sensitive noses claim to be able to smell the binding additives in briquettes. However, most grillers admit to never smelling a difference.

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