I'd still consider myself a beginner in the grilling game with only about a year under my belt. I've been using royal oak in my kamado style ceramic cooker and have noticed what initially looked like pieces of ceramic mixed in the coals. I thought my fire box was breaking apart for some reason but upon a better look these are rocks and a piece of metal with a screw in it. I've read people complain about the rocks but the piece of metal and screw seems odd. Is this a royal oak thing or do other companies also have this in them? Recommendations for a good quality lump charcoal, preferably large lump?

by IllusivePerception

14 Comments

  1. MillHoodz_Finest

    well isn’t royal oak a brand they sell at dollar stores?

  2. DomDaddy3797

    You do understand how they make lump charcoal, correct so they’re going to use every last little bit of wood. Yeah there may be a bolt or rock in it because it’s at the bottom of the pile. It’s not gonna hurt you.

  3. captblackfoot180

    Just say no to construction debris

  4. Thon_Makers_Tooth

    A 5 second google search will tell you this charcoal is shit.

  5. Abe_Bettik

    I’ve been finding more in their bags recently. It used to be every 5th or 6th bag I’d find one rock about the size of an apple.

    Now I find 2-3 in EVERY bag and they’re all about the size of a walnut.

    There’s also a lot of smaller pieces and it sparks a bunch more.

    I think I’m going to switch. Apparently Cowboy has gotten *better* in quality as Royal Oak has gone down.

  6. Royal Oak is cheap and has a relatively good flavor / smoke. But it is infamous for having funny objects and debris in it. Some of us (probably the ones from places that are methed up) chuckle and toss the weird stuff in the trash and keep ‘er movin’. But some people really freak out and clutch their pearls and change to a spendier brand to avoid it. 

  7. maniacal_monk

    Well, royal oak is the armpit of charcoal brands. So really you can only go up from there. However, all brands are getting sloppy now. Even in expensive brands I’ll get bags of dust and gravel sized charcoal.
    Jealous devil is pretty good though. Usually decent sized lump for a not absurd price depending on where you live.

    I have never tried it but I’ve seen people say a lot of good stuff about Fogo, but it’s pretty expensive.

  8. Tumifaigirar

    Fucking hell a metal bolt on concrete?

  9. DJ-Doughboy

    Dang yall, it’s nobody paying attention here? it’s posted SOOOOO MUCH about royal oak and all the bullshit people find in it. Yet still every day it’s like “OH MY GOD, ROYAL OAK SUCKS LOOK AT ALL THIS CRAP THAT WON’T BURN”

  10. ItchyMcHotspot

    It’s just a matter of time until someone finds a human skull in one of these bags.

  11. here2upset

    Yes. That is why I stopped using it. Disappointed.

  12. Southern_FriedPickle

    I had some rocks in my bag last time too….

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