I tried the for the first time this weekend on my no-fail rib recipe. Mixed them about 3:1 with some comp blend pellets.
My ribs came out dry, and kind of tough. Never had ribs dry like this before.
Sooo.. is it the pellets or just possibly a crappy slab of ribs?
What are ya'lls thoughts on charcoal pellets?
by ScentGland99
46 Comments
I use them and like them
Never used the 100% charcoal ones, but the premixed hickory and charcoal ones are fantastic
Too expensive for no appreciable benefit.
I incorporate them during cold-weather cooks. Based on pellet usage, they obviously have more BTUs than regular pellets.
I bought that same bag for my smoke tube thinking I was going to get that charcoal briquette smell. Nope. Burned hot and when mixed with competition blend pellets it put itself out. I’m sure there’s a use for them but my experiments failed.
Tried them both mixed and straight. Eh. An experiment. Went back to straight Costco pellets.
I usually do 60 wood/40 charcoal. Always great 👍
They sounded like they were going to break my auger when I tried them out. Didnt want to risk it so got rid of em
I use them only in my smoker. They hold heat better and I use less of them on my smokes. I use the wood pellets in my smoke tube only.
Didn’t get any charcoal flavor. Hit or miss for sure. Grabbed HEB pellets instead.
I’ve been using a 1:1 mix on my B380X, but have been hearing some pretty serious “crunching” going on in the auger. I don’t have this issue on my LSG, but it has the open center auger to allow for wood chips.
I use them when I’m grilling. I mix them with wood sometimes when I’m smoking.
I love these, mix them 50:50 with my wood pellets.
Heath Riles swears by them, but I didn’t get much flavor when I used them.
I love them. They burn pretty damn hot
Second on the 50/50 mix turned out awesome.
I mix them with post oak pellets and either post oak or mesquite wood chips in a smoke tube. Run normal pellets in my smoker. Have noticed a significant difference in smoke flavor in my food. Even my wife has commented on how much better it tastes. This is a recent addition to my cooks. I have tried them before as normal fuel. They make the grill run a little hotter and actually burn cleaner, with less smoke flavor, than normal pellets. Smoke tube burns slower, and I guess that is what makes the difference in flavor. I have only used this smoke tube combo on 2 cooks so far. Both were overnight cooks with 1 being a butt and the other a chuck roast for pulled beef. Both turned out with better flavor and more smoke than cooks over the last few years. To the point that you could smell the smoke as soon as the container they were sealed in was opened. Immediately filled up the kitchen with that smoky bbq from heaven smell. As with anything else YMMV.
Meh. Tried 50:50, but overall it smoked much less and no real decernible charcoal flavor. Maybe I should of tried 100%, but just doubt it would be better.
I run the Jack Daniel’s charcoal pellets in a smoke tube when I do ribs and I can tell the difference. My fear with these is that they can jack up your auger if you’re not careful/lucky or combo.
I heard they burn hot, so never tried them
I like mixing them with my pellets. About 40/60 charcoal pellet to regular pellet. There’s a nice robust smell that I think makes a difference.
If I use manual mode on my Searwood to do a hot sear, then 100% charcoal pellets
Over priced, but good for hot and fast cooks.
They are the only pellets I use in my pitboss. I absolutely love the flavor… especially when grilling steak at 450-500. Can’t stand competition or anything favored. It’s these, and if my local Lowe’s doesn’t have them in stock – and I’m super last minute, it’s hickory. Cheers
I use these in my Smokefire ELX6 whenever I am “grilling”. Basically burgers or reverse sear on a steak. Never for a smoke profile or low and slow. They are also excellent to use in the winter because they don’t absorb water like regular wood pellets.
Tried them but didn’t notice much of anything. Instead, I’m just placing my expando smoke tube along the front bottom lip of the broiler plate thing (NOT between plate/shield and front wall… too much airflow=fire-fire) and put 4-5 charcoal briquettes along the top of the tube. Never ignited (actual fire-fire) but did catch and smolder til they became ash. Definitely noticed the difference that time. Great flavor and the best smoke ring I’ve ever had using my pit boss.
It’s not the pellets, might have been the ribs. Temps are temps, only would’ve affected flavor.
Isn’t the point of a pellet grill to basically be an “easy” smoker? If so then charcoal type pellets miss the mark. Admittedly, I have never tried them but the concept misses the point in my mind.
I add about 20%, definitely see less pellet use but no difference in taste. They really help keep temps up in winter
I have seen the regular wood pellets give better smoke. They do seem to burn a little hotter and do not absorb moisture as much.
It’s the only one I use.
I love the charcoal taste.
If you know where to buy in Canada please advise 🙏
I mix them with regular pellets. Works great.
If I’m lazy and don’t want to fire the charcoal grill I’ll sear steaks in the pellet directly over the uncovered fire pot. These charcoal pellets give a better sear 100%
I use them about 50% mix with my regular pellets. Helps with the smoke in my pit boss that doesn’t smoke much otherwise
Bought a bag and they burn far too hot for me.
I use them almost exclusively. Only time I don’t is when the store I went to didnt have them in stock.
I do 50/50 by weight blend of these and competition blend. I really like the results.
They burn hot and give a charcoal smell and flavor. The hopper really grinds them….much harder than wood blends. Never mixed them with other pellets. I only used them one time.
I have a vertical and a regular style pellet smoker. I use my vertical for long smokes. And I use regular pellets for that. In my other I use the royal oak charcoal pellets exclusively. They do well at higher temps, don’t burn as fast. And have a very minimal ash production. So I like them. They have there purpose.
Genuine question: what’s the advantage/differences between charcoal pellets and wood pellets?
Since charcoal is “burnt” wood it seems like you’d get less time with these and less flavor but it would burn hotter like if you’re searing steaks or something.
I’ve used them, they seem to work well.
I don’t have Costco membership. I have bought cheap at Walmart, etc and never had any problems. Your mileage may vary.
Use them regularly. Probably just marketing.
Always wanted to try them, never actually found them in the wild. I just do Bear Mountain Hickory for most cooks. Got a mix of Hickory-Applewood in the Recteq currently.
I just tried some thinking that they may add some charcoal-like flavor, which I didn’t notice at all.
I mixed them with 3 parts Bear Mountain Pellets to 1 part of charcoal pellets.
After they’re gone, I won’t be buying any more.
Pellet varieties in general are just marketing tricks, since its all sawdust. Nothing will truly impart that heavy smoke like you expect from a stick burner.
That being said, some pellets, such as these, will have higher BTU outputs which may be preferable when using sear plates and trying to grill. Other than that, I can’t really think of a use for them.