Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes Review: A Beginner's Charcoal Grilling Experience

This review details a beginner's experience with Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes, focusing on their use with a Masterbuilt grill equipped with a hopper feeder and integrated ignition system. The author, a previous propane grill user, documents their journey from initial purchase and handling of the briquettes to their performance across various grilling applications, from quick burgers to slow-cooked ribs. The review emphasizes ease of use facilitated by the modern grilling technology, highlighting the consistent heat distribution and long burn times achieved with the Kingsford briquettes.This firsthand account provides valuable insight for those considering a switch from propane to charcoal grilling, particularly those with similar modern grill setups. It covers aspects from the initial unpacking and ease of handling the briquettes to the actual grilling performance, offering a comprehensive perspective on the user experience. The review specifically assesses the consistency of heat distribution, burn time, and overall convenience, ultimately providing a recommendation based on a practical, real-world grilling experience.

Pros And Cons

Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes
  • Good size briquettes
  • Value size (two-pack option available)
  • Works well with a modern grill setup with a hopper and fan
  • Consistent performance for both quick cooks and longer smoking
  • Not easily ignited with older grills
  • Requires a specific setup for easy lighting

Read more: Top 6 Charcoal Briquettes: A Buyer's Guide

Unboxing and First Impressions

I recently purchased a two-pack of Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes, a value size option. The briquettes themselves are a decent size, and the bag is easy to handle. The packaging is standard, clearly labeling the product information. The quantity in the bag is sufficient to fill the hopper of my grill.

Kingsford Original charcoal briquettes, 2-pack
Kingsford Original charcoal briquettes, 2-pack

I'd always used propane grills, so this was my first experience with charcoal. Initial impressions were positive - the briquettes looked consistent and promised a good burn. The weight is substantial, indicating high quality. I was eager to see how easily they would ignite.

Grill Setup and Ignition

My grill is a Masterbuilt model featuring a hopper-style charcoal feeder and a built-in ignition system. This system simplifies lighting the charcoal significantly, unlike traditional methods. The hopper holds an entire bag of briquettes.

The ignition system involves small starter squares placed in a designated area underneath the hopper. A fan mechanism quickly ignites and distributes the heat evenly throughout the charcoal, minimizing the time spent on lighting. The ash tray collects the ash efficiently.

Cooking Performance and Experience

I've used these briquettes for various grilling tasks, from quick burgers and hot dogs to longer, slow-cooked ribs. The Kingsford briquettes provided consistent heat throughout the cooking process, even during extended cooking sessions.

The quality of the charcoal has been excellent. Even heat distribution and long burn times are key features. The modern grill I'm using definitely facilitates better results than you might get with a more traditional set-up.

Overall Assessment and Recommendation

Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes perform very well in the Masterbuilt grill that I've been using. The consistently even heat distribution was impressive across different grilling durations, from fast burgers to extended slow-cooking. The ease of ignition using the grill's modern system is a major benefit.

For both quick cooking and slow-smoking, I found the Kingsford briquettes to be a reliable option. I highly recommend them, especially if you have a grill with an efficient ignition system and hopper feeder. The overall experience has been very positive.