Choosing the right charcoal briquettes can significantly impact your grilling experience. This comparison pits three popular European brands – Weber, B&B, and Glow Baltic – against each other in a head-to-head test. We subjected each to a demanding two-hour hot and fast rib cook, evaluating their ignition speed, heat consistency, ash production, and reusability. The aim was simple: to determine which brand delivered the best performance and value for money. Our findings reveal surprising differences in quality and usability, highlighting the importance of careful selection for optimal grilling results.This detailed review analyzes each brand's performance across key metrics. We'll explore the nuances of ignition, heat output, ash production, and the overall grilling experience each briquette provided. Ultimately, we aim to equip you with the information needed to make an informed decision when choosing charcoal for your next barbecue, ensuring a consistently enjoyable and successful cook.
Pros And Cons
- Lights super fast
- Smell good
- Burns hot
- Clean burning with very little smoke
- Reusable
- Pricey in Europe
- Consistent performance
- Good heat output
- Produces a nice light blue smoke
- Smell good, like a stick burner
- Reusable after knocking off ash
- Burn well in a snake burn
- Relatively expensive
- Easy start and ignition
- Produces a lot of white fluffy ash
- Briquettes crumble easily after use and leave nothing reusable
- Difficult to light, especially in a snake burn
- No smell
Read more: Top 6 Charcoal Briquettes: A Buyer's Guide
Pre-Cook Comparison: Three Charcoal Contenders
Before the cook, we had three brands of charcoal briquettes: Weber, B&B, and Glow Baltic. These were all readily available in Europe. Each brand had distinct characteristics in terms of shape, size, and apparent density. The goal was to see how they performed in a hot and fast rib cook.
The Weber briquettes, introduced around 2016, were the benchmark, representing a long-standing and reliable choice. The B&B briquettes were touted as competition-grade, promising superior performance. Glow Baltic briquettes claimed to be premium and long-burning.
Post-Cook Analysis: Ash, Burn Rate, and Reusability
After a two-hour hot and fast rib cook, the results were striking. The Glow Baltic briquettes produced an excessive amount of white, fluffy ash, so much so that it hampered the cooking process. This ash was difficult to remove, leading to inconsistent heat and potentially choking the flames. The excessive ash rendered these briquettes virtually unusable after the cook.
In contrast, the Weber briquettes retained their structural integrity, even after being vigorously shaken to remove ash. They remained solid, making them reusable for subsequent cooks. The B&B briquettes also performed well, showing minimal ash and retaining their form; they could also be reused.
Performance and Ignition: A Detailed Look
The B&B briquettes lit incredibly fast, even surpassing the Weber briquettes in ignition speed. They produced a pleasant smell during the cook, and provided excellent, even heat. The Weber briquettes, while slower to ignite, provided consistent heat and a characteristic blue flame. They burned evenly and predictably, making them ideal for a wide variety of cooking applications.
Glow Baltic briquettes were the most challenging to ignite. They required a large quantity of starter cubes and even then, struggled to achieve a consistent burn. They performed poorly in both hot and fast, and low and slow cooking methods, often fizzling out and resulting in inconsistent temperatures.
Conclusion: The Verdict on Charcoal Briquettes
Ultimately, Weber and B&B briquettes are the clear winners in this comparison. Weber briquettes offer excellent consistency, reusability, and a clean burn. Their predictable performance makes them a reliable choice for various cooking styles. B&B briquettes provide exceptional heat, quick ignition, and a pleasant aroma, ideal for high-heat applications.
Glow Baltic briquettes, despite their claims, fell significantly short. The excessive ash, difficult ignition, and lack of reusability make them a poor choice for most barbecue enthusiasts. While cost should be a factor, value for money is key, and Glow Baltic simply doesn't deliver on that front. It is important to remember that different charcoal can significantly influence a cooking experience.
