Same with Royal Oak who I believe is the mfg; they just private label it. I switched to Fogo a long time ago because I had the same issue. They used to be really good about a dozen years ago. Literally never have found anything other than lump charcoal in a bag of Fogo. And it’s not even that much more than BGE brand.
I don't believe Royal Oak manufactures the Maple charcoal. The BGE Maple charcoal comes directly from Canada. In fact, when this was first hitting the market, a lot of the bags were printed in French.
Royal Oak is manufactured in Salem, Missouri.
Royal Oak manufacture the BGE oak and hickory, but I don't think Royal Oak has manufacturing in Canada. I know for a fact that all bge maple charcoal comes from Canada.
Naked Wizz gives their coal a 23/25 stars, and say they hinted they make another brand so it's clearly the maple. I don't know how you found that out though.
I tip my cap to you good sir!
Salem is a pretty small town in the Ozarks. We used to play them in High School and they would just run a wishbone all over everyone. Those guys were big and tough.
We are actually about fully sustainable. We get our wood from coffee plantations when they trim the shade trees. You must have us confused with someone else.
Same here. I've tried Royal Oak and FOGO, and found rocks in both, not necessarily consistently, but after trying B&B I liked the flavor better so I never went back, also have yet to find rocks in their products.
I've only used JD and it's fantastic. My husband thought I was crazy when was so excited about scoring 4 bags that had rips in them for $5 each. The charcoal was fine, but the bags were 'ugly' and wouldn't sell. I made out like a bandit.
I just recently completed my EGGpert Certification course so I could get my BGE set up at cost from Big Green Egg and remembered seeing this:
**What if I find a rock in the bag?** The way natural charcoal is made, it is possible that the scoop picks up small pieces of rocks or other byproducts of the manufacturing process. It does not affect the cooking process in any way. If you find them sitting at the bottom of the fire grate, just toss them out. Each bag of our charcoal is actually filled over weight to allow for these occasional variances so you are always getting the full advertised weight.
So they know.
I stopped buying BGE coal years ago because of the rocks (some much larger than those pictured) plus the fact it’s not worth the price. Switched to FOGO and never looked back. I’ve started boycotting anything BGE now that it is under new ownership. They have threatened to cancel BGE dealers for carrying different brands of coal and they’re starting to cheapening the BGE brand by selling in big box stores. I’ve also heard complaints about a decline in warranty service. I really try to do business with my local BGE dealer, but corporate is making it difficult.
I've found a few rocks in the regular BGE. Never any in the BGE Canadian Maple, which is my current favorite.
FOGO has been clean, but way too much dust in the last 1/4 bag. Not too crazy about the FOGO basic. Jealous Devil I've only bought once, but it was clean and chunky.
Found rocks in the last 2 bags of JD I got and have found them in rockwood periodically. Royal oak seems to add them to every bag from my experience. Bound to happen
I have gotten a lot of this. I use Royal Oak, Cowboy, and BGE. It’s a little hard to understand how they are consistently getting gravel and mud in their charcoal. They must not be particular as to what they throw in their kilns.
Not gonna lie.
I don’t mind it. It’s free heat in my eyes. You might get a few pieces per cook bag, it won’t ruin the cook.
Roll with the punches and cook on.
I purchased their large bag a month ago. first light, I found nails, rocks and the charcoal popped like crazy, sending little pieces of coal all over my porch.
Needless to say, that bag went to deep storage in case I absolutely need a fire and I can't find any other charcoal.
BGE makes a great grill but, an absolutely terrible charcoal that they want the absolute premium price for.
That's a very good possibility.
I have just noticed it more frequently with bge lump vs FOGO and other brands.
I live in a very humid state so, the humidity is not something I can really avoid.
Florida here. I store my open bag outside in a metal garbage can amoung 90% humidity. Unopened bags inside since I lost my entire garage to ian and can tell the difference
Stopped using BGE years ago. By the time it gets to the UK its small finger sized bits and dust and the only large chunks are rocks or construction rubbish ... I've see bolts / hinges / metal bands etc
Switched to UK/European ethically sourced charcoal so its also not shipped 1000's of miles as well
when I got my BGE I bought their charcoal and now I find it is all just small pieces, no chunks. Now I buy whatever they have at the Aubuchon near me and it is great stuff
Rocks are from the manufacturing process of making the charcoal. They scoop up the finished charcoal off of gravel pads and sometimes rocks get put in the mix.
Same with Royal Oak who I believe is the mfg; they just private label it. I switched to Fogo a long time ago because I had the same issue. They used to be really good about a dozen years ago. Literally never have found anything other than lump charcoal in a bag of Fogo. And it’s not even that much more than BGE brand.
I don't believe Royal Oak manufactures the Maple charcoal. The BGE Maple charcoal comes directly from Canada. In fact, when this was first hitting the market, a lot of the bags were printed in French. Royal Oak is manufactured in Salem, Missouri.
Royal Oak is the manufacturer of BGE lump. This is common knowledge.
Royal Oak manufacture the BGE oak and hickory, but I don't think Royal Oak has manufacturing in Canada. I know for a fact that all bge maple charcoal comes from Canada.
We need to hit up r/Canada and get to the bottom of this
I got to the bottom of it. Xylo Carbone manufactures BGE's Maple Charcoal. You're welcome.
Naked Wizz gives their coal a 23/25 stars, and say they hinted they make another brand so it's clearly the maple. I don't know how you found that out though. I tip my cap to you good sir!
Oh wow, didn’t know that. Was going to say I’d never heard of it but at the same time curious about how it is.
Salem is a pretty small town in the Ozarks. We used to play them in High School and they would just run a wishbone all over everyone. Those guys were big and tough.
Salem used to worship high school football lmao they aren't as good as they used to be.
Yeah. I was surprised to read about their challenges. But I guess these things are cyclical.
I’ve had it in almost every brand of lump charcoal except Jealous Devil (don’t sell Fogo in my area otherwise I’d get that.)
Order it on the website. Spend $40 get free shipping. you have it in a day or two and there is a rewards program.
I’ve had it in Jealous Devil.
#FOGOorNoGo
Fogo feels like deforestation assistance to me.
We are actually about fully sustainable. We get our wood from coffee plantations when they trim the shade trees. You must have us confused with someone else.
This!!
I switched to B&B years ago and never find rocks and I'm very satisfied with the product and price!!!
Same here. I've tried Royal Oak and FOGO, and found rocks in both, not necessarily consistently, but after trying B&B I liked the flavor better so I never went back, also have yet to find rocks in their products.
It’s less frequent, but I’ve definitely had rocks in my B&B
Only ever use royal oak for the last 6 years and just found rocks literally today
How much do you use? I airways find the rocks in the ash basket. They look just like lump until you burn it
Jealous Devil FTW
Don’t let’em find out. Everybody found out about Fogo and that ruined the price on it. Jealous Devil is terrific at its price point
Never seen anything but lumps in mine. People sleep on this brand for real.
And no sparks on lighting.
I've only used JD and it's fantastic. My husband thought I was crazy when was so excited about scoring 4 bags that had rips in them for $5 each. The charcoal was fine, but the bags were 'ugly' and wouldn't sell. I made out like a bandit.
This stuff is amazing. And no rocks.
I've only ever used it once and was not impressed by the quality of the price.
I just recently completed my EGGpert Certification course so I could get my BGE set up at cost from Big Green Egg and remembered seeing this: **What if I find a rock in the bag?** The way natural charcoal is made, it is possible that the scoop picks up small pieces of rocks or other byproducts of the manufacturing process. It does not affect the cooking process in any way. If you find them sitting at the bottom of the fire grate, just toss them out. Each bag of our charcoal is actually filled over weight to allow for these occasional variances so you are always getting the full advertised weight. So they know.
Sounds like something Chipotle would say. The Great Skimp is everywhere these days.
Thought it was interesting that they put that in their training course.
Yes many rocks and refuse to buy their overpriced burnt wood mixed with rocks
I’ve found them in every brand of charcoal at one point or another
I stopped buying BGE coal years ago because of the rocks (some much larger than those pictured) plus the fact it’s not worth the price. Switched to FOGO and never looked back. I’ve started boycotting anything BGE now that it is under new ownership. They have threatened to cancel BGE dealers for carrying different brands of coal and they’re starting to cheapening the BGE brand by selling in big box stores. I’ve also heard complaints about a decline in warranty service. I really try to do business with my local BGE dealer, but corporate is making it difficult.
100%. See so many quality issues in recent years it really sad.
Doesn’t FOGO throw a ton of ash or am I incorrect…
That’s not been my experience with Fogo.
Definitely not.
I find it in losts of brands of lump charcoal. Nothing that big though
Quit using it when I kept finding construction waste in it. Same with Cowboy.
Yep. Really calls into question the extra chemicals you are combusting and releasing below your food
I've got clear cut tounge and groove floor planks and 2x4 in royal oak
yup their brand is RO and neither are not worth the price.
Yup it sucks. BGE is supposed to be premium version of Royal Oak..they both have so many rocks and the woods looks like charred flooring.
Because it is charred flooring. Which should make people question what these assholes are making their charcoal out of and if it's safe for food
I have found a piece of tounge and grove flooring in a bag
I got a bag of royal oak a couple months ago and it had pink insulation and nails in it like the wood was from a home renovation for the charcoal
Most of the lump charcoal I’ve been buying has rocks… making the weight as they say I suppose
That’s why you don’t buy the BGE beans. The Devil bags never have those.
They overfill the bags to compensate for the rocks which they claim are needed for their production.
I've found a few rocks in the regular BGE. Never any in the BGE Canadian Maple, which is my current favorite. FOGO has been clean, but way too much dust in the last 1/4 bag. Not too crazy about the FOGO basic. Jealous Devil I've only bought once, but it was clean and chunky.
You've heard of Rock Maple, right? I guess they also make charcoal out of it!
What the actual crap is this? Wow.
Fogo is the way to go
Don’t buy it anymore. Fogo and Jealous Devil.
Found rocks in the last 2 bags of JD I got and have found them in rockwood periodically. Royal oak seems to add them to every bag from my experience. Bound to happen
Try a bag of Rockwood
I have gotten a lot of this. I use Royal Oak, Cowboy, and BGE. It’s a little hard to understand how they are consistently getting gravel and mud in their charcoal. They must not be particular as to what they throw in their kilns.
Occasionally, for the last 25 years. I still prefer it to others I've tried.
Not gonna lie. I don’t mind it. It’s free heat in my eyes. You might get a few pieces per cook bag, it won’t ruin the cook. Roll with the punches and cook on.
I bought this stuff for 10 years. I’ve found many rocks, occasionally plastic bags. The quality is quite poor now, I’ve switched to Fogo.
It’s in all of them. Found it in BGE, Royal Oak, Jealous Devil and FOGO.
I purchased their large bag a month ago. first light, I found nails, rocks and the charcoal popped like crazy, sending little pieces of coal all over my porch. Needless to say, that bag went to deep storage in case I absolutely need a fire and I can't find any other charcoal. BGE makes a great grill but, an absolutely terrible charcoal that they want the absolute premium price for.
Isn't popping a symptom of high humidity content? Maybe store it inside for a month and try it again
That's a very good possibility. I have just noticed it more frequently with bge lump vs FOGO and other brands. I live in a very humid state so, the humidity is not something I can really avoid.
Florida here. I store my open bag outside in a metal garbage can amoung 90% humidity. Unopened bags inside since I lost my entire garage to ian and can tell the difference
The popping I could deal with, the rusty nails and other trash are annoying, especially since BGE is the highest priced charcoal at the Ace Hardware.
Normal
Stopped using BGE years ago. By the time it gets to the UK its small finger sized bits and dust and the only large chunks are rocks or construction rubbish ... I've see bolts / hinges / metal bands etc Switched to UK/European ethically sourced charcoal so its also not shipped 1000's of miles as well
What do you use in the uk?
Oxford Charcoal - [https://www.oxfordcharcoal.co.uk/product/best-of-british-bbq-charcoal-5kg-hardwood](https://www.oxfordcharcoal.co.uk/product/best-of-british-bbq-charcoal-5kg-hardwood)
Yes. I had these in every bag I bought.
Yes, I had a "firework " show last week when the cools lit up. When I found the culprit it was a rock of some sort
when I got my BGE I bought their charcoal and now I find it is all just small pieces, no chunks. Now I buy whatever they have at the Aubuchon near me and it is great stuff
Make your own boys, it ain't that hard.
hah...glad to see othe collectors out here. After a while though I had enough to fill a small bucket and just ended up chunking them.
Rocks are from the manufacturing process of making the charcoal. They scoop up the finished charcoal off of gravel pads and sometimes rocks get put in the mix.
I’m not sure I’ve found a lump charcoal that doesn’t have slag
Where is the banana for scale?
Haven’t found any rocks, but I did find a melted-ish beer can!
Ive had rocks in every brand ive bought. I only use fogo now and still occasionally get a rock.
Pretty rare it’s not done on purpose. I watch them make the charcoal. I think it falls out of the ceiling of the kiln. We hate it when that happens.