Ignite Your Big Green Egg with Lump Charcoal
There’s nothing quite like the aroma of real lump charcoal catching fire, especially when you’re about to cook up something extraordinarily tasty. Lump charcoal is the secret behind the Big Green Egg’s legendary performance: it’s 100% natural, lights quickly, burns hotter and longer, and infuses your food with pure, smoky flavour.
If you want clean-burning fuel that delivers both efficiency and taste, lump charcoal is the only way to go. Ready to fire up your Big Green Egg and let the flavour adventure begin?
Let’s dive in and see just how easy it is to bring the heat to your next outdoor cook.
Why Use Lump Charcoal?
Firstly, let's discuss why Big Green Egg loves lump charcoal:
- Pure, Natural Flavour: Made from hardwoods with no additives or chemicals, so your food tastes clean and smoky, never artificial.
- Hotter, Cleaner Burn: Lump coal burns hotter and produces less ash than briquettes, perfect for both quick sears and low-and-slow BBQ.
- Efficient Performance: Lights fast, holds temperature, and is easy to control, ideal for the Big Green Egg’s ceramic design and airflow system.
- Eco-Friendly: Organic charcoal is sustainably sourced and all-natural; it’s the choice for conscious cooks and BBQ purists.
Fast Ways to Light Lump Wood Charcoal (Big Green Egg Recommended)
Big Green Egg officially recommends two fast, safe, and chemical-free methods for lighting lump charcoal:
Natural Fire Starters (SpeediLight)
Big Green Egg’s SpeediLight All Natural Charcoal Starters are the go-to for easy and safe lighting:
How to Use:
- Clear the Airways: Use an Ash Tool to remove any ash from the bottom of your Egg for optimal airflow.
- Open Everything Up: Fully open the Draft Door, rEGGulator Vent Cap, and Dome Lid.
- Add Charcoal: Pour natural lump charcoal into the Egg, leaving about 5 cm of clearance from the fire ring rim.
- Arrange and Ignite: Create a small teepee in the centre of the charcoal pile and nestle 2–3 SpeediLight starters among the pieces.
- Light: Use matches or a lighter to ignite the starters.
- Let It Burn: Leave the dome open and allow the fire to establish for 10–15 minutes.
- Ready to Cook: Once the charcoal is glowing and ashed over, adjust the vents to your desired temperature, add your food, and close the dome.
Why Choose SpeediLight?
- 100% natural, chemical-free, odourless, and tasteless.
- Light easily with matches.
- Clean and easy to use, with no chemical residue.
Butane Charcoal EGGniter
The Refillable Butane Charcoal EGGniter is a premium, Big Green Egg-approved accessory designed to make lighting lump charcoal quick, easy, and chemical-free. A built-in air blower gives you total control and rapid ignition.
How to Use:
- Prepare the Egg: As mentioned above.
- Fill and Ignite: Ensure the EGGniter is filled with butane fuel. Slide the child safety lock, then press the ignition button to light the torch flame.
- Light the Charcoal: Point the flame at a concentrated spot in your lump charcoal pile, holding it about 1 inch away. Once you see sparks or the charcoal begins to glow, activate the air blower by pressing the Air Blower and Hold buttons together. This boosts the fire and spreads the embers quickly.
- Let It Burn: Continue using the blower for a few minutes until you have a well-established ember pile. When the charcoal is glowing and ashed over (usually within 4–5 minutes), turn off the EGGniter.
Benefits of the Butane EGGniter
- Lights lump charcoal cleanly, preserving the pure, smoky flavour of your food.
- Ignites charcoal or wood in just minutes, even in damp or windy conditions. The torch and blower combo ensures a strong, even fire every time.
- Features a child safety lock, three power settings and a refillable butane tank. Battery-powered blower provides up to 60 minutes of use per set of batteries.
- Beyond lighting your Egg, the EGGniter can be used for campfires, wood fireplaces, and even culinary tasks like caramelising sugar or browning meringue.
Big Green Egg Recommended Lump Charcoal Lighting Methods
| Method | Prep Time | Key Steps | BGE Recommended? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Fire Starters | 10–15 min | Place starters, light, leave dome open | Yes |
| EGGniter | ~5 min | Activate, blow with blower and let the coals ignite | Yes |
Eggcellent Tips for Best Results
- Always use 100% natural lump charcoal and never briquettes or lighter fluid. Briquettes often contain binders and fillers that can produce too much ash and off-flavours, while lighter fluid can leave behind chemical residues that affect both taste and safety.
- Maximise airflow during lighting, fully open the bottom draft door, the rEGGulator vent cap, and the dome lid. This allows maximum oxygen flow, helping your lump charcoal ignite quickly and evenly.
- Once lit, adjust vents gradually to reach and maintain your target temperature. Sudden changes can cause temperature spikes or drops, making it harder to control your cook.
- Burp your Egg: Before fully opening the dome, lift it just a few centimetres and pause for a couple of seconds. Repeat this a few times to allow built-up heat and steam to escape gradually. This prevents dangerous flashbacks. These are sudden bursts of flame caused by a rush of oxygen meeting hot air inside the Egg. Burping keeps you safe and protects your eyebrows!
Lighting your Big Green Egg with natural fire starters or an electric starter is the fastest, safest, and most flavorful way to get grilling.
What About Other Methods?
- Chimney Starters: While safe and popular in the BBQ world, chimney starters are simply not needed by the Egg due to its ignition-promoting design.
- Butane/Propane Torches: These are not recommended.
- Lighter Fluid: Never use lighter fluid or self-lighting briquettes in your Big Green Egg, as these can damage the ceramic and taint your food.
Ready to Fire Up Your Next BBQ with Lump Charcoal?
Choose premium, organic lump charcoal for your Big Green Egg and experience the difference in flavour, aroma and crunch in every bite. Fast lighting and effortless temperature control mean you spend less time waiting and more time savouring.
Shop Lump Charcoal in Australia; shop our lump charcoal for sale here.
